Grants and Apple Festival preparations in financial approvals
Featured Stories, News September 18, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Several financial approvals came from the Board of Education this week with letters for grants, memorandums, bonds, and the Financial Report for the month.
With October weeks away, the board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gilmer Chamber utilizing its buses again this year. With an increase in the hourly rate for drivers of the buses, the $56,000 agreement was approved during their regular meeting. The largest event of the year in Gilmer County, the buses typically run between several locations including the downtown area for Apple Arts, the joining event for the Apple Festival, the school’s parking lot for visitors to the festival, and the festival grounds themselves.
The board moved on to grant applications for the College and Career Academy at the Larry Walker Education Center. In support of a $3 million grant for the College and Career Academy, a requirement came up to include a Letter of Support from the Board of Education. The board recently approved the transferring of instructional units in July to bring it into state compliance with the transfer and phase out of buildings in order to put the state credit earnings in there proper place.
The 2022 bond bus approval and September’s monthly financial report rounded out the meeting’s financial approvals alongside purchasing policy information including additional weights for GHS. Board member Joe Pflueger asked about the purchase after the board spent $40,000 in June on new weights for the high school. The purchase came for replacing broken weights as well as 3 additional weight stations due to high volume of students using and waiting on the original stations. With the three additional stations, nine total are now in use at the high school.
Purchases also include $12,000 in inspections for the school system as the board looks to recover from a recent lightning strike that damaged the main administration building and shining a light on a need for an additional or replacement to generators in the system.
Gilmer Schools replaces turf on Pettit Field
Featured Stories, News August 23, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Originally discussed last year with the end zones appearing to fade and returning to the topic in February 2022, the BOE has been looking to replace the turf on the football field.
Not completely satisfied with the original turf, but also being in the later years of the field’s 10-year lifespan, the BOE began looking at possibly a discounted replacement option. Receiving bids from Shaw SportsTurf, AstroTurf, and FieldTurf, the school system has AstroTurf as the low bidder. Returning later, they held a meeting on the football field in June where they discussed options including further discounting the price of replacement due to considerations on the field and work from AstroTurf on patching the current field. AstroTurf manufactured the field that is currently in use, but SportsTurf originally installed the field in 2016.
With agreements made for a lower price, coming down from AstroTurf’s original bid at $385,000 to the new price of $320,000.
The board will not be replacing the pad under the turf, but will be replacing the field and fill sitting atop it. According to Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley, considering the 10-year life span of the actual turf carpet, and calculating the average cost of replacing that layer ranging between $460,000 to $500,000, he stated that breakdown would come to $45,000 to $50,000 per year. Ridley went on to state that at the end of the 2022 season, GHS will have had seven full seasons played on their field, three years early of the scheduled replacement.
Dr. Ridley stated, “The AstroTurf proposal is roughly $140,000 to $165,000 off the normal price of replacement. And divided across those three years, that brings the excess cost of early replacement to zero.”
As the Board of Education officially approved the AstroTurf proposal, the replacement is scheduled to take place on between December 15 and December 31, 2022. Ridley noted that the shorted timeframe comes as the won’t be replacing or working on the pad or under the field, instead they will be cutting up the turf carpet at the seams, rolling it up and laying down the new turf.
Boardmember Joe Pflueger took the opportunity to ask the Superintendent if he was absolutely sure if this was the right product. To which, Dr. Ridley assured the board that, through his own research and through discussions with other schools and their superintendents, AstroTurf is the right product. He also addressed that they are offering considerations as the board wasn’t completely happy with the previous product. Ridley stated, “They’re treating us right.”
Appeal filed as BOC and BOE discuss Tax Assessors issue
Featured Stories, News August 20, 2022
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – Both the BOC’s special meeting and the BOE’s monthly work session saw discussion after falling median sales ratios in the Tax Assessors Office could set the county up for another state consent order and penalties in fees.
