Staff Reports
February 25, 2019 – The February Buford Board of Education meeting was called to order at noon at the Buford City Schools Central Office by Board Chairman Phillip Beard. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the agenda and meeting minutes from January 28th (2 meetings) and February 12th were approved.
Beard introduced Dr. Robert Downs, the new Buford City Schools Superintendent to the meeting attendees. It was his first official day on the job. Chairman Beard announced that Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rita Cantrell will be retiring at the end of this school year.
Mrs. Melanie Reed who is the current principal for Buford Middle School was named as the new Assistant Superintendent for next year. A replacement for her as the principal of the middle school has not been named yet.
The school system has revised their Federal Family and Medical Leave Act to bring it in line with federal regulations and streamline it. A new tuition tracking software was approved for FY20.
Pay requests for the new BHS were approved to Charles Black Construction for $696,305 & $536,447 and to Breaux & Associates for $35,984.03. Funding for new playground equipment for the new Senior Academy was approved in the amount of $41,080. Repainting the lines and markings at the BHS Track for $7,900, replacing backstop pads at the baseball fields for $8,800, and a flag pole relocation at the baseball field for $1,158 was approved. The Board approved funding for new BHS weight equipment for $197,774.53, new BHS ice machines for $10,408.44, and new benches for the P.E. locker rooms & fields at the new BHS for $9,374.00. A bid for relocating the schools later this year was approved for $25,897.25. Gymnastics equipment rental for GHSA sectionals was approved for $5,000.
Several change directives pertaining to the new BHS were approved. Those were for revise casework & column conditions, change & add doors and frames for 3 classrooms, converting an art room, add drains for fume hoods in chemistry labs, and exterior ground mounted light fixtures.
Five field trip requests, two fundraiser requests, and one community service project was approved. The new 2019-2020 school calendar was approved. The superintendent’s advisory council put together several school calendars that the entire district staff voted on. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will be added to the benefits package for FY20. In the event that there is inclement weather for the Corky Kell Classic that will be held on August 23rd at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Buford would be compensated to host it. Ms. Lacrecia Smith gave an update on the Diversity and Inclusion Program. The second round of diversity and inclusion training for staff was underway. Schools celebrated Black History Month. Buford would be represented at a teacher recruitment fair in hopes of recruiting top-notch minority teachers for the school district. Dr. Cantrell announced that Buford High School received recognition as an AP STEM school, AP STEM Achievement school, AP Merit School, and AP Humanities school for the class of 2018’s AP testing.
The system-wide Art Show will be held on March 10th from 1-4 p.m. at the Buford Arena. The public is welcome to attend. The BHS Spring Musical will begin on March 17th at 2 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center. The next Buford Board of Education meeting will be on March 25th at 7 p.m. at the Central Office on Sawnee Avenue.
The 2019-2020 Buford City Schools Calendar can be obtained by going to Buford City Schools 2019-2020 Calendar.
