WHITE COUNTY, Ga.- The White County Board of Education voted to approve the FY22 millage rate rollback at their work session.

At the work session, Assistant Superintendent Scott Justus presented this month’s ESPLOST request and the Aug. construction update. Cindy Free presented the board with two new policy updates that will be tabled for 30 days.

Finance Director Julie Dorsey presented the board with the millage rollback rate at their July meetings. For a refresher on that meeting visit https://white.fetchyournews.com/2022/07/29/school-resource-officers-agreement-amended/.

The notice that the Board of Education put out in advance of the meeting.

The previous year’s millage rate was 16.060 mills and the rollback rate suggested and approved was 14.222 mills. This will result in no tax increase for the Board of Education.

The projected revenue for collections at this rate is $16,488,245. This is $700,000 over the projected revenue budgeted for in the FY23 budget.

Heard in the clip above is Dorsey explaining a little about the millage rate. She also can be heard stating that this will not cause a tax increase.

This month’s ESPLOST request is for $22,636.00. This is for new equipment for the finance department, window furnishing for Warrior Academy, and two facility updates. One of the facility updates will be slipt with the Helmet club. The board will take action on this at the Regular meeting on Thursday.

Justus also gave an update on construction. Testnee Gap roof is 100% complete and the HVAC is 98% complete they are just waiting on two heat strips that are on backorder. The transportation facility is about halfway complete and the hope is to have it open around Oct. or Nov.

The full details on the performing arts center and the athletic fields.

The Performing Arts Center and the athletic fields are 100% complete with the clearing, grubbing, and aggregated piers. The foundation has become being poured for the center.

The two policies that Free introduced are IEDA and JRB. The first policy states that students in K-8 have to have scheduled break time, which they already do.

The second policy is JRB which is in response to House Bill 1178, this bill is the Parental Bill of Rights. To read through the entire bill visit https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1178/2021. This policy will help promote parent involvement and give parents options to object to materials their students are being taught with.

Most of the elements in the policy are already part of different policies the school district has in place. To see any of the board of education policies visit https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/PolicyListing.aspx?S=4176. The policies have to sit for 30 days before the board can take action on them, after they are approved the protocols for JRB will be posted on the home page of the school system website.

Superintendent Dr. Laurie Burkett also reminded the board that on Aug. 23 at 6:00 p.m. in the Middle School cafeteria there will be an informational parent meeting on vaping. All parents are encouraged to attend. The Board of Education redid the vaping protocols over the summer for more information on those go to https://white.fetchyournews.com/2022/04/29/board-approves-new-vaping-procedures/.