Chief Appraiser, Theresa Gooch stated that if the county’s median falls below a 38, the first consequence comes as the possibility of losing some public utility money or tax revenue. This number comes from the state’s Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) studies that occur annually. This means the Audit will look at samples of sales in the year and look at the sale value and compare that to what the county Tax Assessors assessed the value at. Since the state expects the assessors to set there evaluations at 40 percent of the property’s value. The optimum ratio, according to the state, is set between 38 and 42 percent so that there is no major variations.
However, to “pass” the audit, a term presented by BOE Finance Director Trina Penland, the assessed evaluations must fall between 36 percent and 44 percent, allowing for a 4 percent margin of error on either side as some might say. The report of the test samples for 2021 in Gilmer County fell to 35.88 percent, according to Penland’s report.
The study lags, however, according to Gooch who explained that the Department uses 2021 sales to set 2021 values while the county must use 2020 sales to anticipate and set expected 2021 values. The time lag also comes as the county has to have its values set by January 1, 2021. The state, however, comes later as Gooch said in the August 2022 meeting that the county just received the study results. Since the county’s and the states values are at odds, the discrepancy arises. The difference is so stark this year with the rising inflation and market values in just the course of one year.
There is no immediate consequence this year as the county is not under an official review year, Gooch said that will take place next year with regards to the 2022 assessments currently in their final stages. The Tax Assessors will use this information to set the expected 2023 values, but the state will wait until the end of 2023 to set those values based on actual sales.
With the current issue, she urged the county to formally file an appeal to have their concerns on record that Gilmer is “not happy with the findings.” Additionally, Gooch noted that the county could rise up again and make the requirement by next year’s review, but she has concerns if the state continues studies with the time difference allowing major influences to change market values drastically between the county’s anticipatory values from 2022 and the states actuals from 2023.
Not meeting the state required study median causes a fine, County Chairman Charlie Paris noted $174,000. The option is going under a consent order. Paris also noted that the last time the county was under a consent order, “it cost us more than paying the fine.”
In addition to those, Penland reported to the BOE that the Tax Assessors will also have to change their ratios for the digest in coming years, further reducing the money collected for both the Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners budgets.
Gilmer County is not the only county going through this issue currently as Penland showed reports from 2019, 2020, and 2021 audits with more and more counties falling out of compliance each year. In the 2021, the majority of North Georgia along with counties all over the state are facing this same issue of being out of compliance.
Gooch reported that the last time Gilmer County was out of compliance, with a median percentage below 36, was “prior to 2010” and the last time it was out of optimal range, with a median percentage below 38, was 2013.
BOC approves county millage rates for 2022
News August 16, 2022
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – Set for final approval this week, the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners held a special called meeting approving both theirs and the Board of Educations approved millage rates.
The Board of Education advertised their millage rate at 11.099 mills. Approved by the county, the BOE’s millage rate calculates for a tax levy of $20,123,750. After advertisement and approval from the Board of Education last week, the item must be approved by the Board of Commissioners after as the county government is the official tax collection entity.
After the motion for the BOE, the commissioners moved on to their own rates, originally motioning to approve the rate at 5.541 mills. However, after the motion from Chairman Charlie Paris and a second from Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson, Post Commissioner Hubert Parker again advocated for a further reduction past the Rollback Rate. Officially advocating for a tax cut, Parker said that with the rising inflation, the county needed to make an effort, even a small one, to relieve some of that stress.
Paris has noted in previous meeting that the inflation is a concern for both the citizens and the county, who is still facing rising costs and contract renegotiations due to inflation. However, he joined discussions and said he had the county Finance Officer, Sandi Holden, look into further decreases. Parker originally spoke about options of going further down to 5,45 mills and later noted the even 5.50 mills would send a good message.
Acquiescing to the option of 5.50 mills, the board voted down the original motion of 5.541 mills. Then, a new motion by Paris came for approval of 5.50 mills. Seconded by Parker, the motion passed unanimously. In addition to the millage rate, Post Commissioner Parker suggested a letter to constitutional officers and department heads in the county to hold in mind the rising inflation in the final months of this budget and entering the budget process for next year.
