The Pickens County Board of Education met on Thursday, January 13, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. at the Board Conference Center on D. B. Carroll Street for the regular monthly board meeting. The following board members were present and received per diem compensation: Mark Mitton, Shane Neighbors, John Trammell, Ervin Easterwood, and Jerry Chastain. Board Attorney Phil Landrum III was present.

Superintendent Mike Ballew called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.

Easterwood led the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ballew stated the floor was open for nominations for school board chairman for 2008. There was a motion by Mitton, seconded by Chastain, which passed unanimously to carry on officers and committees as they were in 2007and to add a technology committee. Ballew turned the meeting over to Chairman Trammell. The Facilities Committee members are Easterwood, Neighbors, and Chastain. Easterwood will chair the Facilities Committee. The Personnel and Policy Committee members are Easterwood, Mitton, and Neighbors. Mitton will chair the Personnel and Policy Committee. The Finance Committee members are Chastain, Neighbors, and Mitton. Chastain will chair the Finance Committee. The Technology Committee members are Neighbors, Chastain, and Mitton. Neighbors will chair the Technology Committee.

A motion was made by Neighbors, seconded by Mitton, which passed unanimously to approve the agenda as submitted.

Attendance Officer Shelley Cantrell presented total enrollment as 4308 students and 96 students with 15 or more absences and drop-outs as 45.

Supervisor of Operations Lloyd Shaddix presented a maintenance update to the board including an update on the renovations and additions to Pickens High School. Shaddix reported that Ellijay Telephone Company (ETC) installed new cameras over the holidays on several school campuses. A three year asbestos inspection was performed and that report is ready to send to the state department. Superintendent Ballew, Shaddix, and Architect Steve Hill did a walk through of the ninth grade academic wing for inspection.

Chief Financial Officer Amy Burgess presented the financial report. Burgess reported FY08 general fund expenditures at 38.67% and revenue collected at 36.28. The Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) interest paid was $27, 952.35 and the balance was $7,008,550.27. The December SPLOST II balance was $732,407.86 and interest paid was $2,133.60. The November SPLOST III balance was $608,361.44, interest paid was $2,519.12, and revenue collected was $364,122.38.

There was a motion by Mitton, seconded by Neighbors, which passed unanimously to approve the minutes for December 13, 2008 as presented.

There was a motion by Chastain, seconded by Neighbors, which passed unanimously to approve the Pickens County Middle School band field trip to the Disney Performing Arts Workshop.

A motion was made by Mitton, seconded by Easterwood, which passed unanimously to approve the surplus property submitted.

A motion was made by Easterwood, seconded by Mitton, which passed unanimously to approve the superintendent’s personnel recommendations as presented. (See attachments.)

Board Comments:

• Mitton said he was looking forward to a great year. Mitton said to all principals, faculty and staff, and students to keep up the good work.
• Chastain said he enjoys serving on the board. He said that the SPLOST election for the county was coming up and he thought this would also benefit the school system if it were to pass.
• Easterwood said to all administrators, faculty, staff, and students he hopes everyone has a good year.

Neighbors made a motion, seconded by Mitton, to adjourn at 5:40 p.m. The vote to adjourn was unanimous.