The Long County School System recently was recognized for exceeding state requirements for spending on classroom instruction.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Waters told the board of education at its April 8 meeting that the state requires every school spend at least 65 percent of its total operating expenditures on direct classroom instruction. If a system doesn’t meet these standards then the state school board can impose sanctions on the system.
Waters told the board that being recognized for exceeding standards was a positive reflection on everyone who works in the system.
Waters also told the board that the new high school was on schedule, with several new areas of construction being completed. However, the new school’s water line had been delayed by two days because the gas utility company had to locate a buried gas line prior to the line being laid.  
Long County High School student Katrina Young was selected by Canoochee EMC to represent the company and the school on a trip to Washington, D.C., Waters reported.
Also during the meeting, the board unanimously approved several fundraising requests, including a flag football/powder-puff game, a T-shirt sale, a jeans day to benefit Relay for Life and the sale of origami owl necklaces.  Board members also approved, 4-1, a prize egg sale at the high school. Chairman Dempsey Golden, the lone nay vote, said that he had nothing against the students having a fundraiser, but in his opinion the event was similar to a raffle/lottery.
In other business, the board:
• approved Vice Chairwoman Florence Baggs to represent the school system for the upcoming Georgia School Board Association conference.
• set a budget workshop date for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25.
• approved the retirements of Carolyn Swindell and Kenneth Smith.
• approved the hiring of 12 new substitute teachers, custodians and lunchroom workers.
• gave approval for the Walker High School Class of 1963 to use the high-school cafeteria May 31-June 1 for its 50th class reunion.