Parker read a suggestion for that later stating, “As you are aware, the county is operating a tight budget and unusually high inflation has caused it to be even tighter. This may be a good time to review your budget for the current year and adjust accordingly.”
Additionally, the county continued its 1 mill General Obligation Bond Millage Rate.
Gilmer Schools hits fifth consecutive Award for Financial Distinction
Board of Education, News July 20, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Through COVID, school closures, and changing Superintendents, Gilmer Schools is continuing what is fast becoming a tradition in its Financial Department. Once again this year, the Financial Department, with Director and CFO Trina Penland, has received the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) Award of Distinction for Excellent Financial Reporting.
Trina Penland, Gilmer BOE Director of Finance
For five consecutive years, Gilmer County has received this award.
A rare award for school administrations, usually only roughly 20% of municipalities that report in the DOAA receive the award. These include county school systems, city school systems, and universities. Even rarer, Gilmer shares the running streak of consecutive awards with only a few of those municipalities according to reports on the DOAA website.
The Distinction Award is given to those submitting “quality financial statements and supporting documentation in a timely manner.” They must also have an unmodified audit opinion free of any “significant deficiencies or material weaknesses.” Candidates must also comply with all Transparency in Government Act requirements.
According to their site, “The Best Practice Criteria has been established to recognize better practices for financial reporting and controls. This Certificate of Achievement encourages Local Boards of Educations to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles and recognize individual organizations that are successful in achieving that goal.”
On top of their five year streak, the school system is actually celebrating its sixth award in the last seven years.
Though the Board receives the award as the reporting entity, they lay the recognition at the feet of CFO Trina Penland and the finance staff as they offered their congratulations to Penland during the July BOE Worksession.
Financial approvals come as BOE finishes fiscal year
Board of Education, News June 26, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – June marks the end of Gilmer BOE’s fiscal year and the preparations for the new year are receiving final approvals before July. With fuel bids, natural gas, and the FY 23 budget all on the agenda, the school system prepared for its new school year.
Already approved as the tentative budget, this now moves into official status as the actual FY 2023 budget with the final touches and modifications made for the $45 million budget. This did increase slightly since the tentative budget approval as it went from $45,012,326 to final approval at $45,739,326 in June’s meetings. The difference in revenues and expenditures also slightly increased from $2,788,218 of expenditures over revenues to $2,810,338 of expenditures over revenue.
Just like the tentative budget approval, the BOE adjusts for changes like the governor’s $2,000 increase in teacher’s salaries, cost of living increases, and QBE Allotment changes, and an increase to all classified salary schedules to a minimum starting hourly pay of $12 and an eight hour workday for those classified staff.
This final budget approval is expected to take the BOE’s fund balance from $22,066,332 in July 2022 to $19,255,994 in June 2023.
The BOE also approved the 2022 Amended Budget in June and was approved for the expenditures total at $43,101,121 in the general fund.
In addition to general budgets, the Board of Education approved SCANA Energy for natural gas provider with the contract set to go from July 2022 through June 2024. Prices were set at $0.749 per therm plus $8.50 times the Dedicated Day Design Capacity.
Morgan and Hunt Oil Company were approved for Fuel with their bid of 0.0375 over cheapest rack price plus a freight cost for both Diesel and Ethanol Free Gasoline.
Other bidders on fuel included Petroleum Traders Corp at 0.0334 over highest rack cost and Gladieux Trading at 0.0693 “over rack price.”
With unanimous approvals these bid approvals were accepted for the new year.
BOE to discuss vape devices and vapor detectors in June
News June 2, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – An ongoing problems in the majority of schools in America, Vape devices have become prominent in Gilmer’s schools as well as this year saw 47 incidents involving vapes in Gilmer High School, 51 incidents involving vapes occurred at the middle school level, and even 4 vape incidents occurred in elementary schools in Gilmer County.
