Pickens BOE recognized for School Board Appreciation Week
Board of Education March 11, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — The Pickens Board of Education met prior to School Board Appreciation week, where they received recognition from Director of Community Engagement Destini Shope on behalf of the community. The board also approved several purchases during the meeting.
Shope spoke briefly in anticipation of School Board Appreciation Week, a statewide initiative named through a proclamation from Governor Brian Kemp for the week of March 14, 2022. “Pickens County board members support learning initiatives in the district and work to provide students and teachers all the resources needed to be as successful as possible,” Shope said, “Additionally, the Pickens County Board of Education is debt free and has continued to decrease the education portion of the millage rate for many consecutive years.” Shope recognized each board member and noted the work required of the board outside of monthly meetings, including conferences and training events. “We cannot ask for more when it comes to a board and we are thankful for their dedication to our students, staff, and community, and we rely upon their encouragement and support to make Pickens County Schools one of the best school systems in the state.” She also presented the board members with certificates and gifts.
Purchases
During the March 10 meeting, the board approved the purchase of six new school buses at a total cost of $672,000. The buses will be purchased from a new company, a move that Chief Operations Officer Stacy Gilleland said will ultimately save the county around $35,000. Vice Chair Tommy Gartrell commented on the purchase, saying “This is just a continuation of our efforts to keep a modern, safe fleet for students. None of our buses are over 10 years old, and its this plan that we use that keeps it that way so we know that all our students are in a quality bus.”
The board also approved repairs to the Pickens High School Stadium. Potential repairs include installing new seating, repainting, and resealing concrete throughout the stadium. It was also noted by several members that the repairs are both cosmetically and structurally necessary, as well as a proactive move to save money on more extensive repairs in the future. Additionally, the board approved a $269,253 greenhouse purchase for Pickens Junior High.
Other Business
During his Superintendent Report, Gilleland also updated the board on several projects happening in the school district. Gilleland first noted that there was a major water main leak at the Pickens County High School that affected the school’s fire suppression system and roof leaks at several schools, but explained both issues were resolved. In a continuation of the county’s effort to employ more bus drivers, Gilleland told the board that entry level driver training classes are currently underway, following changes to training regulations.
The board also approved a resolution that allows Pickens School Board members to opt into the State Health Benefit Plan for Public School Employees. Superintendent Tony Young spoke briefly on the resolution, “All board members serve in a difficult job for $100 per meeting. This would be an added optional benefit for this board, as well as future boards.”
Bell emphasized the importance of promoting “Option B” to certain students during his presentation.
Pickens High School College and Career Coach Daniel Bell gave a detailed presentation to the board about his school’s dual enrollment programs. Bell primarily highlighted “Option B” dual enrollment students during his presentation. Bell explained “Option B” as a path to graduation that only requires students to take nine high school courses before moving on to some form of vocational schooling to complete an Associates Degree, a diploma program, or two technical certificates. That path, he said, is a savior for some students who would not graduate otherwise. According to Bell, 9 “Option B” PHS students will be graduating in May, and he expects that number to increase in the coming school years. Board Chair Sue Finley invited Bell to the board’s next work session to further discuss the needs of the program, and several board members expressed their desire to take action that will continue its development.
A memorandum of understanding with Brenau University that will allow Brenau students to observe classes within Pickens County schools was also approved during the meeting.
Pickens Board of Education holds first meeting of 2022
Board of Education January 14, 2022
PICKENS, Ga. — The Pickens County Board of Education held their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 13. During the meeting the board re-elected it’s chair and vice chair, recognized the Pickens High School esports coach, and discussed continuing shortages in the school system.
At the beginning of the meeting, the board voted to fill the positions of chair and vice chair. Board Chair Sue Finley and Vice Chair Tommy Gartrell were both unanimously selected to serve another year in their respective positions.
The board also recognized PHS’s esports coach Will Nix. Nix spoke briefly at the meeting, sharing his team’s success: “We have finished fourth this year … four out of 141 schools competing this year. I couldn’t be more proud of my team.” Finley spoke for the board saying, “We appreciate all your efforts. We know that anybody who sponsors a team gives much more than their bonus, but gentlemen you have made us so proud.”
Chief Operations Officer Stacy Gilleland spoke during the superintendent reports portion of the meeting. He updated the board on the construction of new agricultural facilities and spoke about the shortages the Pickens school system continues to face. “Transportation, of course we’re still struggling daily with just sickness of COVID and other illnesses to cover routes,” Gilleland said. He explained that upcoming training classes will increase the amount of drivers available. Gilleland also noted that Pickens County Schools Nutrition Services also struggles with supply and staff shortages. “We have 32 employees in food service. At one time this week, we had seven out with COVID, five out with other sicknesses. That’s 37.5% of her [School Nutrition Director Beth Thompson] staff,” Gilleland emphasized.
