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Page 2A The Braselton News Wednesday, December 5, 2007 Area N e ws Barrow Countv Board of Education Barrow BOE recognizes Saunders, Darby Hoschton BY KRISTI REED The Barrow County Board of Education recognized Superintendent Ron Saunders for being named Georgia Superintendant of the Year this past week. Bill Bramlett, board chairman, presented Saunders with an award at the Tuesday night Board of Education meeting. “We wanted to tell you how much we appreciate you,” Bramlett said. “It is an exceptional award you received from the state. We wish you well at the national level. On behalf of the board of educa tion, we would like to thank you for consistently demonstrating excep tional leadership in your role as the superintendent of Barrow County Schools.” Saunders said he was honored and humbled by the award. “This really is an award for the school system,” he said. “All of you care about this school system and you care about the kids. I’m just very honored to represent this board of education. I’m just hum bled by all this and I will cherish it forever.” The board also recognized A1 Darby, assistant principal of Winder Barrow High School, on being named Georgia Assistant Principal of the Year. Rob Johnson, Principal of Winder Barrow High School, praised Darby for his dedication and service. “He is one of the brightest admin istrators with whom I have ever worked,” Johnson said. “He causes others around him to work hard er. His dedication is unmatched. He strives everyday to make sure Winder Barrow High School is the best place for our kids. This is so, so deserved.” The board announced more good news for Barrow County Schools. BEING HONORED Ron Saunders (left) receives an award from Al Darby (right). Saunders was named Georgia Superintendent of the Year and Darby was named Georgia Assistant Principal of the Year. Photo by Kristi Reed The Barrow County Early Learning Center was recognized for achiev ing all “Exceeds” ratings from the Pre-K Program Assessment for the 2006-2007 school year. Tonya Royal accepted the com mendation on behalf of the center. Royal said she and the rest of the staff hoped to continue with all “Exceeds” ratings. “It’s a great accomplishment,” she said. “We are very proud.” OTHER BUSINESS In other business, the board: •approved the realignment of the Statham Elementary Attendance Zones. Approximately 180 students will be transferred to Holsenbeck Elementary beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. The board will be sending letters to the par ents of affected students explaining the timeline and options for the transfers. •withdrew a proposed resolution opposing House Bill 900. HB 900 in its original form proposed elimi nating property and ad valorem tax and replacing them with a state wide sales tax. Local governments would be required to seek funding for schools and other programs from the state. Due to changes in HB 900, a new draft of the resolu tion will be prepared. Saunders said it was important to express the board’s concern that the pro posed legislation will remove tax ing authority from the school board and limit access to school funding. •presented Winder Barrow Middle School with this month’s Clean School award. •placed the Career, Technical and Agricultural course revisions rec ommended by the state on the table for a review period. •placed the “Exploring Agriscience” textbook on the table for a 30-day review period before adopting. •set the next board work session for Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. and the next board meeting for Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. HOSCHTON POLICE RECEIVE CHECK The Hoschton Police Department received a check on Monday night for $12,030 from the Blue Light Committee, which recently held an auction to benefit the police department. Shown are (L-R): Dave Hill, police chief; and Blue Light Committee members JoNan Warwick, Cindy George and Pam Butler. Photo by Kerri Testement Jackson County County expected to end year in the red Winder Winder to honor mayor Ouzts for 17 years of service BY KRISTI REED City Administrator Bob Beck announced Tuesday that the City of Winder will host a reception for Mayor Buddy Ouzts to honor the mayor’s 17 years of service. The reception will be held on Sunday, December 16, at the City of Winder Cultural Arts Center dining room from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. “The public is invited and we encourage them to come,” Beck said. Speaking at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Beck praised Ouzts. “For me, he has been a mentor. I have been honored to work for him,” Beck said. City employees will pay trib ute to the mayor at the employee’s Christmas luncheon scheduled for December 21. Beck also announced a gradu ation ceremony honoring the Management Development Class of 2007. The ceremony will be held on Dec. 11 at 11:30 a.m. at the Winder Community Center. The city will recognize 26 employees who have completed a year-long training pro gram presented by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Beck said the Management Development program is important to the city. “I think the city will benefit tre mendously down the road from the knowledge [these employees] have acquired in the program,” Beck said. OTHER BUSINESS In other business, council mem bers: •voted to issue a permit for the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade See WINDER on page 5A The Jackson County government is expected to end the year $552,000 in the red, mainly due to salary hikes for employees. At Monday nights Jackson County Board of Commissioner’s meeting, county finance director John Hulsey reported that while income was running above budget for 2007, expenses were also over budget. The main reasons for the extra expense is due to a pay hike approved last summer that was made retro active to Jan. 1 which cost the county $486,200, and a new salary scale that was put into place for the last six months of the year costing an additional $197,300 in salary expenses. While the county will likely end the year in the red, Hulsey’s report stated that the county remains in a strong overall financial condition with unreserved funds of $5.7 million in the county’s general fund. Committee to work renovations of old courthouse BY ANGELA GARY A seven-member committee will be formed by the first of the year to oversee renovations to the historic courthouse in downtown Jefferson. Each of the five members of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners will recommend one appointee. There will also be two appointees from the county his torical society and one from the Jefferson Historic Preservation Commission. The BOC unanimously agreed at a meeting Monday night to have the committee in place by January. There was some discussion on whether to form a committee or to seek local legislation to have an authority formed. The board agreed it would be best to form a committee so that work can begin immediately. OTHER BUSINESS In other business at Monday’s meeting, the BOC: •reappointed Jim Shaw to serve on the county industrial authority. •reappointed John Buchanan, Bill Warned, Shannon Sell and Don Lohmeier to the county airport authority. •reappointed Don Segraves and John Gaissert to the county plan ning commission, and named David Earhart to serve in place of Marty Clark. •reappointed Don Segraves to serve on the county board of adjustment. •reappointed Jacque Wilkes and Jean Collins to the county dangerous dog committee. •lifted the partial burn ban to fol low state recommendations. The commissioners also agreed that fur ther action to reinstate or lift the bum ban is to be made by the county man ager, who was told to get input from the county fire association before making a decision. •agreed to spend $12,500 with Dorfman Consulting to do a commu nity services study. The information gathered will be used in the county’s update of the comprehensive plan. •heard an update from planner Frank Etheridge on the county’s local comprehensive plan update. This must be completed by Oct. 31, 2010. 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