At the July 11, 2024 Bulloch County Board of Education meeting, the Board approved five modular classrooms due to increasing student population at Southeast Bulloch Middle School and Langston Chapel Middle School. Two of the modular classroom buildings will be installed at SEBMS and three at LCMS. Each will include two classrooms.
The Board also approved three changes to the Student Code of Conduct that amend and clarify the language used in defining consequences and procedure for misconduct.
They also contemplated suggestions made by members of the public to provide tax relief to senior citizens and believe that further insight will be provided by the tax digest that is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Free breakfast and lunch will be provided to all student in nearly a dozen Bulloch county school during the 2024-2025 school year under a federal funding program.
For the three non-qualifying schools, free breakfast for all students will continue to be provided, and eligible families can still apply for free and reduced lunches.
Read on for full coverage of the meeting.
Chair Elizabeth Williams opened the meeting at 6:30pm and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Superintendent Charles Wilson recommended that the agenda be altered to reflect that the personnel recommendations be broken into two parts, and this amendment was adopted.
Board member Donna Clifton thanked the public for their attendance, as well as Superintendent Wilson for the Tax Relief discussion that would be a part of his report during the meeting.
E. Public Participation
Tim Powell once again came before the board expressing his support for senior citizen tax relief and encouraged the board members to begin the process of conducting an impact study.
Lisha Neville commented that she was concerned that the schools were not prepared for the growth that the county is experiencing and encouraged the board to work more closely with county commissioners during this time.
F. Superintendent's Report
1. Student Code of Conduct Update
Last summer, board members filled out a code of conduct survey from which the new code was developed for 6th through 12th grade students. Changes were made to the code last winter, so this year’s new approval only has a few minor amendments.
A one-page flyer will convey the 'quick hitting facts' to parents and students who must sign in agreement to the code of conduct. Minor changes to the code of conduct for this upcoming school year include:
- Explicit language listing trespassing as a reason law enforcement may be contacted
- Adding language to clarify that unapproved items may be confiscated and NOT returned
- Adjustment to wording to explicitly state that absences will not be counted against a student when they are found not guilty at a hearing.
2. Tax Digest
The tax assessor's office will send the tax digest in the next couple weeks. Superintendent Wilson suspects it is likely a large number of appeals that have delayed its release.
Superintendent Wilson says there are three factors that determine how much is collected and how much taxpayers spend: Millage rate, property tax, and tax exemptions.
3. Tax Relief
Superintendent Wilson says the board will either have to adopt or reject the referendum of HB 581 upon its passing on the upcoming ballot. He cautions the board to be aware of the changes that are to come with this and other potential state tax reliefs, and that the revenues of the school system will be affected by these changes.
Chair Williams is optimistic that as the tax field changes due to the growth in Bulloch county, the board will be more capable of providing that senior tax relief.
Board member Stuart Tedders comments to further Wilson’s point that it is highly important to make informed decisions, and to remember that students are the constituents of the board.
4. School Nutrition CEP Update
The board is in support of meal price increases, as expenses have risen and the cost that students are paying for breakfast and lunch has not risen since before the pandemic.
Free meals are paid for through a federal program called Community Eligibility Provisions, which provides $4.35 reimbursement for each meal to the following schools:
- Stilson Elementary
- Nevils Elementary
- Langston Elementary and Middle
- Sallie Zetterower Elementary
- Mill Creek Elementary
- Mattie Lively Elementary
- Williams James Middle
- Portal Elementary
- Portal Middle High
- Julia P. Bryant Elementary
- Statesboro High
For non-qualifying schools (Brooklet Elementary, Southeast Bulloch Middle, and Southeast Bulloch High), the federal reimbursement per meal is dropping to 50 cents.
To ensure that the nutrition program is self-sustaining, the board supports raising lunch prices from $2.25 for elementary and $2.50 for middle and high school students, to $3.85 for all students who do not qualify for meal benefits.
The cost of $3.85 plus the 50 cent federal reimbursement on the non-qualifying meals will be equivalent to the $4.35 value of the subsidized meals. Without raising prices, the nutrition program will cost the school system an excess $70,000.
Bulloch BOE sent out a press release including the following information:
Food Insecurity for Children in Bulloch County
According to the Georgia Department of Education, Bulloch County has the 65th highest rate of Georgia’s 159 counties for students with the lack of consistent access to food in order to live an active healthy life. Last year, 69.28 % of the school district’s 11,024 students qualified for free or reduced-price meals at school. The district also served 51,021 meals to children this summer.
Meal Price Increase
At Brooklet Elementary and the two Southeast Bulloch schools, the cost of a school lunch will be $3.85 for students who do not qualify for meal benefits. This is an increase from last year’s prices of $2.25 for elementary students and $2.50 for middle and high school. This increase does not subsidize the expansion of meal benefits at the other schools, but instead is a reflection of the increase in the federal school nutrition program’s standard meal price recommendations and local food preparation costs.
Locally-Sourced Food
In addition to improving access to meals for children, Bulloch County’s School Nutrition Services is also building a culinary culture for students in part by using more locally-sourced food. Last year they partnered with local farmers. Their efforts help children make a connection between the food on their plates and how it's grown and delivered. With the growth and diversity of the school district's students, who represent 18 different nationalities and 24 different languages, some of our local produce items and how they are prepared are being introduced to children for the first time.
In 2024, the district partnered with Hunter Cattle Company for beef, Mack Family Farm for potatoes, and Franklin's Farm for their strawberries, plus future orders of their citrus fruit, peaches and other produce as they come in season during the school year. Last year the school district purchased $18,252 in food items from these farms. School Nutrition Services will continue these partnerships and work toward adding more.
APPROVED G. Consent Agenda
1. Board Minutes
a. June 6, 2024 Regular Session
2. Board Member Payroll for June 2024
3. Financial Report for May 2024
H. Old Business for Approval
APPROVED 1. FY25 Code of Conduct Changes
APPROVED 2. Fixed Asset Board Policy
I. New Business for Approval
The items of new business were previously discussed as a part of the FY25 budget discussions taking place across multiple previous meetings. Memos with more details about each item that was approved can be found on the AGENDA or by clicking the hyperlinks of each item.
APPROVED 1. Chromebook Bid Proposal for FY 24
APPROVED 2. Curriculum Associates- iReady Software Renewal
APPROVED 3. Infinite Campus Renewal
APPROVED 4. Newsela Software Renewal
APPROVED 5. Edgenuity Software Renewal
APPROVED 6. Literacy Matters/Guided Reading- Professional Learning Renewal
APPROVED 7. CTAE Heavy Equipment Simulator Purchase- Pending Grant Approval
APPROVED 8. Statesboro High School Intercom Replacement
APPROVED 9. Southeast Bulloch Middle School and Langston Chapel Middle School Mobile Units Purchase
APPROVED 10. Paper/Chemical Bids for School Food Services
APPROVED 11. Food Bids for School Food Services
APPROVED J. New Business to be Placed on the Table at the next board meeting.
1. Paid Parental Leave Board Policy Revision
2. Sexual Harassment of Employees Board Policy Revision
3. Equal Opportunity Employment Policy Revision
NO executive session.
L. Personnel Recommendations
APPROVED 1. Personnel Recommendations for July 11, 2024
APPROVED 2. Personnel Contract Recommendations for FY 25 
The board adjourned the meeting after 8:20 pm.