Of the 47 incidents at Gilmer High School, six were drug related according to Assistant Superintendent Dana Berry as he presented the proposal with statistics. Gilmer Schools has recently run trials with a device and the current proposal is to purchase and use Verkada devices that detect certain vapors in school bathrooms.
In addition to the use of substances in the schools, there is also an issue that Berry pointed out as students try to flush their vapes in order to avoid getting caught. This clogs the piping and sewer systems causing damage and requiring the schools to hire a team to come and repair the piping and remove the devices.
According to Berry, the detectors can not only detect the vapors, but can sample them to determine what the vapor includes and can send multiple text notifications to administrators as soon as the vapor is detected. At that point the device also takes photos outside of the restrooms of those who entered soon before the vapors were detected so that administrators can see the one or number of people who entered before the detection and can handle these cases.
The Verkada sensors can also offer administrators a percentage of confidence that the system has in the substances make-up. Berry stated in the meeting that they have actually tested a number of devices, but Verkada’s sensors actually had the number of incidents go down as students stopped going into that bathroom to use the vapes. He later said that implementation into all the bathrooms would push schools towards prevention instead of reaction to students using them as the word of the devices spreads.
The proposal could also extend this system beyond the restrooms with a similar system for incorporation into the school systems buses.
Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said that vape devices have become a more prevalent major issue that principals deal with and he went so far as to call vape usage a “clear and present danger” in the school system. A sentiment that was touched on by Berry as well as he noted that some of the vape devices contained substances with THC so concentrated that a student could easily overdose on the substance.
Another concept that Dr. Ridley addressed was that the 47 incidents in the high school and the 51 incidents in the middle school are just the incidents that administrators caught. An issue he said the sensors could address as the initially increase the number of incidents as the sensor devices constantly monitor, but then ultimately lower the incidents as those using the vapes have fewer and fewer locations to use them.
The proposal includes a three year leasing to buyout at the end. Even if the board decides not to keep utilizing the Verkada services for updates, Berry said that at the end of the three years, Gilmer Schools will own the devices.
BOE approves advertisement of Tentative Budget
News June 1, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – With the school year ended and the Board of Education (BOE) looking to begin the new one, a special called meeting saw the board approve advertisement for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Tentative Budget.
A $45,012,326 general fund budget, the BOE will advertise the budget before implementation on July 1, 2022. Adding together all four funds of the Board of Education including the General Fun, Special Revenues, Capital Projects, and Debt Service, the county’s education system is estimating to spend over $100 million, sourced through several places from grants, ESPLOST, taxpayers, state funding, and even smaller revenue sources such as school lunches which are scheduled to be returning to normal operations next year and leaving behind the free lunches for all program.
The estimated total revenue in the general fund budget is $42,224,108 and totals $2,788,218 of expenditures over revenues.
Taking stock of changes like the governor’s $2,000 increase in teacher’s salaries, cost of living increases, and QBE Allotment changes, the tentative budget is adjusted according to the best estimates and information that the state is sending our county in addition to local changes like local taxes, including property and TAVT, and local increases in scheduling and pay, including an increase to all classified salary schedules to a minimum starting hourly pay of $12 and an eight hour workday for those classified staff.
Finance Director Trina Penland noted that the increase to a full eight hour workday will allow school administrators to have some extra help on specific needs depending on the school and the day.
The budget also includes increases to select Academic, Activity, and Athletic supplements and an increase in elementary school teachers to handle larger classroom sizes. Gilmer Schools have provided a full breakdown of the presentation on their website.
The revenue estimation is based on receiving the same amount of money through local tax revenue, this means it operates under the assumption of continuing adoption of the Rollback Millage Rate designed to have a government entity bring in the same amount of money despite an increasing in residents, growth, or other factors.