Pickens BOE updated on progress of new Agricultural Facilities
Board of Education, Community October 15, 2021
PICKENS, Ga. — The new agricultural facilities were an important topic at the Pickens County Board of Education meeting on Oct. 14. Concerns about staff shortages across the county were also brought up at the meeting.
Agricultural Facilities
GA FFA Alumni Association President Greg Long addressing the Pickens BOE.
Gilleland also updated the board on the agricultural facilities currently under construction. The board approved the guaranteed maximum pricing for the PHS agricultural facility at $6,668,139. Gilleland noted that the GMP marked over a million dollars in savings from the original estimates. He then spoke about the process of construction, which has been underway since the first meetings around one year ago. He noted that the FFA has been heavily involved in the process,“We let them tell us what they wanted, and we’re building what they wanted.”
Greg Long, President of Georgia FFA Alumni Association, spoke during the public comment section of the meeting. Long commended Superintendent Young and Mr. Gilleland for helping get the agricultural facility started, and recognizing its significance, “How gratifying it is to finally see somebody take a little bit of interest in the importance of what our Ag. program means in this community.”
Staff Shortage
Superintendent Young addressed the topic of staff shortages, “It’s been a very challenging year for staffing in a number of different areas.” During his superintendent report, Chief Operations Officer Stacy Gilleland first mentioned the issue of bus driver shortages, “We’re still struggling with driver shortage.” However, the county has approved two bus drivers this month, and is in the process of training four more drivers. Gilleland also brought up concerns about the school system’s food service staff: “We’re having to do a lot of subbing, and it’s been a real critical issue.”
The county, however, is working to address the current staffing issues. During the meeting, the board unanimously approved an amendment to the current bus driver schedule. The state of Georgia has a bus driver salary scale which caps increases to 19 years. This amendment, however, will extend the cap to 30 years. The board hopes the extension will help the county stand out in the job market and recruit more drivers.
Two board members spoke about the newly approved amendment. Mr. Gartell addressed the chair to acknowledge that the county will probably need to consider additional action in the future: “It seems to be a national shortage and we may have to move further as we go into this … but this is a good step that we’re able to take now, and hopefully the state will free up some funding for transportation.” Mr. Green also spoke, noting the importance of community input: “I appreciate a couple drivers that brought this to mine, and our, attention. It’s another prime example of ‘don’t be scared to speak up.’”
Other Business:
The Board of Education approved a memorandum of understanding with Georgia Hope, who will provide more mental health and counseling services to the school system.
Pickens BOE discusses start and dismissal times
Board of Education, Feature News March 20, 2020Pickens BOE discussed start and dismissal times but made no solid proposals as they learned there are no easy answers when it comes to the school schedules was the message during a recent called meeting.
No action was taken by the board and no comments from the public were allowed. Each option has positive and negative aspects.
Option 1: Leave the schedule as is. Middle and high school currently starts at 7:35 and ends at 2:10.
Option 2: Eliminate double bus routes.
“We’d love to do this, but we are short 10 drivers,” said Tony Young, assistant superintendent. “We’re facing some retirements, so next year, it could be 12-14 drivers.”
Option 3: Starting elementary school at 7:35, end at 2:10 and the middle and high school would start at 8:20 and dismiss at 3:10.
Pickens County BOE discussed the pros and cons to flipping the start times of the elementary with the middle and high school.
“This puts the issues on the other hand since we’re just flipping the times,” said Young.
The down side with the current elementary schedule is parents dropping their children off at 7 a.m. For those in aftercare, it’s a long day. Also, some middle and high school coaches work at the elementary school and have to leave at 2:10 to coach. This means paraprofessionals handle the last hour of their classes.
Buses pick up at 5:30 in the morning
However, because buses have to run two routes, flipping the schedule means some elementary school students, as young as five-years-old may have to get on the bus at 5:30 in the morning. Right now, middle and high school students are being picked up at 5:30 in the morning.
One board member said she didn’t like the idea of any student, regardless of age or grade, being picked up at 5:30 a.m.
“I don’t like getting picked up at that time and they don’t either,” she said.
The other downside is recess and instructional time would have to be cut. Anywhere from five to 15 minutes.
“There are no easy answers,” said Young. “Ideally, if we had the 10 bus drivers, the schools could start anytime they wanted.”
He said efforts to hire new drivers have been futile.
When asked if the board could take questions and comments from the audience, Tucker Greene, the Chairman of the Board, said they could from the attending principals, but the meeting wasn’t “the time or the place” to hear from the public on the matter.
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