BOE Finances Updates with Annual Report

Gilmer County’s Board of Education officially released its 2015-2016 Annual Report last week.

The report offers citizens a look into our school system with stats such as the schools enrollment, the School’s CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index, Strategic Plan Focus Areas (as well as details, initiatives, and measurements of these areas).

Many citizens will flip straight to page 11, however. This is the Annual Report’s focus on the Georgia Milestones tests and results. Comparing our schools to the system and state at large, citizens can see how our students compare.

Financial breakdowns can be found on pages 16-18 as you can dig deeper into the System’s Grants, Revenues, Expenditures, and a general “per pupil” breakdown against the School’s Millage Rate.

While much of the information within the report has been available throughout the year in meetings and online, this report presents much of that information collected in what the Superintendent, Dr. Shanna Wilkes, promised would be a regular update for citizens.

During their November monthly meeting, the Board of Education offered their usual Financial, 2010 ESPLOST, 2015 ESPLOST, and Nutrition Reports, but they also approved the Schedule of Approved Local Option Sales Tax Projects for FY2016.

This Report is a key part of the system’s Audit and offers information on the projects undertaken by the school, excluding projects already completed and paid for.

Another financial approval given by the Board on Thursday came for Dr. Wilkes to continue with the purchase of equipment for the School Cannery being built on with the new Agricultural Center. This equipment was previously approved by the Board when they approved plans for the building. Dr. Wilkes stated in their meeting this month that the price of the equipment has gone up since it was originally approved as part of the plan and requires a new approval under the systems Purchasing Policy Expenditures and Approvals.

The center on a whole has already seen a number of delays due to issues such as a delay in delivery of the steel frame during construction. Despite that, the Board was assured that the construction should be completed during the month of June.

While many may consider the school’s Athletic Center completed as they have attended games this year, it is actually just not reaching it’s closeout stage. As small details and fixes have continued throughout the football season, the project should see its final walk-through and closing documents by December 12.