Board of Education meets Tuesday
News June 21, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – The White County Board of Education will meet in a voting session Tuesday (June 23) at 8 a.m. School Superintendent Dr. Laurie Burkett will review the voter-approved 2020 education special purpose local option sales tax.
White County voters gave an overwhelming thumbs up to the $29,500,000 one percent tax on June 9. The funds will allow the school system to replace the roof at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School, purchase new school buses, new technology and make improvements to athletic fields.
Other items to be considered by Board members include:
- Re-opening of schools
- SPLOST requests for June
- CTAE State and Federal Grants
- Cannery
- Summer Feeding/Book Giveaway
- Family Connections FY21 Contract
- Approval of personnel
- Approve of Family Connections FY21 Contract
- Approve CTAE State and Federal Grants
White County School System has served 103,302 meals during COVID-19 shutdown
News May 19, 2020
Dr. Laura Burkett
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – School Superintendent Dr. Laura Burkett announced during today’s (May 19) Board of Education meeting the White County Schools System has served 103,302 meals since schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In a really small school district, that just blows me away,” Burkett said. “That couldn’t happen without our transportation department and nutrition department teaming up.”
Friday will be the last day meals will be served until June 1. “Usually the summer feeding is a condensed version,” Burkett said. “But (Nutrition Director Abby Rowland) worked it out with a very limited staff that we will serve every single place we normally serve.”
Burkett also noted that Rowland had applied for an innovation grant through the Georgia Foundation for Public Education and, as a result, White County is one of only four school systems that will receive the $10,000 grant.
Assistant Superintendent Scott Justus led a discussion of potential special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) expenditures, that included retrofitting school busses with air conditioning and cameras, copiers for each school, cleaning products and Georgia Department of Education assistance with new facilities’ planning.
He estimated the cost to air condition the buses and outfit with cameras at approximately $28,400. The cost to purchase copiers would be between $134,000 and $150,000 depending on how many color copiers were purchased. There was a discussion about whether it would be best to lease the copiers or purchase them. Justus said, “There is no price difference lease vs. purchase.” But if the Board decides to purchase, the amount could be funded by SPLOST proceeds over a five-year period rather than come out of the General Fund budget.
Adam Wiley told Board members that plans for White County High School’s drive-in graduation ceremony has attracted national attention. The event scheduled for Friday will be streamed on live video via a fouAdar-story projector with U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter hovering overhead as the National Anthem is played.
“A reporter from Time Magazine found the video advertising our graduation and sent us an email,” Wiley said. “I — in all my infinite wisdom – accidentally deleted it,” he said. “Fortunately, she emailed me again and let me know it is on their website. She said they don’t plan to put it in the magazine, but she said that could change very quickly.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Schools distributed more than 60,000 meals during the COVID-19 shutdown
News May 2, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — Led by Nutrition Director Abby Rowland and Transportation Director Darren Sledge, the White County School System has distributed 63,706 breakfast and lunch packs to students during the COVID-19 school closure.
“That is pretty incredible,” School Superintendent Dr. Laurie Burkett said during Thursday’s Board of Education meeting. She credited School Nutrition Director Abby Rowland and Transportation Director Darren Sledge for making the program a success.
Dr. Laurie Burkett
Burkett said distribution of the breakfast and lunch bags will continue until May 22 when the Backyard Buddy program will deliver double bags. Distribution will then end for one week before it resumes on June 1.
She also told Board members the Wi-Fi system had been expanded to cover the parking lots at the high school and middle school. “This will allow someone to pull up in our parking lot and receive some free Wi-Fi,” she added.
Technology Director William Sperin explained that “about 100 students don’t have Wi-Fi at home. This would be an opportunity for them to stay in their car, not have to get out and do their assignments.”
One school board member questioned whether the expansion would just be for the duration of the school closure. Sperin said it will be permanent. There was another question about who would be allowed to use the system. Sperin said the whole community could use it. “It doesn’t cost us anything and for anybody to drive up and use it and we can monitor it,” he said.
