Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY. JULY 26. 2007 PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS PAGE 5A
School Board members, superintendent comment on dress code
By Dan Pool
The school board chairman,
policy committee chairman and
school superintendent discussed
some of the motives and goals
with the recently released dress
code Tuesday.
Chairman John Trammell
said the board, administration,
parents and teachers had spent
hours studying and debating all
aspects of the dress code in a
year-long process.
He said they had looked at
everything from going to a full
uniform to not having any dress
code.
In response to some recent
criticism, Trammell said they
had taken into account issues
such as cost burden on parents,
bullying and other related
points.
“We had two motives,” he
said. “To provide a good educa
tional environment and to have a
safe environment.”
Policy Chairman Mark
Mitton also agreed that it was a
lengthy process that they did not
take lightly.
Superintendent Mike Ballew
said they consulted the legal
aspects of imposing any type of
restriction on students express
ing themselves through their
clothing in regard to writing or
designs on shirts.
The board ultimately banned
any writing or pictures on shirts.
Trammell said they were told by
both the local school board
attorney and the state school
board attorney that with writing
it was all or nothing.
Ballew said the consensus in
the legal community is that if
you allow any writing, you have
to allow all writing. The excep
tion is the school organizations"
Supply Lists
Pickens Kindergarten
Towel (for resting)
#2 pencils
1 package of washable markers
1 set of watercolor paints
1 package dry erase markers
1 package 16 count crayons
1 pair scissors
Pickens 1st Grade
2 packages #2 pencils
1 package of washable markers
1 package colored pencils
1 package dry erase markers
1 package 16 count crayons
1 pair scissors
Pickens 2nd Grade
2 packages #2 pencils
1 package of washable markers
1 package colored pencils
1 package dry erase markers
1 package 16 count crayons
1 pair scissors
2 packages wide ruled loose leaf
paper
Pickens 3rd Grade
2 packages #2 pencils
1 package of washable markers
1 package colored pencils
1 package dry erase markers
1 package 16 count crayons
1 pair scissors
2 packages wide ruled loose leaf
paper
Pickens 4th Grade
2 packages #2 pencils
1 package of washable markers
1 package colored pencils
1 package dry erase markers
1 package 16 count crayons
1 pair scissors
2 packages wide ruled loose leaf
paper
Pickens 5th Grade
2 packages #2 pencils
1 package of washable markers
1 package colored pencils
1 package dry erase markers
1 package 16 count crayons
1 pair scissors
2 packages wide ruled loose leaf
paper
Parents are only responsible
for paper and pencils. All other
supplies are optional. Parents
may want to provide a backpack
for their child.
Open Houses
Pickens Headstart-Pre-K
July 31 and August 1, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Harmony, Hill City & Jasper Elementary
Grades 1-5 - August 1 - 3-5 p.m.
Kindergarten - August 2 - 3-4 p.m.
Tate Elementary
K-5 - August 1 - 3-5 p.m.
Jasper & Pickens County Middle
6th Grade Orientation - July 31 - 5-7 p.m.
Grades 7-8 - August 1 - 5-7 p.m.
Pickens High
New Student/Freshmen Orientation - August 1 - 7-8:30 p.m.
Parking permits at HS
Pickens High School will be
selling parking permits on
Tuesday, July 31 from 9-11 a.m.
and 1-2:30 p.m. for seniors.
Juniors can purchase their per
mits from 9-11 a.m. and 1-2:30
p.m. on Tuesday, August 1.
Parking permits are $30 and can
be purchased at Pickens High
School. Forms will be available
in the front office at Pickens
High School on Monday July
23. In order to purchase the
parking permit the student has
to have a valid drivers license,
proof of insurance and a parent
signature if under 18. All paper
work must be complete in order
to purchase the permit. Please
see Harold Culbreth to purchase
your parking permit.
White Sale
50% off all white
• Capris
• Pants
• Skirts
• Dresses
• Shoes
July 25th thru 28th
Down Town Jasper
140 Mark Whitfield Street
M-S 11:00-5:00
706-253-6996
own “spirit ware.”
Trammell said people need to
realize that this year’s dress
code is not that different from
last year's. In addition to the
rules on writing on shirts,
Trammell said they had banned
cargo or baggy pants as the sec
ond of what he considered major
changes.
Mitton said they realize kids
can still sneak in contraband
items, but the cargo or baggy
pants make it much easier.
Trammell said this new rule
was purely about creating a safe
environment.
Since releasing the dress
code, Trammell said he has been
contacted by some, but not an
overwhelming number, of par
ents. He said the reviews have
been mixed with those that
agreed with the dress code,
those that disagreed as too
restrictive and those who felt
that it should have “gone fur
ther.”
Trammell said the board
intends to see that this policy is
enforced. Previously they had a
policy but due to the number of
“grey areas” left open to inter
pretation, it wasn't strictly
enforced.
“We were careful to leave
room for individuality,”
Trammell said. “But what we're
really hoping to see is this indi
viduality show up in academic
and extracurricular activities.
That is the perfect place for
individuality.”
A complete copy of the dress
code follows. Parents and stu
dents should note the different
code for kindergarten through
fifth grade at the bottom.
