Community News
News from a very busy board meeting.
By Dave Whitaker
Jun 12, 2019, 22:46

Though two members (Shanna Evans, Amy Williams) weren’t present, Tuesday night’s monthly Board of Education meeting was a very busy one. One of the things to come out of the executive session was a new policy for community coaches, substitute teachers, basically any substitute worker that would interact with students. The new rule mandates a minimum age of 21 and the coach or substitute must adhere to the same rules as teachers prohibiting relationships with students.

The FY20 final budget was approved. It was the same as the tentative budget proposed at the May 20 meeting. You can view it by going to
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=4014&AID=1053894&MID=78396

Misty Friedman from the Georgia Department of Agriculture was on hand to present the school nutrition staff an award for being a “Georgia Grown School of Distinction.” Bleckley is one of three school districts in Georgia to receive the honor. Superintendent Steve Smith said the board and governance team (superintendent) had once again been nominated by the Georgia School Board Association for Governance Team of the Year. They voted unanimously to submit the necessary application.

Updating the new primary school, Smith said architects had received flood determination from the Department of Natural Resources and were preparing applications for site approval (the old BCHS and current pre-k.) On the HVAC replacements at BCES and BCHS, Smith said crews were already working to remove the old units and the new ones should be in by July 18. Installation is expected to be done by pre-planning (July 22.)

Approved was an agreement for the board to continue to serve as fiscal agent for Communities In Schools/Family Connection. Accepted was the FY20 $300,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Also passed was a resolution to join a national purchasing cooperative known as “BuyBoard.” Members noted that the decision to join would not involve any cost nor commitment to make purchases. The resolution was to authorize involvement.

There was discussion on proposed changes to the student code of conduct and handbooks. It was decided to table action until next month when all members were expected to be present.

Besides the FY20 athletic and extracurricular staffing plan (subject to change) being approved, a new category of assistant coaches was created. Graduate assistants, recent graduates who may be under age 21 but are only permitted to work with students in middle school or below. Three former Royals who will serve as graduate assistants for middle school football are Jacob Cook, Will Simmons, and Logan Pittman.

High school items of note from the staffing plan include John Ford and Ryan Mckenzie officially listed assistant coaches for Royals football. According to Twitter posts on the football team account, Ford will be defensive coordinator, Mckenzie offensive line coach. Brad Davis was promoted from defensive coordinator to assistant head coach of defense as first reported by that account also.

Emmie Meadows was named assistant coach for high school softball. Katie Beard will continue to serve as a community coach. Assistant coaches not returning include competition and football cheer squad coach Kayla Warren and boys assistant soccer coach Brad Lord.

First Baptist Church music director Duane Fernandez will serve as a community coach/assistant director to Kelli Greer for one act play. There was no assistant golf coach listed for FY20.

There was other middle school coaching news to come out of the staffing plan. Tisha Ates and Frances McNair swapped roles for girls basketball. McNair will be head coach, Ates assistant. Mandi Little stepped down from her job as girls and boys assistant soccer coach. Gary Arnold will be returning to coaching, serving as middle school baseball assistant coach.

Megan Pittman is the new head girls and boys golf coach. Mallory Veal stepped down from her position as head tennis coach as did community assistant Casey Carden.


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