The Columbia County Board of Education voted to replace Westmont Elementary School during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
School District Superintendent Steven Flynt presented the proposal to the board to build a new structure at the current site of Westmont on Oakley Pirkle Road in Martinez. The school, built in 1970, would not close until the end of the 2021-2022 school year. A plan would then be proposed to relocate students to nearby schools until the new school and been completed.
Flynt also said that two public hearings would be held at the beginning of 2022 so parents and residents could discuss these plans with Westmont staff. Flynt noted that the construction of the new facility would take approximately two years. The resolution unanimously passed.
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The board also voted on approving the new district map, which had been voted on by the Board of Commissioners in its Oct. 19 meeting to be sent to the Georgia Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office.
Flynt also proposed awarding a one-time stipend to the school district’s approximately 3,500 employees. The stipend would be $1,000 for every benefits-eligible employee and a prorated amount for those working less than full time but at least half, which includes both certified and uncertified employees. Flynt named the estimated cost of this proposal to be $4 million, which includes FICA withholdings, to be drawn from the district’s general funding and disbursed during Thanksgiving break.
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Flynt also proposed a stipend for new employees whose first day of work is after the approval of the proposal and before Dec. 31. This stipend would be drawn from the CARES Act fund and would also be $1,000. The stipend would be paid in $500 increments, the first portion of the which is to be made payable a month after the day of hire, and the second portion on June 22.
The board unanimously voted to approve both proposals.
Flynt announced that the district would again be alleviating its COVID-19 mitigation strategies, changing the policy regarding face-coverings from “strongly encouraged” to “optional,” and removing plexiglass barriers from cafeterias. Flynt noted a continued decrease in positive COVID cases, and said that the administration will continue to monitor cases over the next two weeks before considering lifting visitor restrictions.
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Flynt also addressed recent concerns regarding materials used in school curriculum, emphasizing that Columbia County is closely following the lead of the state regarding critical race theory. He noted Gov. Brian Kemp’s letter to State Board of Education in which urging that CRT not take root in state standards, and that State School Superintendent Richard Woods declared that the Georgia Department of Education has no current or proposed standards that include CRT.
Flynt also warned against associating certain terms with CRT, singling out social-emotional learning. He then stressed the district’s efforts maintain dialogue with and provide appropriate information to parents and stakeholders.
“While we may not always get every decision right, we are working to continually improve in the areas needed,” said Flynt. “So we can provide the highest quality and most effective education to every student, every day.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