It was noted during the meeting that the 2020 ESPLOST promotional campaign has started. There will be a Facebook Live question and answer session on May 14 and additional social media posts will start soon including a video. The campaign will provide necessary information for voters to make a decision on the $20,500,000 penny tax referendum.
May 4-8 will be the final week for teachers to introduce new material to their students. On May 22, the high school will hold a drive-in graduation at 7 p.m. On July 24 the WCHS prom will be held from 7-10 p.m. and on July 25, the traditional graduation ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.
Board members unanimously approved the finance and budget statements presented by Julie Dorsey.
Dorsey said the school system received approximately $339,000 in General Fund Ad Valorem taxes for March and $131,000 for April as well as $110,000 in Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) for March and $150,000 for April. Total revenue for March was just over $2 million and expenditures were reported at approximately $3.3 million. Year end fund balance on June 30 is estimated to be $10,847,078.
Dorsey then alerted Board members to the difficulty of meeting the state-mandated June 30 deadline for approval of the budget. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, state legislators are not in session and are not expected back before June 11.
If the Board does not pass a budget by the June 30 deadline, Dorsey said it may need to pass at least one spending resolution. A spending resolution would allow the Board to spend the equivalent of one twelfth of the FY ’20 budget in the month of July.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Recent vote against recording school board meetings was a setback for open government
News May 16, 2018
School Board Chairwoman Missy Jarrard
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The White County Board of Education’s 3-2 vote against making a video recording of its meetings and placing it on the school system website, was a setback for open government. It will not have the intended consequences and could easily be reversed in 2019, depending on the outcome of next week’s election.
A recording would have allowed those who, for a variety of reasons, cannot attend the meetings to see how the board operates and how their elected officials are performing, something most elected officials claim to want.
It is worth noting that thanks to Georgia’s Open Meetings and Open Records Act, the school board lacks the authority to prevent a video recording of the meetings from being made and placed on the Internet. It can only prevent placement on the school system website.
To their credit, Chairwoman Missy Jarrard and board member Charlie Bryson cast votes in favor of open government, but they were outvoted by Jon Estes, Charlie Thomas and Barry Vandiver.
Vandiver’s term will end in December thus eliminating one “no” vote. He will be replaced by Jeannette Gearing or Linda Erbele.
FetchYourNews reached out to all the school board candidates to see where they stand on the issue. Erbele did not return our calls.
School Board member Charlie Bryson
Gearing was quick to say she would vote in favor of open government if the issue resurfaces again next year.
“I think it’s a great idea. I try to attend as many meetings as I can, but I have children who participate in a lot of activities so I can’t always be there. I’m sure there are a lot of people just like me who can’t be at all the meetings but would like to keep up with what is going on. So, if I am elected, I will vote to record the meetings and place the video on the school website,” Gearing said.
Bryson said, “Absolutely, I would vote for it again, without a doubt. There is no better way to show transparency than by recording the meetings and placing the video on the website for everyone to see.”
Calls and emails to Bryson’s opponents John Solmon and Carly Adam went unanswered.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Ransomware, sportsmanship were the hot topics at Tuesday’s school board meeting
News March 28, 2018
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Education devoted much of its time during Tuesday’s meeting to a discussion of the ransomware attack that impacted the school system server two weeks ago and sportsmanship.
The cyber attack was not as devastating as the one that was launched against the city of Atlanta.
School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson said four files containing 11 employee social security numbers were accessed but nothing was downloaded. “I encourage everyone to freeze their credit,” Wilson said. “Its worth the $3 it costs to protect yourself.”
The school system’s total financial loss was the $5,000 deductible paid to the insurance company. Wilson said new procedures are being put into place to protect against future attacks.
The sportsmanship discussion centered on fan behavior. Wilson said there had been several incidents of poor sportsmanship at White County High School games this year, mainly involving parents.