The budget will be back before the board during the June 20, 2022, Work Session and the June 23, 2022, Regular Meeting and will be the last time citizens can sign up to speak about the budget before approval.
School Nutrition changes coming this summer
News May 22, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer Schools will be seeing a major federal program end this summer for the Nutrition Department as many changes are beginning to show in the department. Not all will be in the federal space though as Seamless Summer will be kicking off on June 6 and lasting until July 22.
In addition to the news of the school nutrition department not getting a bid renewal from US Foods, current indications from the Federal Government have the school system preparing to also not continue the COVID outbreak response that allowed free lunches for all. Instead, it was stated this week that Gilmer Schools will likely return to the standard National School Lunch Program and Provision 2 for Breakfast.
This means that those applying for free and reduced lunches will need to refill those forms out for next year. The school system encouraged all parents to fill out those forms during the free meals for all as the state was still keeping track of them. Continuing in the same efforts, the Nutrition Department is returning to the same message as last year, encouraging all parents to fill out the free/reduced lunch forms. This year, they will be processed and return to normal operation of the program unless something changes over the summer.
Locations, times, and more information for the Gilmer Schools’ Seamless Summer program.
Schools are also preparing for the summer itself as a new location has been added to the Seamless Summer Program. With eight total locations this year, Seamless Summer sites include Gilmer High School, Tower Road, the Boys and Girls Club, the Gilmer County Health Department, Ellijay’s First United Methodist Church, Mulberry Apartments, Sunlight Baptist Church, and the Bobcat Café Mobile Site will run on Dalton Street. All sites will run lunch around noon with the specific site’s times listed in the photo to the right.
In addition to the Seamless Summer, the school system is adding a Summer STEM Camp Monday June 27 through Thursday June 30, 2022, at Ellijay Elementary School. The Stem Camp will also be running at each Seamless Summer Programs at different times throughout the program, but the June 27 Ellijay Elementary School location is open to all students between Kindergarten and 5th Grade. It will also operate longer as it goes daily from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The school nutrition department could be seeing more changes in operations as they continue handling challenges with food distributors, but nothing was said about canceling the summer programs due to food. Instead, Director Partin encouraged students to visit the locations and said that these locations were strategically located, including the additional location, to maximize access for students in the county.
Food shortages come to Gilmer Schools nutrition department
News May 17, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – “I’ve never been asked ‘Do we need a refrigerated truck,'” said Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley, “We might need one.” These comments were in response to a growing issue in food and nutrition for the school system.
US Foods did not renew a food bid even after Gilmer revised the bid requests in April according to School Nutrition Director Patricia Partin who spoke on the issue during the Board of Education’s May work session this week. She said that many issues are facing Georgia schools and Gilmer is not alone in this issue. In fact, she noted over a dozen other counties are also without the bid.
Challenges of distribution centers, transportation, shortage of labor, and other issues are causing the problems that the board is facing. Partin responded to the issue saying, “No matter, guys, we will feed our students.”
Partin asserted that if she had to go out herself to find places for the schools to purchase food, she would. Partin said that she has even met with Senator Raphael Warnock’s office to discuss the issue and have further meetings with the state officials. She also noted that she has been working alongside Fannin and Pickens to share information and find a solution.
Clarifying further, Dr. Ridley said that the base of the issue is that the school system is having trouble finding a distributor to sell to them as most find it easier and more profitable to sell to businesses like restaurants. School systems closer to distribution hubs are having less issue, but for counties at a further distance, the problem becomes more severe.
One of the possible solutions involves larger orders that are ordered less often. Superintendent Ridley stated, “We’re going to be probably storing more food than we ever have.”
Another possible solution would see Gilmer purchasing a refrigerated truck and hiring a driver. As quoted, Dr. Ridley said any possible solution is being investigated at this point. He said, “For us, this is an all-hands=on=deck problem and it’s something we’re having to address.”
