Scores beat CSRA averages; BOE calls for Medicare vote

The CSRA Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) recently announced that the Lincoln County School System was the highest scoring system in its 13-county service area on the Georgia Fifth-Grade Writing Assessment.

The local system scored an average of 219.13 on the test. The results for neighboring school districts were as follows: Columbia County, 218.71; McDuffie County, 211.46; Wilkes County, 199.15; Richmond County, 199.88; Warren County, 199.34; and Glascock County, 189.8.

School Superintendent Randall Edmunds shared the news with the Lincoln County Board of Education at the group's regular meeting held Tuesday, May 6.

"We are very proud of the fifthgrade teachers and students for this accomplishment," he said.

In other business, the board voted to authorize Dr. Edmunds to file a letter of intent to hold a referendum on Medicare. The system currently has 20 employees, who were hired prior to April, 1986, at which time, they did not have the option of having Medicare payments deducted from their salary.

The referendum will allow each employee to decide whether he wants to participate in the program. The proposed date for the election is October 21, 2008. If all 20 employees choose to enroll in Medicare, it will cost the system approximately $15,400.

The board also discussed a request made by a group of teachers at its April 1 meeting for the system to provide employees with Social Security benefits. Opting out of Social Security in 1978, the Lincoln County School System, which has a pension plan, is one of a handful of school systems that do not pay Social Security tax.

According to Board Member Gail Remsen, "We have teachers who are retiring and will have to be replaced. In order to get the best teachers, we need Social Security."

Other board members expressed concern as to where the system will get the money to fund the program. With 100-percent participation, Social Security would add roughly $517,000 to the budget the first year.

A recent survey revealed that if Social Security were offered, only half of the system's employees would take part in it. However, those numbers are subject to change.

Speaking from the floor, teacher Janet Dukes said, "Every year, we get a big, fat zero added in."

Dukes was referring to the fact that each year a teacher is employed in a school system that does not participate in Social Security, he receives a zero in accordance with the formula used by the federal government to calculate Social Security earnings. As a result, a teacher, who has previously paid Social Security prior to coming to Lincoln County, will have his benefits reduced the longer he teaches here.

"We desperately need Social Security," echoed teacher Kathy Parks.

The item will appear on the agenda for next month's meeting.

In further business, the board:

.. Reviewed financial reports for Quarterly School Accounts for the period from January 1, 2008, through March 31, 2008; the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) Fund through April 30, 2008; the Construction Fund through April 30, 2008; and the General Fund from July 1, 2007, through April 30, 2008.

Concerning the General Fund, Superintendent Edmunds noted that the system has received more federal Impact Aid than was budgeted. Impact Aid is paid to the county by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in lieu of property taxes.

.. Heard a prediction by Dr. Edmunds that state equalization funds will drop an estimated $300,000 for FY 2009.

.. Was informed by the superintendent that the state has voted to fund capital outlay requests at 100 percent in the FY 2008 Supplemental Budget. This means that the $7.5 million in capital outlay funds the system was counting on to offset the cost of building the new high school will be available.

In a related item of business, Dr. Edmunds pointed out that the system is still negotiating with the DOT, the city, and the county regarding the construction of an access road to the new facility.

.. Was informed by the superintendent that a recent audit of system accounts produced no findings. He then commended Comptroller Kaye Bufford for her hard work.

.. Approved a request in the amount of $5,000 to keep the work of the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy going in Lincoln County. Through the foundation, Lincoln County Family Connection will be offering free books to children under the age of five.

Each child registered with the foundation receives a book in the mail every month until his fifth birthday. If a child is registered as soon as he is born, he may possibly amass up to 60 free books for his personal library.

In her comments, Nancy Blount, Family Connection coordinator, stated, "Sixty-one percent of low income families do not have a book in the home suitable for a child. A recent study showed that regardless of his economic status, a child who has books and music available in his home displays higher levels of reading knowledge and skills that does his counterpart, who grows up in a poorer home literacy environment.

"Shockingly, Californians plan how many jail cells they will build based on how many children are not reading on grade level by the third grade," she continued. "By providing books for children, we hope to promote reading skills in pre-schoolers."

Blount went on to say that with contributions of $5,000 each from the board of education, Family Connection, the City of Lincolnton, and Lincoln County Government, the literacy program will be able to continue for another year.

The board of education's share of the cost will come out of next year's budget.

Presently, 305 out of 500 Lincoln County children, ages 0 to 5, are registered in the program, which was first implemented using a $10,000 Local Assistance Grant from the state.

.. Voted to approve the Five-Year Perkins IV Local Plan for Career and Technical Education and the One-Year Funding Application for FY 2009.

.. Voted to approve the Textbook Adoption Plan for 2008-2009 and science textbook adoptions.

.. Approved amendments to the FY 2008 Budget to account for additional federal and state grants received by the system, the issuance and investment of bonds, extra expenditures for fuel, and so forth. The adjustments to the budget will not affect the bottom line.

.. Heard Superintendent Edmunds report that students from LCHS performed very well at the Warner Robins High School Spring Fling Tournament held Saturday, May 3.

