BOE Updates Pave Way for Coming Plans

Big updates came out of last night’s Gilmer County Board of Education meeting. Dr. Sandy Addis presented the Board the current set plan for the strategic planning process for the County and its, currently, almost 50 person committee to support and pursue individual goals for the County’s education system and its attempt to measure and improve its success.

Other major updates came through the construction projects the Board is undertaking. The Athletic facility is nearing completion of Phase 1. Turf is scheduled to be put down next week with Asphalt coming for the track in the 2nd week of May. This means citizens will soon begin seeing upgrades and beautification changes to the buildings next. New concessions and changing facilities for the visitors side as well as an entrance and ticketing facility will join the home side upgrades to the concessions, field house, and home side ticketing. Bids will be solicited and the Phase 2 bids are looking to have a Guaranteed Maximum Price of one million three hundred ninety-nine thousand, two hundred ninety-seven dollars.

Phase 1 is also expected to transfer $41,000 left over from its contingency fund to Phase 2’s contingency fund to provide more security for the project.

The Agricultural Education Center also highlighted some updates for the Board to include the changes the Board requested from its facilities retreat to include a roughly 8,000 sq ft ring and seating for 342 people. They also are currently expecting a December 31st completion date. Inside the facility, the Board will see an offset wall at the entrance, set for decoration or display of trophies and awards.

Also presented in the meeting were changes to Board Policies, including First Readers for Policy FED Facilities Plans and Specifications, Policy FGAD Architect Responsibilities in Facilities Projects, Policy FGCB Facilities Bid Advertisements and Solicitations, Policy GBRC Professional Personnel Work Loads, Policy IHF(5) Graduation Requirements – 2002-2003+, and Policy DJED Purchasing Bid and Quotations as well as Second Readers for Policy DFC Federal Funds, Policy DIE Fraud Prevention, Policy GAN Employee Tobacco Use, Policy JCDAA Student Tobacco Use.

Also, make sure to check out the reported Monthly Financials, 2010 ESPLOST, and 2015 ESPLOST.