Solution discussions are going from simple answers like purchasing a truck to incorporating the Highway 515 counties as a single group order. The issue is not only affecting the bid renewal, but orders are coming in short as well. An issue that the nutrition department has handled and worked around as it hasn’t been a crippling issue until now.
BOE bids for Legion Road gas tank sees stark difference
Board of Education, News April 12, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer’s Board of Education saw a stark difference in two bids collected this week for installing a new 10,000 gallon gas tank on Legion Road.
The tank will be an above-ground storage unit with dispensary installed for the school system’s storage and use at their Legion Road annex and will be split, according to the bids, as a 6,ooo/4,000 gallon tank that holds both diesel and gasoline. According to reports the tanks could split as 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 4,000 gallons of gasoline or the split could go to 8,000 gallons of diesel and 2,000 gallons of gas if the board wished.
The bids include the required equipment needed for the tanks and pumps. The bid totals came in at $230,371.43 for JF Petroleum Group and $97,810.00 for McNally & Associates, INC. According to the bid paperwork, JF Petroleum is based out of Morrisville, North Carolina, and McNally & Associates is based out of Kennesaw, Georgia. Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said his intent on Thursday will be to recommend the $97 k bid for approval as the low bidder.
The large disparity in the bid was questioned at first. But it was not the only surprise in pricing that the board of education saw in relation to the gas tanks. Ridley also stated that he has already approved the removal of the tanks at the high school transportation department. Costing roughly $13,000, this did not require board approval. The board discussed the removal costs some expected it to be much higher. Dana Berry, Assistant Superintendent – Operations, stated that the company has been asked to confirm the bid several times. He also stated that the school system would make sure it was a fixed bid.
Berry said the school system has been in contact and following EPA guidelines for tank removal, he noted that filling the tanks with sand was another option, but with the low bid, the board did not speak further on this option.
GHS honored twice for AP Honor School and a student as Georgia Scholar
News April 9, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer Schools has reason to celebrate this week as Gilmer High School was honored by the state as 1 of 239 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools from 88 LEAs that State School Superintendent Richard Woods named earlier this week for 2022.
The 2022 AP Honor Schools are named in eight categories, based on the results of 2021 AP courses and exams. AP exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning at the high school level; students who receive a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit. ‘
The category that Gilmer High School was honored for was AP STEM Schools. Schools named to this category must have a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses. (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles).
This is an annual recognition for schools as the GaDOE began recognizing AP Honor Schools in 2008.
State Superintendent Richard Woods stated, “We are committed to expanding opportunities for Georgia students, including in advanced and accelerated coursework. I offer my sincere congratulations to each of this year’s AP Honor Schools, and thank each teacher, student, and school leader who worked hard to create strong AP opportunities in these Georgia schools.”
Kinsleigh Purvis, Gilmer High School’s 2022 Salutatorian, 2022 PAGE STAR Student, and 2022 Georgia Scholar.
Gilmer Schools also offered congratulations to GHS and all of its AP students and AP teachers. However, their is one student among the high school who is being honored specifically as another annual recognition was presented by Woods recently, the 2022 Georgia Scholars.
GHS honored one of its students in February of this year as the 2022 PAGE STAR Student. That student is Kinsleigh Purvis. She is the daughter of Steven and Kara Purvis of Talking Rock, Georgia. As the PAGE STAR Student, she named former Mathematics teacher Ashley Stover as her STAR teacher at the time. Now, Purvis is still achieving more in here senior year at GHS as she is among Superintendent Woods’ 2022 Georgia Scholars.
According to Georgia State Department of Education, a total of 216 graduating seniors from across Georgia have been recognized as 2022 Georgia Scholars. Through the Georgia Scholar program, the Georgia Department of Education identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in school and community life. Georgia Scholars are students who carried exemplary course loads during their four years of high school, performed excellently in all courses, successfully participated in interscholastic events at their schools and in their communities, and assumed leadership roles in extracurricular activities sponsored by their schools. Each Georgia Scholar receives a seal for their diploma as well.
Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley stated, “I offer my sincere congratulations to Kinsleigh on her designation as a 2022 Georgia Scholar. As our class of 2022 salutatorian and STAR student, it is obvious that she is an impressive young lady with a bright future ahead of her. We are extremely proud of her achievements.”
First Candidates forum for Gilmer Elections in April
Election, News March 30, 2022
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – The Gilmer Chamber will be hosting the first candidate forum for the 2022 elections in the county. Hosting candidates from the Post 2 Commissioner race and the Board of Education races, the forum is set to cover all challenged races.
Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the event will be held at the Piedmont Community Center on Industrial Boulevard on April 11, 2022. According to the Chamber’s website, Steve Purvis will be moderating the candidates forum. Qualifying for these local elections ended on March 11, 2022.
While the Board of Commissioners Chairman position saw only the incumbent qualify, the Post Commissioner Candidates will be on hand for a meet and greet at the event. The candidates include Gary Engel. John Marshall, and Tom Whatley.
Both Board of Education positions saw opposition in qualifying. Board of Education Post 4 saw the Incumbent Michael Bramlett and Michele Penland qualify as candidates. Board of Education Post 5 did not have the incumbent qualify, but instead saw Jacob Callihan and Sam Snider qualify as candidates.
According to the chamber, this moderated forum will see candidates answering questions about their thoughts and stances on issues that impact the workforce and business in Gilmer County. The Chamber in the encouragement and progress of business and industry in the county. They also works alongside the Greater Gilmer JDA (Joint Development Authority) in their efforts to continue economic development within the county.
A major issue in the county that has risen further over the last two years, workforce housing centralizes as a topic many citizens are looking to explore. Staffing issues have also risen in the area as the state as a whole continues recovering from the pandemic and other political issues.
The forum is open to the public for all citizens to come and listen to the proceedings as each candidate will be given time to speak.
Gilmer approves revised bid for gym scoreboard
Board of Education, News March 23, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer’s BOE has spent four months analyzing engineering and specifications for scoreboards in the high school’s gym. Since the approval of the Plainview LED scoreboard for the football field, the board has been looking at replacing the gym scoreboards and had an opportunity to look at options in December 2021.
Three options were presented for the Board of Education on Thursday, but approval came for Option C. Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said in the meeting that this option was the revised bid where they changed the format of the boards. The option still has the middle two-sided board but with two smaller fixed-digit scoreboards on the side walls. The three options totals in prices were Option A for $551,569, Option B for $471,569, and Option C for $297,879.56.
Final approval for the gym scoreboard came for Option C with a 4-1 vote. Board member Joe Pflueger was the dissenting vote.
As stated earlier in the week, the board also is adding shot clocks with illuminated backboards with this project. The middle two-sided video board will be suspended from the roof by a hoist, according to reports.
Plainview was on hand during the week’s meetings to discuss questions that included the maintenance, how the shot clocks and backboard illumination would work, and the hoist option over purchasing a new lift. The scoreboard is set to work alongside the gym’s audio system that has been replaced in the last few years.
Citizens petition and speak against non-renewal of contract for Poff
News March 23, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – March has seen increases in activity and a crowd in attendance to the Gilmer County Board of Education’s March regular meeting on March 17, 2022, to speak to the board about not renewing the annual contract for Justin Poff, a certified athletic trainer at Gilmer High School.
According to posts and even a 548 signature petition circulating around, citizens are pushing back against the decision and calling it a “detrimental loss.”
As per their policy, the board did not respond to public speakers, but they listened to both Heather Rayborn and Amber Goodwin who spoke during their meeting. Both speakers supported a change in decision and encouraged renewal of the contract with Poff due to his efforts and an “above and beyond” work ethic that they reported to the board.
