Towns County Board of Education approves FY 2018 Budget; resignation of TCHS Spanish teacher still an issue

Hiawassee, GA – Towns County Board of Education (TCBOE) convened on Monday, June 12 at 7 p.m. at the TC Middle School Auditorium for their June Meeting. Towns County Schools (TCS) Superintendent Dr. Darren Berrong and all Board Members were present.

The TCS FY 2018 Budget, after the prescribed waiting period, was unanimously approved by the Board. Along with that, the Salary/Supplement Schedules were also unanimously approved.

In his Superintendent Report, Dr. Berrong reiterated from the last Work Session the serious concern raised by the resignation of Jennifer Hogsed, the sole HS Spanish teacher. Dr. Berrong said that a communication had been sent out to all surrounding School Districts requesting information on possible Spanish teachers. He pledged to keep the Board and the General Public informed on this issue.

The Board approved the disposition of the following cafeteria equipment, which has long been in need of replacement:
• Two Hobart Convection Stack Ovens purchased in 1998
• Four Dell CPU-Line Machine Computers not compatible with Cafeteria software purchased in May 2002

The Board approved the School Nutrition Program Vendor List for FY 2018:
• Bread Bid – Bimbo Bakeries
• Milk Bid – Mayfield
• Paper and Disposable Goods – American Paper and Twine
• Chemical Bid – SFSPac
• Produce Bid – Foster’s Produce (in conjunction with Union county)
• Fresh Delivered Pizza – Domino’s Smart Slice (in conjunction with Union county)
• Processing of USDA items:
• Chicken – Gold Kist
• Cheese – JTM, Nardones
• Ground Beef – JTM
• Pork – Brookwood Barbeque

The Board also approved the following:
• Towns County Family Connection FY 2018 Contract
• Resignations of:
o MS Science teacher Emily Hamilton
o HS Spanish teacher Jennifer Hogsed
o HS English teacher Amanda Housley
o HS Special Education Paraprofessional Carol Ramsak
• Recommendations of/for:
o Pat Coleman for Maintenance/Custodian Supervisor as of July 1, 2017
o Alan Rogers for Maintenance/Custodian Manager as of July 1, 2017
o Trena Silvey, Chelsi George, Cheryl Peebles and Jennie Cook as Paraprofessionals
o Stephanie Youngblood for Elementary School Teacher
o Allison Arnold as Band Director
o Alexia Chandler as Elementary School Art Teacher
o Royce Nicholson as Transportation Assistant
o Rachel Surles as High School English Teacher

With no further business to conduct and no Closed Session called for, the Meeting adjourned.