The Pickens County Board of Education met on Thursday, April 10, 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, John Trammel, Shane Neighbors, Ervin Easterwood, and Jerry Chastain. Board Attorney Phil Landrum III was present.

Chairman Trammell called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.

Easterwood led the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Pickens County Reading Council President Cheryl Carter recognized Pickens County Schools Readers of the Year. Theses students were presented with $25 gift cards to Barnes and Noble, certificates, and plaques.

Pickens High School Principal Chris Williams recognized Kevin Cain. Kevin has been accepted to the 2008 Governor’s Honors Program held at Valdosta State University. He will participate in the Engineering and Technology Education component. Williams recognized Dwayne Daniels. Dwayne was ranked third in the state as the Outstanding Student at the state TSA conference. Dwayne has accumulated the points necessary to receive TSA’s Gold Achievement Award.

Jasper Middle School Principal Bruce Godfrey recognized the JMS 8 th grade boys basketball team. The team won the North Georgia Mountain League region tournament with a perfect 12-0 record.

Attendance Officer Shelley Cantrell presented total enrollment as 4304 students and 311 students with 15 or more absences and drop-outs as 64.

Supervisor of Operations Lloyd Shaddix presented a maintenance update to the board including an update on the renovations and additions to Pickens High School.

School Improvement Specialist Susan Reeves presented a technology report to the board.

Chief Financial Officer Amy Burgess presented the financial report. Burgess reported FY08 general fund expenditures at 63.47% and revenue collected at 77.55%. The Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) interest paid was $47.45 and the balance was $18,649.98. The March SPLOST II balance was $644,937.12 and interest paid was $1,866.94. The March SPLOST III balance was $7,193,743.29, interest paid was $33,831.99, and revenue collected was $288,113.22.

There was a motion by Mitton, seconded by Easterwood, which passed unanimously to approve the minutes for March 13, 2008 and called board minutes for April 7, 2008 as presented.

There was a motion by Mitton, seconded by Chastain, 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:

• Chairman Trammell and Easterwood reported that Superintendent Mike Ballew’s contract has been renewed for an additional two years.
• Chairman Trammell also reported that Kevin Jacobs, who was hired tonight, will be the new girls’ basketball and softball coach.

Mitton made a motion, seconded by Chastain, to adjourn at 5:57 p.m. The vote to adjourn was unanimous.