At the Board of Education meeting on July 12th, the board approved another spending resolution for the month of August, approved the May 2012 financial report, and also heard comments from Dr. Jim Hagopian, on behalf of the Gilmer Education Foundation. The board decided to approve a spending resolution for the month of August on Thursday because the County’s Tax Digest was still not available in order to approve a complete FY13 budget for the next school year. However, the County’s Tax Digest was made available to the public on Friday.

According to the Tax Digest released Friday approved by the Tax Assessors, the BOE shows a 17.9 percent drop. On Thursday, the BOE approved a tentative budget based on a 10 percent drop in the Tax Digest. Kathy Jones Chairperson for the Board of Education told FYN on Thursday that the BOE was hoping that they would not have to go into the reserve fund for the upcoming year.

“We have all worked very, very hard to try to cut expenditures and optimize the dollar of the taxpayer. We are just going to be optimistic and we are going to continue doing that watching every nickel.”

However, in a correspondence with FYN yesterday, Superintendent Brian Dorsey said that they could use the reserve funds if they had to.

Also in the meeting on Thursday, the BOE did approve its May 2012 financial report. Gilmer County Director of Finance Julie Swindel told FYN that the BOE was 92 percent complete through the fiscal year at the end of May, and total expenditures for May were slightly under 78 percent. The reason for the percentage being under Swindle said is because of how the school system is now receiving its QBE funds. As reported on last month, the BOE is now no longer receiving its state health insurance payments directly to the board. Now, instead the Department of Education is now making payments directly to the Department of Community of Health on behalf of school employee health insurance.

At this month’s meeting, Dr. Jim Hagopian, who spoke at the BOE meeting on behalf of the Gilmer Education Foundation, an organization that provides scholarships to students in Gilmer County.

Hagopian told the board on Thursday that the Gilmer Education Foundation has at least given half a million dollars in scholarships since it started and hopes that the foundation continues to get the support of the BOE.

“We usually have one representative at each school who would be the contanct between us and the people,”

Hagopian told the board,

“We hope to continue your support.”

Hagopian also in his address commented about recent reports on how the BOE has been in conflict because of their current BOE public comment policy.

FYN also reported on a concerned speaker during last month’s BOE meeting. At last month’s BOE meeting, Citizen Joeene DePlancke expressed her opinion of how the BOE needs to improve its current BOE workshop policy, which does not allow public members to ask questions or comment during the meeting. Under the current policy, anyone wishing to address the BOE at school board meetings must first call the superintendent of schools twenty-four hours in advance if requesting to be placed on the BOE’s agenda. The person is then giving five minutes to speak at the meetings, and the BOE is not obligated to respond to the public comments.

Hagopian, in his address, expressed how he felt that the BOE’s current policy was more than adequate.

“This is a time for the public to address the board. I don’t think the public needs to engage with board in a political discussion.” Hagopian also said that he felt like the citizens had an ample amount of time for the public to address the BOE. “One thing we need to do is let the folks know that this is not a political organization. There is no need for a political debate.”

To view all of Dr. Hagopian’s comments to the board on Thursday, please watch the video below.