Newspaper Page Text
Page 8A,The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Board Of Education Reviews Millage
Rate And Financial Statement
During its regular
meeting Monday, Au
gust 12, the Lee County
Board of Education re
ceived an update on the
tentative millage rate for
Fiscal Year 2020. Based
on the tax digest from
the county, the millage
rates required to fund
the budget for Fiscal
Year 2020 will be 18.94
mills for maintenance
and operation (M&O)
and 1.0 mills for bond
retirement.
This is a .006 (six
thousandths) mill
decrease to the over
all millage rate. The
decrease is the result
of the required roll
back calculated by
the tax commissioner.
The board must either
rollback the millage rate
or hold three hearings
stating that the board of
education is increasing
the millage rate due to
digest growth. It was the
recommendation of Dr.
Miller and Gary Kelley,
Assistant Superinten
dent for Business and
Finance, that the board
set the millage rate for
M & O at 18.594 and
1.0 for Bond. The board
will set the final millage
rate Tuesday, August
27th at 5:30 at the next
board meeting.
The board reviewed
the financial statement
for Fiscal Year 2019.
The revenue totaled
$69,199,122.73 which
was made up of local
funds of $27,131,271.99,
$37,708,491.11 instate
funds and $4,359,363.74
in federal funds.
Expenditures totaled
$71,388,155.12. This
exceeded revenue by
$2,159,032.39. The
ending fund bal
ance from all sources
on July 1, 2019 was
$108,163,628.72.
The board approved
a slight increase in out
of county tuition for the
current school year. The
local cost of educat
ing a child this year is
$1996.15. The board ap
proved an out of county
rate of $11.00 per day or
$1980.00 for the year.
The rate last year was
$10.75 a day or $1935.00
a year.
Dr. Jason Miller, Su
perintendent, informed
the board that SPFOST
collections for July were
$245,755.01. SPFOST
collections were over
$20,000 less that they
was in June. It was
almost $60,000 less than
it was in July last year.
The board approved
EmergiScan to use the
gym, media center,
cafeteria and class
rooms at Fee County
Middle School East on
September 9, which is a
Saturday. Some teach
ers and students will
volunteer to assist that
day. EmergiScan will
create a video to educate
others on the importance
of EmergiScan and how
it can be useful to imple
ment school safety
During the sum
mer, the technology
department completed
550 computer replace
ments and installed new
cameras at the entrances
and bus ramps of some
schools, and replaced or
upgraded wireless cov
erage in some areas.
A report from Trey
Haynes, Transportation
Director, stated that the
transportation depart
ment is fully staffed on
the regular routes and
are awaiting the return
of three drivers on medi
cal leave. In addition,
three new sub drivers
will complete CDF
requirements and be
available to drive before
the end of August.
The transportation
department is imple
menting Transfinder
routing software. It will
modernize and digitize
the process of routing
buses and it will be more
efficient when assigning
routes. It will also calcu
late fuel costs per trip,
keep up with field trip
information and schools
can access student bus
information through
Infinite Campus or Info-
finder EE, including stop
locations, pick up times,
and drop off times. The
video will be presented
to the board of education
for their review.
The board approved
the employment of
new personnel. Traci
McMickle and Pris
cilla Hammond were
approved as substitute
teachers. Patsy Wheeler
and Lavonda Fletcher
were approved as full
time sub bus drivers.
Rhonda Ferguson was
approved as a book
keeper for the school
system. Greg Byars was
approved as a part-time
Federal Programs con
sultant. Joanne Smith
and Keith Johnson were
approved as custodians.
Ashley Tucker was ap
proved as an adult leader
for the extended day
program.
The board accepted
the resignations of Gary
Tarpley, a maintenaance
employee, Tori Swords
adult leader for the
extended day program
and Caleb Bush student
leader for the extended
day program.
Elizabeth Glass was
reassigned from a FCPS
paraprofessional position
to a teacher position at
FCPS.
The board tabled the
proposed change in the
current tobacco policy.