The results were as follows: Abigail Minor, first place, Extemporaneous Speaking and Original Oratory; T.J. Carani, second place, Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking; Lindsey Young, first place, Prose/ Poetry; Jennifer Dandron, second place, Prose/Poetry; the team of T.J. Carani and Nikolas Spens, second place, Dramatic Impromptu; and the team of Taylor Dukes and Abigail Minor, third place, Dramatic Impromptu.

Also competing were Nicole Beard and Tequilla Bussey.

.. Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that qualifying to run for the District 1 and District 2 seats on the board will be held June 23-27. The General Election is set for Tuesday, November 4.

.. Was informed by the superintendent that Dr. Becky Barden, LCHS principal, received a letter from Janice Grizzard, executive director of the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK) commending Lori Cope, art teacher at LCMS/LCHS.

Several of Cope's students took part in an art exhibition held at the MACK in March.

Grizzard wrote: "Her (Cope's) obvious talent and tenacity in bringing out the students' talent and originality in their art work for the MACK exhibition were outstanding...It is obvious that she cares about her students and works diligently to keep them challenged. You are very fortunate to have such a dedicated employee."

.. Voted to approve the following summer school programs for LCES, LCMS, and LCHS:

(1) Those LCHS students, who have failed a course and must retake it for credit, may do from 8 a.m. until 3:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 2-30, with the exception of June 6. Language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies will be offered.

Tuition is $150 for in-county students.

Registration is set for Thursday, May 29. Each class will be limited to 18 students.

Breakfast and lunch will be served each day for anyone ages 2 through 18 at all three schools. Transportation will also be provided for any student attending summer school.

(2) Remediation classes for those Lincoln County juniors and seniors, who failed one or more sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT), will be held from 8 a.m. until 12 noon Monday, July 7, through Thursday, July 10.

There is no tuition fee.

Registration is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1.

(3) Summer school will be held at LCMS for those students, who have failed a course and must retake it to meet promotion requirements. The sessions will take place from 8 until 11:40 a.m. and from 12:10 until 3:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 2-30, with the exception of June 6. Students may sign up for one or both sessions. Language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies courses will be offered.

There is no tuition fee for Lincoln County students.

Registration will take place May 29. Each class will be limited to 18 students.

(4) LCMS will offer a summer remediation program for those eighthgrade students, who failed to meet state standards on the reading and/or math section of the CRCT (Criterion Referenced Competency Tests), administered this spring. Parents of the students selected to take part in the program will be notified individually in accordance with the state's promotion policy.

(5) LCES will offer a third and fifthgrade remediation program for students, who did not pass the CRCT during the spring administration of the test. Parents of the students selected to participate will be contacted individually.

(6)LCES will offer a summer reading/ math camp for designated early intervention students in grades K-4. Parents of the students selected to take part in the camp will be notified individually.

Superintendent Edmunds said he expects tuition, along with state and federal funding, to cover all of the expenses associated with the various summer school programs.

.. Heard the first reading of revisions to the Administrative Personnel Separation Policy.

.. Heard the second reading of the following policy: High School Graduation Requirements for Students Enrolling in the Ninth Grade for the First Time in the 2008-2009 School Year and Subsequent Years.

The policy, which reflects decisions made at the state level, will serve to increase the number of science credits needed for graduation to four.

It was approved with no changes.

.. Reviewed the following policies: Administration Personnel Hiring, Fiscal Management Goals and Objectives, Fiscal Year, Revenues from Federal Aid, Federal Aid Title I Funds, Short Term Notes, Purchasing Authority, Local Purchasing, Cash in School Building, Solicitations by Students, and Solicitations. No changes were made to the policies.

.. Voted to approve a request made by Beth Ashmore for use of the LCHS Auditorium for a baton recital on Saturday, May 31, with practices scheduled for May 27 and 29.

.. Voted to approve a request for the LCHS Debate Team to compete in the NFL(National Forensic League) National Tournament set for June 13- 21 in Las Vegas.

Since the Georgia circuit debate season began last August, LCHS students have won 28 awards in individual events, five awards in student congress, and 30 awards in policy debate for a season team total of 63 awards.

"This has been a tremendous year for the debate team," stated Superintendent Edmunds.

.. Heard a presentation made by Ficklen Guin, nutrition director for the system, concerning the possibility of applying for a free summer meal program for children.

.. Heard a request made by Jimmy Cronin for use of the football field for two exhibition games played by minor league football teams. After discussing concerns raised by Larry Campbell, athletic director at LCHS, the request was denied.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment of personnel and to consider a matter involving the disclosure of personally identifiable information from a student's educational records. Upon returning to regular session, the board:

.. Voted to accept the resignation of Georgianna Wiley from her secretarial position, effective April 24, 2008.

.. Voted to approve Mary Wideman to serve as a substitute school nutrition employee.

.. Voted to approve Craig Jenkins to serve as a substitute bus driver.

The next regular meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, June 3, at 7 p.m. at the board office on Metasville Road.