Blairsville, GA – The Union County Board of Education met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 for their monthly Workshop and Meeting. UCS Superintendent Dr. Fred Rayfield and all board Members were present, except for District 4 Member Kevin Potts.

UCS Employees Bill Driscoll and Stanley Garrett addressed the Board regarding cameras and tracking of school buses. Driscoll and Garrett explained the technological aspects of the camera/tracking system being considered and offered advice regarding the seven bids that were submitted. The Board Members questioned Driscoll and Garrett extensively about the costs for consideration at the Meeting. The Board approved the low bid from 24/7 Security, Inc. in the amount of $83,647 on Dr. Rayfield’s recommendation.

Dr. Rayfield recommended that the Board accept the rollback millage rate of 11.780. The previous millage rate was 11.787. The rollback rate, he said, has been duly advertised for the required 30 days. The Board accepted the 11.780 millage rate.

Dr. Rayfield said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been entertained between Union County School District and Union General Hospital for the acquisition of an athletic trainer for students who need minor physical therapy assistance. He said that the school Athletic Department had received notice that they were no longer able to use the local vendor. Dr. Rayfield said that Union General Hospital (UGH) had acquired a physical trainer/therapist and that UCS could use the trainer for half the yearly salary ($18,532/yr) and get unhindered use of the person such that they would work at the hospital only during off-time from the school district; that is, a full-time physical trainer for the school district for half the price. Dr. Rayfield recommended that the Board accept this MOU. The Board accepted.

Courtney Waller, Director of School Nutrition

Dr. Rayfield introduced Courtney Waller, Director of School Nutrition, who requested that the Board approve the purchase of a fryer for the elementary school. She said the fryer they have has been out of commission for three years. She said it would be a big help in getting hot food to the elementary students and recommended the lowest bid for the Board’s consideration. The Board approved the purchase of a new fryer in the amount of $11,544.18.

The Board accepted a 21st Century Learning Grant in the amount of $297,974 through the Georgia Dept. of Education specifically for Woody Gap School. The money is for an after school program; a highly successful one, said Dr. Rayfield.

The Board accepted a $2,000 Grant from 4-H AmeriCorp in cooperation with UGA to pay a student performing the duties of an office assistant at the Extension Office. The Board accepted the Grant.

Josh Davis, Career Technical & Agricultural Education Director at UCHS addressed the Board with updated information on the CTAE Plan. The Board accepted the Plan on Dr. Rayfield’s recommendation.

Dr. Rayfield reported that there is exactly the same number of students at this time that there were last year: 2,544. He said there were 30 more high school students than last year, but there were declines in the number of primary school students and other areas such that the total number of students remained the same as last year.
Dr. Rayfield said the FY 2018 Board Training Plan needs to be submitted to the state by September 15th. He urged the Board to review the various classes offered and make a decision as to which classes they would be interested in at what times so they could coordinate with the vendor(s).

Recognition was given to the UCHS Athletic Department and the UCHS athletes for their award for sportsmanship in all that they do.

School Principal Quarterly Reports were accepted by the Board.

Elain Buckley remarked during Public Comment that she felt it is absurd that she was asked to be interviewed prior to being scheduled to address the Board at a School Board Meeting. She then said she has reservations about there being no accounting of how money is spent after it has been appropriated. She said it was her understanding that money had been appropriated to purchase several school busses in the recent past, but she could see only one bus being purchased. She also said the Board was supposed to tell the Superintendent what to do, not the other way around.

Work Session                                                                                               Meeting

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