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Long BoE adopts 2016 budget
2 For Wed 6-10 Long BoE Busy on Monday
It was a busy Monday for the Long County Board of Education as it approved the fiscal-year 2016 budget and made several changes in the administrative staffing. - photo by Photo by Mike Riddle

The Long County Board of Education approved its fiscal-year 2016 budget by a 4-1 vote Monday.

Board Chairwoman Janet Watford and members Dennis DeLoach, Julie Dawson and Florence Baggs all voted in favor of the budget, while Dr. Carolyn Williamson voted no.

The approved budget is $23.13 million in general funds, and $28.47 million once capital-outlay funds are included.

The members also made several changes to administrative staffing, promoting Lisa Long to Smiley Elementary School principal, transferring current Smiley Principal David Edwards to Long County High School as its new principal and moving current LCHS Principal Scotty Hattaway to the board office as the new director of support services.

The members also reappointed Amy Howard to serve on the Long County Library Board.  All changes were approved unanimously.

The members also unanimously approved Source4Teachers as the managing agent for hiring and staffing all substitute employees involved in education.

Payroll Director Kathy Walter told the members that one of the major reasons the change was needed was the higher cost being passed on to the school system from requirements with the 2015 Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.” She said that by making the change, the school system would not be required to pay the increase to offer health-care benefits to the substitutes, but that they would still have the option for healthcare benefits through Source4Teachers.  

She said that with the change, the substitute employees also would be eligible to apply for unemployment benefits during summer. She said that the only substitutes to still fall under the school system would be the bus drivers and cafeteria workers.

The members also approved three contractors to provide food and equipment for the cafeterias. The three were Norvell Fixtures, who will provide some additional cafeteria equipment for $13,093; Sam Tell Companies, who will provide pots, pans and other smaller kitchen equipment for $4,367; and Flower’s Bakery who will provide bread products for $1.25 per serving.

Food Director Stephanie Fox told the board that each of the three contractors provided the lowest and most responsible bid.

With regard to the nutrition program, Baggs commended Fox and the cafeteria staff who provided the meals for last month’s senior banquet.

The board also approved a resolution appointing Chief Finance Officer Bridget Welch as the agent to provide the bond report for the bonds purchased when building the new high school.
    

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