BOE discusses lack of Impact Aid from corps
Impact Aid from the United States Army Corps of Engineers was under discussion at the regular meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Education held Tuesday, March 4.

The federal government pays the county Impact Aid in lieu of taxes on corps-owned property. The payments are administered by the United States Department of Education.

"The federal government finally came through with approximately $100,000 in Impact Aid - it was the first payment we've received in over a year," said Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of Lincoln County Schools. "We applied for the funds in June of 2007 and are just now getting our first payment.

"In years past, we would receive the first payment three or four months after the application was made, the second payment about six months into the fiscal year, and the final payment at the beginning of the next year," the superintendent continued. "Now, there's no way of predicting when we will receive a payment, and when we do get one, it is significantly less than in the past."

Last year, the system received $79,430 in Impact Aid generated by old applications. Over the last six years, the total has averaged approximately $150,000 annually. In fact, two years ago, the system received $250,000 in Impact Aid.

At the present time, the board budgets close to $100,000 in Impact Aid payments from the federal government each year.

"We need to maintain a high Fund Balance to cover instances when the $100,000 does not come in," said Dr. Edmunds. "If we cut the Fund Balance too much, we will have to make budget cuts and curtail spending or shift funds from one department to another."

The superintendent further explained that there is a budget crisis at the federal level. "While the federal government has adopted several spending resolutions, it has yet to approve a budget. Also, Impact Act doesn't seem to be a priority when compared with other programs the federal government has to fund."

In conclusion, Dr. Edmunds noted that Congressman Paul Broun has agreed to contact the United States Department of Education concerning the problems the system is having obtaining Impact Aid.

The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools represents 242 school districts across the country that have federally owned property within their boundaries.

A handout from the association, distributed to the board by Dr. Edmunds, states, "We are proud to host the federal laboratories, parks, and military bases in our districts. It is important to realize that as a result, we suffer a serious financial loss because of their presence.

"School districts are dependent upon local property taxes as a major revenue source to fund the education of their students. Because federally owned property does not pay taxes, the revenue for schools is dramatically reduced.

"The legislature realized its responsibility for this problem and initiated the Impact Aid program in the 1950s. Today, this program reimburses districts for only about five percent of the lost tax revenue, but Impact Aid may often represent 25, 50, or even of 75 percent of a school district's revenue.

"Impact Aid funds translate into lights and heat, textbooks, adequate teaching staff, truancy or drop out prevention programs, and hundreds of other support services for our nation's children. The cost of these services continues to increase, while the most recent appropriations have decreased."

In other business, the board:

• Reviewed financial reports for accounts at LCES and LCHS from October to December of 2007; the General Fund from July 1, 2007 through February 29, 2008; the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) Fund through February 29, 2008; and the Construction Fund through February 29, 2008.

It was noted that the system received $52,000 in revenues from the regular football season and post-season play.

Referring to the General Fund, Dr. Edmunds said, "With 67 percent of the fiscal year complete, we have expended 62 percent of our budgeted revenues. So far, we are within budget and operating pretty well."

Concerning the SPLOST Fund, the superintendent said, "This month's check of $60,666 is less than the $69,000 we received for February of 2007. However, when we compare the first six months of the 2008 fiscal year with the first six months of 2007, we find we are in better shape than we were this time last year."

.. Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that the week of March 17-21 has been designated as "School Board Appreciation Week" in Georgia by Governor Sonny Perdue. He then presented certificates of appreciation to the following board members: Dr. Robert Williams, chairman; Robert Hearst; Gail Remsen; Wayne Williford; and Becky Reed.

The certificates were provided by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA).

.. Voted to appoint Robert Hearst as the delegate and Becky Reed as the alternate delegate to the GSBA Delegate Assembly set for June 20 in Savannah.

.. Voted to approve the transfer of Bus 91-3 to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. The bus is used by the county to transport community service workers, but the board of education is still paying the insurance.

It was also recommended that the system ask the county to turn over any school buses it is not using at the present time, so the board of education may sell them.

.. Voted to purchase a 60-passenger school bus from Nalley Motor Trucks for the low bid of $71,960.

.. Voted not to participate in VHS, Inc. (Virtual High School) during the 2008-2009 school year. For a number of years, the system has participated in the Massachusetts-based VHS, Inc., which allows LCHS 10 seats per semester in the Internet school for close to $8,500 annually.

Now that the offerings of GVS (Georgia Virtual School) have grown to the point where they are comparable to those of VHS, the board decided to go exclusively with GVS, which is provided free of charge by the Georgia Department of Education.

• Reviewed the following policies: Regular Board Meetings, Competitive Interscholastic Activities (Grades 9- 12), Competitive Interscholastic Activities, and Noncompetitive Extracurricular Activities (Grades 6-12). The policies were approved with a couple of minor changes.

.. Voted to approve Change Order No. 1 for the re-roofing project at LCES. The change represented no cost to the system because the cost of the $3,000 drain was offset by a $3,000 credit, a result of the fact that it was not necessary to re-route the conduit at the gymnasium.

According to Superintendent Edmunds, the re-roofing project is now finished, and the board will sign the architect certification at its next regular meeting.

.. Was informed by the superintendent that the LCHS Debate Team has experienced a great deal of success at area qualifiers for national tournaments.

"Amy Dandron, Nikolas Spens, Sarah Herring, T.J. Carani, and Abigail Minor have received bids to participate in the National Forensic League (NFL) National Tournament in Las Vegas in June," said Dr. Edmunds. "Also, Meg Ball, Amy Dandron, and Abigail Minor have qualified to take part in the Catholic Forensic League (CFL) Grand National Tournament in Appleton, Wisconsin."

While the students will compete in Las Vegas, they will not be traveling to Wisconsin because the tournament is being held on Memorial Day Weekend, the weekend of graduation at LCHS.

"We are proud of our students and all they are doing to represent LCHS," said the superintendent. "They are not only winning at the state level but have the opportunity to win at the national level as well."

The Lincoln County speech and debate students have received a total of eight national tournament bids this year and 18 bids over the past four years.

.. Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that registration for pre-kindergarten begins Wednesday, March 13, at 8 a.m. at the board office. Prospective students must be four years old on or before September 1, 2008.

.. Was informed by the superintendent that while Medicaid will continue to pay for services (speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc.) provided directly to students who are eligible for this program, it will no longer pay for administrative services in this regard.

"The majority of the funds we were getting were for direct services, so this won't be a big reduction for us," said Superintendent Edmunds.

.. Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that Lincoln County Schools were not affected by the recent recall of beef.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment of personnel. Upon returning to regular session, the board:

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Sadie Harris from her paraprofessional position at LCHS, effective at the end of the current school year.

.. Voted to accept the resignation of Lacey Land from her teaching position at LCES, effective at the end of the current school year.

.. Voted to approve Larry Campbell, Joann Collins, and Glen Hardeman for contracts for the 2008-2009 school year for part-time employment at LCHS.

.. Voted to approve Brad Bohler for a teaching position at LCHS for the 2008-2009 school year.

.. Voted to approve Roxanna Blackwell and Lisa Goldman to serve at the will of the board as substitute teachers.

The next regular meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, April 1, at 7 p.m. at the board office on Metasville Road.