Board will adopt policy to limit hot weather practices

The Lincoln County Board of Education heard the first reading of a policy containing guidelines for conducting practices for all sports on days when the temperature and humidity are extremely high.

The policy was under discussion at the regular meeting of the board held Tuesday, February 6.

Among other things, the policy calls for:

(1) The establishment of a chart which reflects the heat index for various combinations of temperature and humidity.

(2) The termination of practice when the heat index exceeds the level set by the school.

(3) The school to obtain information concerning the ratio of workout time to time allotted for rest and hydration at various heat levels.

(4) The use of a scientifically approved instrument that measures the heat index at each practice to ensure that the written procedures and guidelines are being followed.

A copy of the policy must be submitted to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) by March 1.

In other business, the board reviewed Governor Sonny Perdue's recommendations for the FY 2008 Budget. These included:

.. A three-percent raise for teachers, bus drivers, and lunchroom workers. The state funds allocated for this purpose do not cover raises for custodial and maintenance workers, secretaries, paraprofessionals, etc.

.. A 1.8-percent increase in health insurance coverage for the school system.

"State funds will help with some of the cost but not all, because some of our teachers are not state teachers," said Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools.

.. Continued funding of the School Nurse Program. The $30 million designated for this purpose does not cover the cost of raises for these employees.

.. The expansion of the Graduation Coach Program to middle schools at a cost of just over $21 million.

The governor's education budget likewise contains $8 million to pay training and experience costs for the existing graduation coaches at the high school level.

.. The funding of capital outlay projects at the 40-percent level.

Commenting on the Governor Perdue's decision to reduce the funding level, Dr. Edmunds said, "This will not affect the projects (re-roofing, painting, etc.) at LCES because we have already built up enough state funds to cover these costs. Still, we're hoping it goes back up to 100 percent so we can receive more entitlement money for the new school."

In further business, the board:

.. Was informed by Superintendent Edmunds that the LCHS Debate Team finished the season as the State Class A Runner-Up, placing ninth in the Class A-Class AAA Division.

"This is the tenth consecutive year that the debate team has placed in the top four in Class A," said the superintendent. "This is a tremendous accomplishment."

.. Was informed by Edmunds that members of the LCHS FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Chapter did well at the region competition and will go on to participate in the state competition in March. Moreover, Janelle Dukes was elected to the office of state vice president for Region IV for the second consecutive year.

.. Voted to adopt the 2007-2008 School Calendar which has school beginning on August 7 and ending May 23. Christmas holidays will run from December 20 to January 6.

.. Reviewed financial reports for the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) Fund through January 31, 2007; the General Fund for the period from July 1, 2006, through January 31, 2007; and Quarterly School Funds for the period from October 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006.

In a related item of business, the superintendent expressed concern about the impact aid the system receives from the United States Army Corps of Engineers in lieu of property taxes. "We have received no impact aid this fiscal year. The payment has been postponed until the spring because the corps is revising the regulations governing impact aid."

The system has projected that it will receive $201,000 in corps funds in the FY 2007 Budget.

The board also reviewed a report concerning the proceeds from the state football semi-final and final games. LCHS's share of the proceeds from these two games was $17,147 and $17,658, respectively.

.. Voted to approve a request from the Junior-Senior Prom Committee for use of the bus shop from February 1 through April 14 for the preparation, construction, and storing of prom decorations.

.. Voted to approve a request for selected band students to attend the Honors Band Clinic and Concert at the University of South Carolina February 15-18.

.. Voted to approve a request for Lincoln County FFA Chapter members to attend the Greenhand Jamboree and Success Conference March 2-3 at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington.

.. Voted to approve a request for FFA members to attend the Georgia FFA Convention which will be held in Macon April 26-28.

.. Voted to approve a request for FFA members to attend FFA Summer Camp June 11-15 at the Georgia FFAFCCLA Center.

.. Heard the first readings of revisions to the Noncertificated Personnel Policy and the Evaluation of Secretary Policy.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment of personnel. After returning from executive session and upon the recommendation of the principals and the superintendent, the board:

.. Voted to offer contracts to the following LCES teachers for the 2007- 2008 school year: Mollie Asbell, Jennifer Banks, Lindsey Barnett, Beth Beggs, Elaine Beggs, Kevin Blizzard, Barbara Boddie, Marcia Brown, Jill Clark, Bridgette Cliatt, Linda Cooper, Sharon Danner, Lindsey Davis, Linda Deal, Penny Dunaway, Loucklin Ellis, Amanda Etheridge, Beverly Fogarty, Michael Fogarty, Carol Ann Goolsby, JoAnn Gresham, Levern Hickman, Joyce Hogan, Erica Jansen, Sharon Jones-Gonzalez, Veronica Kelly, Rachel Kiernan, Holly Lawson, Julia Leverett, Mary Mason, Cathy McWhorter, Kathy McWhorter, Sonya Moon, Edie Murray, Pam Norman, Carol Olson, Eleanor Parnelle, Mildred Partridge, Kelly Phillips, Laney Phillips, Paul Reviere, Heather Riley, Monica Thurmond, Shelby Turner, Ashley Walker, and Mildred Wright.

.. Voted to offer contracts to the following LCMS teachers for the 2007- 2008 school year: Patty Arthur, Leigh Aycock, Sandra Aycock, Kenn Barnett, Billy Beale, Jan Bruns, Tonya Burt, Christie Bryan, Leverta Elam (part time), Willie Harris (part time), Ken Hayes, Faith Hill, Ray Holloway, Glen Matthews, Dionne Mills, Carol Norman, Pam Norman, Susan Pilgrim, Stacy Radford, Mary Jane Ramey, Becky Rice, Donna Turner, Jackie Wallace, Corliss Wideman, Rebecca B. Willis, and Brenda Willis (part time).

.. Voted to offer contracts to the following LCHS teachers for the 2007- 2008 school year: Marion Aycock, Luann Beale, Dana Brennan, Ellen Butler, Cherrie Campbell (part time), Larry Campbell (part time), Candace Chomskis, Lee Chomskis, Joann Collins (part time), Lori Cope, Shawn Davis, Dianne Dekreon, Janet Dukes, Jasper Dukes, Howard Ellis, Dennis Gay, Marcella Goldman, Glen Hardeman (part time), Mark Hill, Roderick Hilton, Carolee Hobbins, Henry Madden, Christie Mattison, Jeff McKinney, Tangie McKinney, Yvonne Morris, Carol O'Neill, Helene Rhodes, Lee Robinson, Jeanie Smith, Randy Smith, Kathy Thomas, Brittney Thompson, Jeri Tutt, Garnett Wallace (part time), Louise Waters, and Heather Yarbrough.

.. Voted to approve Lisa Bentley to serve as a teacher at LCMS for the 2007-2008 school year.

.. Voted to approve extended year contracts for vocational teachers.

.. Voted to approve Kevin Banks to serve as the teacher at the alternative school.

.. Voted to approve Rebecca Wright to serve as the school psychologist for the 2007-2008 school year.

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Judy Kirkland from her position as assistant superintendent, effective at the end of the current school year.

.. Voted to approve part-time contracts for Judy Kirkland, Ficklen Guin, and Joe Willis for the 2007-2008 school year.