The current policy states
that smoking or other
use of tobacco is pro
hibited in any building
or upon any property
owned, leased by, or
under the control of
the school district, and
is prohibited in school
system vehicles.
Employees are pro
hibited from smoking
or tobacco use in the
presence of students or
minors at any time the
employee is on official
duty. Employees should
not store or possess
tobacco in such a man
ner that it is visible to
students.
Some of the proposed
changes included other
use of tobacco products
including electronic
cigarettes and vapor
products.
The prohibition
included unlawful use,
cultivation, manufac
ture, distribution, sale,
purchase, possession
of any controlled drug
or narcotic substance
unlawful use regardless
of the amount of THC in
the product or the extent
to which it is legal or il
legal under state law.
Concern was raised
about employees who
violate this policy could
be terminated even if
the item is not illegal.
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Sumter EMC
The offices of Sumter EMC will be
closed on Monday, September 2, 2019
in observance of Labor Day.
For emergencies call:
(229) 924-8041 or (800) 342-6978
Dispatcher on duty 24 hours per day.
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HOMETOWN
The county should keep up Grand Island be
cause it is in a residential area. It looks like a
slum with the grass all grown up. The county
still owns it.
Any progress on the proposed Lee County
hospital?
Always look forward to learning more about
LCHS Distinguished Alumni.
If we have a recession, bitcoin is predicted
to hit $100,000 by 2021. Regardless, it has
tripled since Jan. Will the PT Barnum quote
about suckers born every minute prove true?
These days, it seems you cannot have law
and order and liberals too. Why?
Baltimore issuing water bills again 3 months
after ransomware attack on city's computer
system. Average household catch-up bill will
be $400. Now that's tough!,
GoodRx latest list of 20 highest list price
drugs in US ranges from $26,000 to $65,000
for a 30-day supply. May not be the price us
ers actually pay but it shows a big problem.
Interesting article by Collins on maypops,
didn't know the butterfly tie in. As a kid,
we used them as grenades, even throwing at
each other. Hurt if hit but softer than dirt
clods.
Biden needs to do less talking or else en
gage the brain first if he has any hope of a
nomination. Go s-l-o-w Joe, it works better.
Shopped north Slappey Walmart neighbor
hood grocery and found it to be anything but
a 'food desert' for fresh produce. But then
this whole desert thing is only a government
welfare expansion in the making.
Maybe I'm more sensitive to noise pollution
these days but it seems some of the Albany
stores are sounding like a gym or Saturday
night in a bar. Employees are behind much of
it as the managers aren't managing.
Hog-n-Bones drawing good crowds these
days as I wait to try it out.
Jeffrey Epstein another conspiracy who-
done-it in the long line of Clinton associates
dying mysteriously over the years. Of course
there are plenty of other concerned famous
people willing to let anyone take the blame.
Grass dethatcher garden tool makes an
awfully good vine puller and weeder for non
lawn issues.
Traffic on Winifred/Cookville/Oakland
roads with school starting back is heavy
and much over the speed limit. Check it out,
Sheriff.
God & Jesus expelled from schools in 1963
caused destruction of morals and family
values followed by violent TV & video games,
fake news, social media, attacks on Christian
ity, excess legal & illegal immigration, exces
sive prescription and illegal drug use involved
in every shooting. Since 1950 98% in liberal
created gun free zones.
A joint venture between a New York invest
ment firm and a Japanese glass manufacturer
is investing $123 million to build a new plant
in Valdosta with the goal of hiring 150 people.
Maybe I travel the same path too much but
I keep seeing very messy yards.
A great article about Bobby Usry - Veteran
of the Month.
Thanks to the Ledger for sharing informa
tion on our veterans. We owe them a lot.
The morning school traffic is better, maybe
the little ones are riding the bus.
It would be interesting to know where the
Stockade Girls are now and how they are do
ing.
Another great group of Teacher of the Year
finalists. Thanks for educating our children.
This column is designed to allow read
ers to give praise about events and/or ac
complishments or to express their opinion
about factual statements. Negative personal
opinion about individuals will not be printed.
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leecountyledger.com, by fax to 759-6599 or
by phone to 759-2413.