“We are definitely going to start pushing our parents hard,” he said. “We want to be a model for our kids. We all get upset when a kid gets a technical foul on the court while that same kid’s parents may be up in the stands screaming and hollering.”
Wilson said there had been some incidents where fans verbally abused coaches as well. “We’re not going to put up with them being ugly to our coaches either. This season, we’ve had some parents chew on them pretty hard, and we’re not going to have that anymore,” the superintendent explained.
Wilson said the school system has new sportsmanship guidelines that fans will be required to follow. The guidelines will be discussed during weekly meetings with athletes and parents and will be posted publicly at different sports venues.
Several pay-as-you-go items were also discussed and are expected to be voted on at Thursday’s school board meeting, including extra surveillance cameras for schools ($20,000), a viewing station ($3,000), global positioning system (GPS) for buses ($18,154) and a tarp for the White County High School baseball field ($6,000).
Tuesday Board of Education Meeting Rescheduled
News September 11, 2017
Dr. Jeff Wilson
Because of the State of Emergency declared by Governor Deal, we are rescheduling the White County Board of Ecucation meeting from Tuesday, September 12 to Thursday, September 14. The meeting will still be at 7:00 am. There will be a Pay As You Go (PAYG) request and we will discuss personnel in executive.
Second Public Hearing on School Budget is Set for Thursday
News June 27, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The White County Board of Education will hold the second public hearing on the fiscal year 2018 budget Thursday at 6 p.m.
School officials say they are facing a budget shortfall of $145,515, but that amount can be made up out of the fund balance and no millage increase is expected.
However, the final tax digest numbers from the tax commissioner’s office will not be available until July so school officials have not been able to calculate whether there will be a rollback millage rate. If the school system or county is not willing to rollback the millage rate to be consistent with what the tax commissioner has calculated, it would be deemed a tax increase for the system. A notice of property tax increase would have to be advertised and two more public hearings held.
Board members will also discuss renewal of an agreement with the City of Cleveland and White County Sheriff’s Office to provide school resource officers (SRO) at schools.
Also on the agenda will be a discussion of furlough days to be observed and five-year facilities plan.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at www.fetchyournews.com
Teacher Fired After Sexual Assault Allegation
News September 20, 2017
Leonard Jones
CLEVELAND, Ga. – In a called meeting Tuesday morning, the White County Board of Education officially terminated Leonard Jones, the White County Middle School teacher arrested last week for allegedly having inappropriate contact with a student at the school.
Jones, 54, has been charged with three counts of aggravated child molestation, three counts of sodomy, three counts of sexual assault and three counts of reckless conduct.
Jones was arrested and placed on leave without pay after the White County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a parent. Dr. Jeff Wilson, Superintendent of White County Schools, said at the time Jones would never be back in a White County School.
The board went into executive session Tuesday to discuss the issue then emerged and voted unanimously, with Commissioner Charlie Bryson absent, to terminate Jones.
In other action, the Board approved the appointments of Ann Brevard as Special Ed Teacher at White County Middle School and parapros Debbie Pruitt, Shelli Leslie and Tammy Fletter.
The Board also approved a pay as you go request (PAYG) request for renovations in the White County Middle School Special Education and Sensory Room and appointed Ann Brevard as Special Education teacher at the school.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
White County School Board Achieves Quality Board Designation
News December 16, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Education has been named as a Quality Board by the Georgia School Board Association.
White County is one of only 25 school systems in Georgia to be so designated. The recognition program was developed by Georgia superintendents and is designed to showcase best practices in school governance and leadership. GSBA recognizes good school board governance to foster educational community cultures in order to advance student learning and achievement.
To qualify for the award, school districts must meet certain criteria, including the implementation of a strategic plan, review of the Georgia Vision Public Project, state board annual training requirements and compliance with the standards of all accreditation associations.