Rayborn stated her son has worked closely with Poff to overcome shin-splints and a concussion at one point. She said, “These are things that you may not be aware of, but our children need him [Poff]. They depend on him. They trust him and they trust that if they get hurt on that field, that he will be the person who cares for them and that he will do it wholeheartedly and correctly.”
Goodwin also reported injuries for her daughter who was cared for by Poff. She urged the importance of having an athletic trainer for the schools having gone through these situations with her children. She stated, “At sporting events, I have seen him take care of other athletes as well, offering a hand to take care of athletes on opposing teams… As a parent, there are not many people that I trust with the safety of my children who are athletes. But, I fully trust Justin Poff with them. Not only does he take care of them, but it is evident that he cares for each one of them.”
In addition to those who spoke, there are others who were present at the meeting and those who have supported the petition to the board. The petition on Change.org, posted by Vanessa Hataway, states,
“Gilmer high school is not wanting to renew Justin Poff’s contract next year. He is our Certified Athletic Trainer for Gilmer High School. I have never met anyone in my children’s athletic career who cares about their minds/bodies/injuries the way Poff does. Our children only get one body, and Poff cares about them and their injuries more than throwing them back in a game when they shouldn’t be. Our student athletes NEED and WANT him. Our Parents NEED and WANT him. If we lose Poff this will be an absolutely detrimental loss to our children and our community. I know my child is in the absolute best hands with Justin Poff, and we will fight to keep him! Let’s let our school system know that this loss is not okay, and that we will be heard!”
While much of personnel hiring like this contract come through administrators as recommendations to the Board of Education, they are presented in the meeting as a recommendation by the Superintendent. Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said that in addition to listening to those who spoke in the meeting he has also sat down privately with many citizens who have asked about the position.
Dr. Ridley declined to comment on any specifics about Poff, but did tell FYN that the school system is looking to continue the services of a Certified Athletic Trainer at Gilmer High. He said that they are looking at several possibilities for the future and are considering different options. Ridley stated, “There is no plans to scrap the program itself. We are planning to still provide those services in one form or another.”
He also noted that the school system does a lot of its hiring and personnel during the spring season as it handles staff retiring at the end of the school year, some who may change schools or move away, and those who may transfer positions in the school system. Filling all of the roles is a priority for the season.
As such, Ridley did state that there is many considerations that go into a position each year. When asked about the school’s CTAE pathways, Ridley confirmed that one consideration the school might look at is a return to a sports medicine pathway. In 2018, Gilmer looked to advance certain healthcare pathways in the school through a remodel of the health science classroom.
BOE looking at gym scoreboards this week
News March 15, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer’s Board of Education is moving forward with bids for the gym scoreboards this week. During their work session, the board had a chance to discuss some points and ask questions before the final vote this Thursday, March 17, 2022.
The board has been looking at replacing the gym scoreboards and had an opportunity to look at options in December 2021, but held off to further investigate the engineering aspects and needs of the High School’s gym. Now, bids are being looked at for the board and options for installation.
According to Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley, the board has been looking at four total video boards with one on each side of the court and a suspended, two-sided video board in the middle. However, that has changed this month as the board is not looking at another option which still has the middle two-sided board but with two smaller fixed-digit scoreboards on the side walls.
The board is also looking at shot clocks with illuminated backboards for the gym in these options. Both options were said to include the shot clock addition and illumination.
Both options are being considered with the final vote to see which option will be chosen at their regular Thursday meeting.
The middle two-sided video board will be suspended from the roof by a hoist, according to reports. The board was told that they would have to purchase a lift to reach the ceiling if they hadn’t gone with the hoisted option. With the cable system, maintenance will be able to let the board down for work when needed.
With additional incomes this year like the CARES Act funding alongside ESPLOST and other funds, the board and Director of Finance Trina Penland said that some special funds have relieved some pressure on the general fund this year, allowing for improvements to continue on projects like the scoreboards. ESPLOST projects also continue like the recently completed Clear Creek Elementary School and the still to come Performing/Fine Arts Center.