October 22, 2018 – On Monday, October 22nd at 9:00 a.m., Board Chairman Phillip Beard called the October meeting to order at the Buford City Schools Central Office.
Both the Agenda and the September 24, 2018 Minutes were approved. A revision to Classified Personnel Vacations was approved which brought all BCSS employees under the standard policy. Old technology from the Central Office and Fine Arts Center were approved to be disposed of.
Pay requests for the new Buford High School (SPLOST V funds) were approved to Charles Black Construction for $2.8 million, Breaux & Associates for $28k, GRESCO Utility Supply for $38k, Irby for $1,709 and for the new BHS Performing Arts Building to Charles Black Construction for $1.1 million. A pay request for the BHS turf fields that are already installed was approved for $232k (Maintenance & Operation Budget). Also coming out of M & O funds were BHS Football play clocks and carts for $6k and casework on the new BMS/current BHS front office for $7k. The casework to update the front office in anticipation of it becoming the new BMS is scheduled to take place over the holiday vacation. A change directive for the new BHS was approved for magnetic hold open device for door panels and smoke detectors on both sides of the opening.
Five field trip requests were approved. BES Special Ed to the Special Olympics, BMS FBLA to Classic Center Leadership, BMS Flex to go to BES to read to students, BMS Chorus to the BCC for the Women’s Club, and BHS Baseball to a tournament in Hoover, AL were the approved trips. Two fundraisers were approved, one each for BHS NHS and BHS Gymnastics.
Interim Superintendent, Joy Davis reported the intent to purchase an additional golf cart for athletic training staff. Two of the trainers are not city employed but are employed by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Although the school system does not pay their salaries, the system needs to provide an additional cart for them to use to treat system athletes. A tournament for the BHS Baseball Team has moved to Hoover, AL which will be a cost difference of $8,700.
Lacrecia Smith, who is charged with overseeing the system’s new Diversity and Inclusion Program gave a short update. Former BCSS Superintendent Ms. Beauty Baldwin gave an update on the search for a new superintendent. Baldwin explained how the committee that will search for the candidates was formed and who filled the committee seats. She stated that in order to make sure the system gets the best possible candidates, that they are not in a rush. November 15th is the first deadline but states that this will not exclude applicants from applying after that date. They anticipate being able to present 3-5 candidates to the Board of Education around January or February of 2019.
Jenny Poole informed the meeting attendees that twelve kits that will help stop a person from bleeding out have been placed in each school as part of the Stop the Bleed initiative.
Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Rita Cantrell informed the Board that BMS earned the National ESEA Distinguished School Award. Schools that are invited to apply for the ESEA Distinguished Award are evaluated based on performance in the following categories:
- Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years
- Closing the achievement gap between student groups
- Excellence in serving special populations of students (homeless, Migrant, English Learners, etc.)
School system employees were part of GEMA training to help prepare employees in the event of an emergency. GEMA provides feedback on what the system could do better as well.
The public is invited to show their support for public safety officers by attending the free Red, Blue & You luncheon on November 15, 2018 at the Buford City Arena. Anyone may attend but must RSVP.
Total current enrollment for BCSS is 4,897.
The next meeting for the Buford Board of Education is on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 7 p.m, at the Buford City Schools Central Office located at 2625 Sawnee Avenue in Buford. As always, the meeting is open to the public.
