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Good news for Flemington residents, LCSS Board
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Flemington City Hall

In a busy week full of Zoom meetings, fires and accidents, there is reason to celebrate if you live in Flemington or have kids in the Liberty County School System. The City of Flemington voted to cover fees for water lines relocations to avoid passing the cost down to their water customers. And the Liberty County School System celebrated a high rated exit report from Cognia, the system’s accreditation agency.

Flemington

During the March 12, City of Flemington Workshop the Mayor and Council discussed the possibility of using T-SPLOST, SPLOST and Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) funds to cover the costs to relocate water and sewer lines as needed during the upcoming McLarry's Curve roadway project.

Mayor Paul Hawkins and Council had tabled the matter during their March 4 meeting to allow Mayor and Council more time to review their options.

Councilman David Edwards made a motion to use TSPLOST (or SPLOST) funds to cover the water utility relocation at zero cost to Flemington residents. Councilwoman Gail Evans seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously

Mayor and Council also voted to create a committee to review the funding options and continue discussions with the City of Hinesville and the County as the project gets nearer. Mayor and Council also formed a committee to research the possibility of creating and building a fire department within City limits.

The City of Hinesville voted in favor of a new intergovernmental agreement at their March 4 meeting where the City of Flemington would be responsible for roughly $397,500 for the project because it is within the jurisdiction of their City limits.

Hinesville is contributing $22,500.00 to cover the fees associated with the 10 customers who reside in the Hinesville City limits.

During their March 9, Flemington Council meeting, City of Hinesville Finance Officer Kimberly Ryon attended and explained the proposed assessments customers would have faced in a worst case scenario if the City didn’t offset the fees by contributing to the cost.

Flemington residents faced possible assessment fees that ranged in price from $9.74 per month up to $623.36 per month for a possible 60-month period. By approving the alternate funding options the residents no longer face assessment fees.

There are still two meters that fall within unincorporated Liberty County that need to be funded or could face assessments.

LCSS logo
LCSS celebrates

The Liberty County Board of Education celebrated some good news during their March 9 board meeting. The board erupted in applause after LCSS Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Susan Avant, reported that the Cognia Accreditation Exit Review Committee rated the Liberty County School System highly. Avant said the review committee interviewed 311 stakeholders. Avant said Cognia has 31 System levels of standards. She said the LCSS received 20 ratings of the highest level recognized called Impacting. Avant said the LCSS received 11 at the Improving level, meaning the LCSS scored all their 31 points in the top two ratings available.

She said the system was also recognized for having four powerful practices and only two areas that needed improvement. She said the LCSS was praised for preparing the students for the digital age through high levels of technology throughout the system. They were also applauded for their commitment to providing personalized, meaningful and targeted professional learning for teachers and administrators; system-wide commitment to the collection, analysis and use of data to make informed decisions that benefit the students. They were also recognized for promoting a culture of support and positive relationship-building among students, adults and their peers.

Avant said the high rating is a direct reflection of the work the LCSS, board and the students have done in the past five years.

“The staff and students have internalized excellence in everything and the belief in the mission and vision of the district,” Avant said.

Avant reported that a full and final report will be submitted to the district in May.

LCSS Board Chair Lilly Bakers said the review team was impressed with the school system and she thanked the board, students, staff and stakeholders.

“We’ve worked so hard,” Baker said.

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