The Code...What you should and shouldn’t wear
The rules regarding acceptable dress in
grades 6-12 for Pickens County Schools are
as follows:
Allowed
• Students may wear long pants, slacks or
jeans that have a hem and no holes in them
(above or below the knees). Pants, slacks or
jeans must be worn at the waist.
• All shirts and blouses must have the top
hemmed. Small manufacturers’ logos are
acceptable. Shirts and blouses must cover
upper torso (no bare midriffs). Pickens
County Schools’ spirit apparel with writings
and drawings are allowed with pre-approval
by the administration. T-shirts are also
allowed that have no writing or drawings on
them. Shirts and blouses that are not tucked
inside the pants should not be excessive in
length.
• Dresses, skirts, shorts or skorts must be
knee-length when standing.
• Earrings may be worn in the ears.
• Shoes must be worn and be acceptable
for school. Indoor athletic shoes are
required for gym activities.
Not Allowed
• Baggy pants. This includes cargo-type
pants and shorts that have zippered or but
toned oversized pockets on the outside,
• Pajamas.
• Mesh shirts or blouses.
• Muscle shirts, tank tops or spaghetti
strap apparel.
• Writing or pictures on tops, pants and
slacks (including jacket-type outerwear)
with the exception of school spirit apparel.
• Headwear inside the building.
• Facial or tongue jewelry.
• Chains for wallets or large neck jewel
ry (dog collars, etc.).
• Shoes with cleats or wheels.
• Extreme make-up or hair colors.
• Drawings or writings on the body must
be covered.
The administration of the school will
have final approval of any questionable
dress items. This will include anything that
interferes with the instruction or operation
of the school.
The dress code for K-5 differs from the
dress code for grades 6-12. The differences/
exceptions are listed below:
• T-shirts and other age appropriate draw
ings, sayings and pictures are permitted.
• Cargo pants and shorts are permitted as
long as they are worn at the waist and are
not baggy.
• All lengths of skirts, shorts, skorts and
dresses must be age appropriate.
• Tank tops and spaghetti straps are per
mitted for students in grades K-2.
• Headbands used to hold back the hair
may be worn.
NOTICE
The Pickens County School Board does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the
Board Conference Center located at 91 D. B. Carroll Street in Jasper, Georgia on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 5:00 pm
and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation
of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
CURRENT 2007 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
COUNTY SCHOOL
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Real & Personal
818,738,776
889,916,600
968,959,341
1,083,256,253
1,202,009,565
1,316,710,759
Motor Vehicles
75,258,570
79,435,520
81,167,390
81,573,450
79,955,820
88,612,350
Mobile Homes
14,289,783
13,974,115
13,734,700
14,222,389
13,672,109
13,187,560
Timber -100%
835,078
764,471
1,143,236
901,371
1,019,023
999,143
Heavy Duty Equipment
48,906
108,607
102,638
797,345
768,368
1,417,776
Gross Digest
909,171,113
984,199,313
1,065,107,305
1,180,750,808
1,297,424,885
1,420,927,588
Less M& O Exemptions
85,385,275
88,865,315
88,940,488
74,769,584
94,640,140
97,537,715
Net M & O Digest
823,785,838
895,333,998
976,166,817
1,105,981,224
1,202,784,745
1,323,389,873
Gross M&O Millage
14.960
14.890
15.870
15.120
15.220
14.470
Less Rollbacks
Net M&O Millage
14.960
14.890
15.870
15.120
15.220
14.470
Total School Taxes Levied
$12,323,836
$13,331,523
$15,491,767
$16,722,436
$18,306,384
$19,149,451
Net Taxes $ Increase
$632,882
$1,007,687
$2,160,244
$1,230,669
$1,583,948
$843,068
Net Taxes % Increase
5.41%
8.18%
16.20%
7.94%
9.47%
4.61%
PICKENS COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FY 2008 TENTATIVE BUDGET
General Fund
Special Revenue Funds
Estimated Fund Balance, July 1,2007
5,200,000.00
10,549,100.00
ESTIMATED REVENUES
Local Taxes
19,149,451.00
4,435,614.00
Other Local Sources
565,000.00
760,800.00
State - QBE
18,007,213.00
State - Other
368,885.00
107,000.00
Federal Sources
2,804,471.00
TOTAL ESTIMATED REVENUES
38,090,549.00
8,107,885.00
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES
Instruction
26,148,595.00
1,107,933.00
Pupil Services
1,401,463.00
77,050.00
Improvement of Instruction
1,030,122.00
518,019.00
Educational Media
718,479.00
104,069.00
General Administration
899,209.00
School Administration
2,267,103.00
Business Services
350,512.00
Maintenance /Operations of Plant
3,117,650.00
Student Transportation
2,384,550.00
Central Support Services
20,000.00
40,000.00
School Nutrition
56,000.00
1,879,300.00
Facilities Acquistion & Construction
0.00
10,500,000.00
Debt Services
1,653,596.00
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES
38,393,683.00
15,879,967.00
Estimated Fund Balance June 30, 2008
4,896,866.00
2,777,018.00
This budget will be considered for final approval by the Pickens County Board of Education on
August 9, 2007 at 5:00 pm at the Board Conference Center located at 91 D. B. Carroll Street
in Jasper, Georgia. As always, the public is invited to attend.