The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current, September 04, 2008, Image 1
Community: 3A Sports: IB Leopards to make 2008 home debut County holds Holiday Festival — www.BanksNewsTODAY.com — 5(K • Homer, Banks County, GA 30547 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. • 16 Pages, 3 Sections Plus Supplements • Vol. 40 No. 4 Banks SAT scores drop Officials seek recalculation Banks County High School’s 2008 SAT scores dropped from the previous year by 70 points, but school system officials are asking for a recalculation on the basis of what they believe to be errors in how the average was compiled. The composite total of 1,410 was short of the previous year’s mark of 1,480. Like the entire nation, Georgia has seen a drop in its SAT scores for the past two years. Georgia’s average com posite score for public school students is 1,453. The Banks County School System’s average verbal score is 476, math 472, and writing 462. The school system has report ed to the College Board and the Georgia Department of Education that the 2008 Banks County School System SAT data has errors and should be recal culated. The system awaits new results from the governing board. Superintendent Chris Erwin indi cated that students who are not in the system were reported in the district’s data. “The recalculation of the data should dramatically increase the category and composite average scores,’’ Erwin said. “Regardless, our goal is always to better pre pare students for college entrance exams and raise average SAT scores by continuing to focus on improving student achievement in core areas.’’ This is the third year that the SAT featured the rigorous writ ing section, the superintendent said. Previously, the highest score yielded on the test was 1,600 with 800 possible points in each of the two areas (verbal and mathemat ics). The writing component added another 800 total points to the test for a possible 2,400 high score. “The SAT is a prerequisite for college entrance,’’ said BCHS principal Art Wheaton. “Our students can only benefit from having more opportunities to attend college and receive schol arships. The staff and students of Banks County School System are working hard to increase the college and post secondary learn ing rate.’’ Banks officials said it is expect ed that the results on the SAT and all tests will improve as the state continues the implementation of its more rigorous curriculum and new graduation requirements The new graduation require ment calls for all students to take four years of mathematics and science, while providing enough flexibility for students to pursue their different areas of interest. News -2-3A •School technology a chamber topic —page 2A • ‘McCain keeps mav erick status’ — page 4A Other news • Social News — 5A • School News — 8A • Public Safety — 7A • Legals — 9A • Church — 6A •Obituaries — 9A How much for development job? Development authority, Hart debate pay for position BY SHARON HOGAN A broad group of Banks County leaders agree that the county needs an economic development professional. But how to pay for the posi tion and how much should be paid in salary remain a point of contention between mem bers of the Banks County Development Authority and board of commissioners. The matter is scheduled to be on the BOC agenda again this month. At a recent development authority meeting, the authority members along with county commission chairman Gene Hart and administrative officer Angela Sheppard, discussed the economic devel opment position contained in a proposed deal between the authority and BOC. Hart said the position should be paid from county general funds and not from money collected from a one-mill eco nomic development tax as proposed by the authority. Hart was also reluctant to announce a salary of $75,000 to $80,000 for the position. “As far as the money part, I don’t have a problem with that because I know what we are trying to do here,’’ Hart said. “(But).. .if we put it out there that we are paying someone $75-$80,000, it would be disastrous.’’ At one point, the authority had wanted $200,000 allo cated for the position, includ ing overhead costs. But that met with strong resistance by some county leaders. “The county has moved forward in the last four years with everyone working together.’’ Hart said. “Two years ago, we looked at hir ing someone for economic development and I wonder where we would be right now if we had done this.’’ Hart said the salary for an economic development position should come from the same place the salary for the com missioners comes from, which is the county’s general fund. The one mill of property tax that goes to economic development in the county should be used to purchase land for economic development. “This agreement would tie up that money for a salary and it could be used to purchase land,’’ he said. Authority chairman Wayne Abernathy presented a proposal to the BOC at a meeting in July that called for an eco nomic development position to be paid for out of the development fund. Sheppard is currently doing the eco nomic development work part-time and her salary is being paid out of the gen eral fund. Hart said. “A lot of economic development ties into my job naturally,’’ Sheppard said. DA member Jack Banks said, “I don’t have a problem with where the salary comes from, but I would like to see this all tied down by the end of the year.’’ DA member Scott Ledford said, “We need to treat this as an emergency.. .We need to get something in play to attract businesses because people need jobs in Banks County.’’ DA member Stan Stewart said, “When the county hires the right person for this job, this person will be most important — right under the chairman. We need to be prudent and good stewards for the county. We need to let people know that we are here to support the commission ers in economic development for the county.’’ Ledford said he believes the county should set aside the red tape and elimi nate the delays. “When the county is sitting on a million dollars to bring businesses to the county, they need to do that to help those that are out of a job,’’ Ledford said. “I don’t want anyone to think this comment is against anyone on the BOC or anyone on this authority, but we need to step it up a notch now.’’ Abernathy said, “My thought is if this had been done 20 years ago in Banks County, this county would be thriving. If we wait 20 more years, just think how the county will be. People have to drive out of the county to work now.’’ But Sheppard said just hiring some one wouldn’t guarantee economic devel opment success. “We need to realize that this person will not be a miracle worker,’’ she said. Sheppard said she has been working in economic development for the county for a while and lot of that work has been in building relationships. “You can’t do anything in Banks County until you have your water and your sewer in,’’ she said. “Pattillo has stated that they would be glad to build in Banks County, but the county has no land, no sewer and they need to know there is adequate water available.’’ Carol Ciriacks, Department of Community Affairs, said, “Hart, Stephens and Franklin counties are con stantly looked at because of the land they have. Everyone is looking for water and sewer.’’ Stewart said, “You have got to have the infrastructure before you have any businesses.’’ HART FIRST MEETING IN NEW BUILDING The Banks County Board of Commissioners held the first meeting in the new annex building last week. An open house at the new facility will be held on Sept. 28. Photo by Angela Gary Another Superior Court judgeship recommended The Judicial Council of Georgia has recommended that the Piedmont Judicial Circuit get another superior court judgeship. The council recently reviewed caseload data for request ing circuits and named the Piedmont Judicial Circuit with the highest priority among 10 circuits for a new superior court judgeship. The Piedmont Judicial Circuit serves Jackson, Banks and Barrow counties. The recommendations will be sent to Gov. Sonny Perdue and the General Assembly to be considered for legislative action in 2009. New judgeships are created by the General Assembly. Designated judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, superior courts and the limited jurisdiction trial courts serve on the Judicial Council. Baldwin election ahead Four candidates qualified to seek the mayor’s seat in the City of Baldwin. Baldwin residents Mike Kelley, Jerry Neace, Thomas Loudermilk and Mark Reed qualified for the special election to be held on September 16. The special election will be held at the Baldwin City Hall located at 130 Airport Road, Baldwin. Banks County Transit services offered to citizens BY SHARON HOGAN On weekdays. Banks County transit vehicles can be seen transporting resi dents around the county. The transit vehicles also make many trips outside Banks County carrying residents to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and other destinations. Many people think the transit service is only avail able to senior citizens of the county. However, the Banks County Transit ser vice is available to all Banks County residents. Banks County Transit Coordinator Carol Wood encourages everyone to use the service. There are two full-time and one back-up driver TRANSIT AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS Banks County Transit drivers Bruce Rogers (L) and Phillip Hardman are available to transport Banks County residents. The county transit system is available to all Banks County residents, not just senior citizens. Photo by Sharon Hogan available to transport the time and Marcia Sims is the residents. Bruce Rogers and back-up driver. Phillip Hardman drive full- Banks County Transit on an advanced reservation basis. To schedule a trip, you must call 24 hours prior to your requested trip. Wheelchair accessible ser vice is available. When you call to schedule your trip, you should let the transit service know of any assis tance that might be needed in boarding or disembarking from the vehicle. There is a set fee for a certain amount of time. Additional time is charged an additional fee and addi tional stops are also charged $1 per stop. To schedule a trip or receive a complete list of operates from 8 a.m. to 4 transit prices, rules and p.m. Mondays through regulations, call Wood at Fridays. The transit operates 706-677-1835.