Columbia County Board of Education’s Nov. 8 meeting featured an agenda filled with congratulations for faculty and students.
Two county administrators were recognized through the Georgia Association of Middle Schools Principals; Holly Barnes, principal of Columbia Middle, was one of four awarded Principal of the Year; and Blake Stitcher, assistant principal at Harlem Middle, was one of three awarded Assistant Principal of the Year.
Directly following, students at Lakeside High School, senior Millie Jane Mobley and junior Hudson Burch, were selected to serve on the State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council for the 2022-23 school year.
“When I think about one out of four and one out of three – I mean that’s pretty amazing. We can’t thank you enough for all that you do for our school system,” said board member and representative of District One David Alalof. “To our new students for the advisory council, that’s a big deal to be chosen, and even two from one school – congratulations.”
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Board member and representative of District Three Judy Teasley was also recognized for being appointed to participate in the Georgia Commission on Civics Education.
Teasley said she hopes to help the commission focus on creating a more engaged and educated population of voters. While Teasley knows from her past experience as an educator that civics is required to graduate, she said students often have “flash participation.”
“Those words in the Constitution, ‘We the People,’ mean something,” she said. “Democracy was never meant to operate on autopilot, so if we’re going to have a true democratic republic, then we are going to have to have engaged citizens who are informed.”
Following the congratulations was a short video thanking all working veterans in the Columbia County School District and noteworthy dates in November, such as National Native American Heritage Month, National School Psychologist Appreciation Week, Substitute Educators Day and National Parental Involvement Day.
Superintendent Steven Flynt then gave a brief update on the ongoing process for the district’s 10-year building program by highlighting detention pond cleanup, and North Columbia Elementary’s new building site being cleared for a new foundation.
Due to extremely steep inclinations and unsafe work terrain, the board then approved the purchase of remote control mowers to help maintain the newly cleared detention ponds.
Flynt compared the machines to “remote control tractors,” which will save the school district money in the long run and prevent pond deterioration.
To accommodate a vast increase in caseload, board members also approved contracts with three tele-health speech language service providers until more qualified in-person speech-language pathologists could be hired in school.
New work incentives for bus drivers and custodians were approved for further discussion involving changes that could possibly occur next semester to help retain employees.
As a result of the state-wide driver shortage, Flynt proposed a flat hourly rate for bus drivers be approved as opposed to the stipend payment, which changes based on driver duties, that is currently in place.
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It was also suggested that custodians’ work days be extended 10 days, instead of the current 220 work days, to increase work retainment and payment. However, for previously hired staff, this incentive would be optional to avoid conflict with previous staff plans.
A possible $1,000 sign-on incentive for all employees was also proposed for consideration, along with a $500 referral incentive for current employees.
“We’ve found that existing employees are the best recruiters,” said Flynt.
Lastly, a permanent change to an existing attendance incentive change was suggest by Flynt in order for additional employees to be eligible and to raise morale.
“We are suggesting that the existing 100% employee incentive of $500 is split between two semesters,” said Flynt. “Right now if employees get sick the first semester and miss a few days, it puts them out of the running for the next semester, too. This would be a way to motivate attendance for employees during both semesters in order to get that incentive.”
With no public participation and following executive session, the regular board meeting was adjourned and will meet back on Dec. 13 at 4781 Hereford Farm Rd. in Evans, Ga.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
