The Lincoln County Board of Education voted to purchase CrossPointe, a new student information system (SIS), using a $26,949 ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) Grant and a $12,651 CHIPRA (Children’s Health Insurance Program Reorganization Act) Grant.

The federal funds total $39,600.

Although the CHIPRA funds could be used at the discretion of the board, the ARRA grant was earmarked for the purchase of a student information system.

It was further pointed out that the annual fee for CrossPointe is about $4,000 less than what is costs to use the current system (SchoolMax) each year.

The action was taken at the regular meeting of the board held Tuesday, February 2. Denise Freeman voted against the motion.

The decision to go with CrossPointe was made by an 18- member committee comprised of administrators, secretaries, and teachers. Representing the committee at the meeting were Cindy Cartledge, SIS coordinator for the school system, and Brian Campbell, assistant superintendent for instruction.

According to Cartledge, the SIS is used to house student information such as attendance, scheduling, transcripts, and teachers’ grade books. It also transmits information to the state for NCLB (No Child Left Behind), AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), and other purposes and gives parents a means of checking their child’s grades, attendance, etc. online.

“SchoolMax has been in use here for eight years and is no longer supported by Microsoft,” said the SIS coordinator. “To keep it means the board of education would have to pay to upgrade to supported software, with no real benefits. Moreover, the county would still need to purchase a new SIS in a few years. The current system has very limited reporting capabilities, and there are new state requirements for data analysis.”

Some of the added features of CrossPointe include giving users the ability to create reports, allowing teachers to access more student information, and making it possible for parents and students to view transcripts, graduation requirements, etc. online.

“CrossPointe will also give us the ability to customize the SIS to meet our needs as a system as well as the capability to integrate special education, teacher information, data analysis, and accounting into one system,” said Cartledge.

In his comments, Campbell said school officials plan to begin the data conversion process this month, with hopes of “going live” in August of this year.

“Training on the new system will occur over the summer for key personnel,” he noted.

In further business, the board voted to use other teachers or paraprofessionals to cover classrooms instead of hiring substitutes when teachers and paraprofessionals have to be out for a day or two.

It was noted that some other systems are already trying this, and it could save the Lincoln County approximately $25,000.

The new money-saving strategy, which went into effect Thursday, February 4, and will continue through the end of the school year, does not apply to approved professional leave.

In other business, the board:

• Reviewed financial reports for the Construction Fund through January 31, 2010; the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) Summary Fund through January 31, 2010; the General Fund for the period from July 1, 2009, through January 31, 2010; and the quarterly school accounts for the period from October 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009.

As of January 31, 2010, there was a balance of $10,358,599.49 in the Construction Fund for the new high school.

“Things are going as projected by the contractor – there is nothing un- usual to report,” said Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools.

Concerning the SPLOST Fund, the superintendent said there is good news and bad news. “The good news is that revenues are up when compared to this time last year, but they are down a little bit from last month.”

.. Speaking from the floor was J.B. Matthews, who urged the board to “consider the full scope of budget issues now facing the school system in its upcoming planning sessions.

“Across-the-board cuts, nipping and tucking, and nickel and diming probably won’t be sufficient. It shouldn’t be assumed that teacher furloughs will carry the entire burden. Other staff reductions, structural changes, correcting operational inefficiencies, etc. should also be considered.

“I’m concerned the board isn’t yet engaged in issues of resource limitation.”

Matthews also suggested that an advisory board be established, comprised of at least two board members and other individuals. “You need to make plans for eventualities and involve other people in that.”

“It’s a tough situation,” said Superintendent Edmunds. “We’re looking for all good suggestions. We encourage you and any others to provide us with input.”

The members of the board then voted to establish a group to advise them on budgetary matters. Details concerning the composition of the panel will be discussed at the board’s upcoming planning session.

.. Voted to grant a request to allow the Lincoln County Ministerial Association to use the LCHS Gym on March 10 for the Second Annual Preachers vs. Teachers/Staff Charity Basketball Game.

.. Agreed to table a proposal to dispose of surplus computer equipment through the Paragon Green Company. The issue will be revisited during the board’s annual planning session.

.. Heard second readings of revisions to the Personnel-Assistant Principal (High School) Policy and the Personnel-Assistant Principal (Elementary School) Policy. The policies were approved as read.

.. Heard the first reading of revisions to the following policies: Family and Medical Leave, Student Support Services, and Visitors to Schools.

Changes to the Family and Medical Leave Policy provide time off for any qualifying need arising from the fact that the employee’s family member is on active duty in the military or has been notified of an impending deployment in support of a contingency operation. The revisions also grant the employee leave if his family member is injured or ill.

.. Voted to approve a request made by the Art Club to hold a fund-raiser for the citizens of Haiti.

.. Voted to appoint Denise Freeman as the group’s representative at the GSBA (Georgia School Boards Association) Delegate Assembly in Savannah June 11-12. Freeman abstained from the vote.

.. Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that Governor Sonny Perdue’s recommendations for the FY 2011 Budget and the Supplemental FY 2010 Budget do not represent good news for education.

The superintendent indicated that:

(1) Three additional furlough days are prescribed for this school year as well as an additional 1.5-percent cut in QBE (Quality Basic Education) funds for the remainder of the fiscal year.

According to Edmunds, “We’re going to investigate more ways of saving between now and the end of the school year and look at the possibility of not taking the sixth furlough day.”

(2) RESAs (Regional Educational Service Agencies) are to be cut from the budget.

(3) The Governor’s Honors Program will be cut from six weeks to four.

.. Was informed by the superintendent that Georgia’s test scores have improved. “In fact, we’ve shown greater improvement than other states even with reduced funding.”

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

.. Voted to accept the resignation of Susan Wickes from her teaching position at LCMS, effective February 2, 2010.

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Leverne Hickman from his teaching and coaching position at LCES and LCHS, effective at the end of the current school year.

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

.. Voted to accept the resignation of Joseph Hogan from his teaching position at LCHS, effective at the end of the current school year.

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Howard Ellis from his teaching and coaching position at LCHS, effective at the end of the current school year.

.. Voted to accept the retirement of Helen Reed from her bus driver position, effective at the end of the current school year.

.. Voted to approve Marilyn Bell to serve as the principal of LCES for the 2010-2011 school year.

.. Voted to approve Pam Carmichael to serve as the principal of LCMS for the 2010-2011 school year.

.. Voted to approve Dr. Becky Barden to serve as the principal of LCHS for the 2010-2011 school year.

.. Voted to hold the group’s annual planning session on Wednesday, February 10, and Wednesday, February 17, at 6 p.m. both nights. The meetings will take place at the board office on Metasville Road.

The next regular meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, March 2, at 7 p.m.