Dr. Jeff Wilson said, “The SBA sets regulations and criteria every year and we’re very proud to have met those regulations several times. We also learned last week that we are rated in the top 15 in the CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance
School Board Bids Farewell to Hunter, Westmoreland
News December 16, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners said goodbye to two longtime public servants last night in Chairwoman Kendyl Brock Hunter and Jay Westmoreland who has represented Dist. 4 since 2009. Both will end their terms on Dec. 31.
Hunter, who started her term in office in 2005, was a member of the Georgia State Board Association’s Board Chair Advisory Council and Board Operations Committee. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson thanked both for their service and presented them a plaque in recognition of their contributions to White County’s School System.
Wilson provided an update on the search for a new head football coach for White County High School. He indicated the search committee had interviewed several candidates and expressed the desire to have a new coach on board by no later than February.
The school system has more than $900,000 in its Pay As You Go Account and commissioners voted unanimously to spend about $90,840 for repairs and replacement items for the auditorium, gymnasium, and the bus barn.
The Board also approved the 2017 meeting dates, a request to declare equipment at J.P. Nix Elementary School surplus and authorize disposition and a field trip to Amicalola Falls for J.P. Nix.
School Board Approves Transportation Policy
News August 26, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Education met last night and approved a transportation policy that prevents school buses from transporting non-students except occasionally when they are visiting the home of a student and then only with permission.
The Board also unanimously approved:
Acceptance of the 21st Century Grant for 2017;
CTAE budget;
First reading of the policy on complaints and grievances;
The bond request for 2016;
Board Goals for 2016-17
Re-certification of Compliance with Standards for Local Boards of Education;
A resolution to authorize investment and
Field trips for White County Middle and High Schools.
Bryson, Pulliam Qualify to Run for School Board
News, Politics July 29, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Qualifying for the November election to fill the vacant seat on the White County Board of Education ended at noon today with two candidates qualified.
Gwinnett County Fire Investigator Charlie Bryson will campaign against Brock Pulliam, who is currently serving an interim position on the board.
The special election is non-partisan and will be held to fill the vacancy created when Roger Fitzpatrick resigned to run for U.S. Congress last May against Congressman Doug Collins. The winner will serve the remainder of the unexpired term that ends in December 2018.
Qualifying for Board of Education Begins July 25
News July 18, 2016
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — Qualifying for the Nov. 8th special election to fill a vacancy on the White County Board of Education will begin one week from today.
The vacancy was created when Roger Fitzpatrick withdrew to run against 7th District Congressman Doug Collins. The winner will serve the remainder of the unexpired term that will end December 31st 2018.
Probate Court Judge Garrison Baker said qualifying will begin on Monday July 25th at 9 a.m. and run until Friday July 29th at noon.
Candidates must live in District two and be a resident of the county for 12 months prior to the election. Qualifying will take place at the office of the Election Superintendent in the White County Courthouse.
There will also be a special referendum vote to address three alcohol sales questions, including the sale of distilled spirits by the drink, Sunday sales of distilled spirits and Sunday sales of beer and wine between the hours of 12:30 P.M. and 11:30 P.M.
White County Board of Commissioners voted in May for the questions to be placed before to voters in the county.
White County Seeks BOE Candidates
News, Politics March 27, 2016
CLEVELAND — The White County Board of Education has an empty seat to fill and is reaching out to citizens for help.
District 2 representative Roger Fitzpatrick resigned recently to make a second run for US Congress against incumbent District 9 Congressman Doug Collins.
At Thursday night’s board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson said notice has been published in the county legal organ seeking candidates for the post. He explained that residents in District 2 will have 10 days to submit their request for consideration and the board will choose an appointee from those requesting consideration.
That appointee will fill the position until a special election can be conducted in November. The winner of that election will fill the remaining two years of Fitzpatrick’s term.
White County Probate Judge and Election Superintendent Garrison Baker will announce qualifying for the special election.