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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. AUGUST 17, 2023 - PAGE 7A
School/Features
MEETINGS: BOE reflects
MC Fair exhibition coming up
on charter systems, new year
By Alison Smith
Students aren’t the only
ones learning in the first
week of school. The Board
of Education and Local
School Governance Boards
met virtually for their annual
training requirement under
Georgia charter school law.
During the training on
Aug. 8, the boards learned
the history of charter schools
in Georgia, the responsibili
ties of the local governance
board and the flexible op
tions granted to charter sys
tems.
Madison County first es
tablished a charter school
system in 2012. Since that
time the charter has been re
newed twice and is up for re
newal in 2027. The benefits
of charter systems include
an extra funding allotment
of about $100 per student
and flexibility to reduce state
oversight in executing inno
vations to improve student
achievement and opportu
nities for success. Madison
County will receive almost
$573,000 in additional state
funding as a charter system
this year.
After the training, BOE
member Cindy Nash said
charter systems are a great
opportunity for developing
students.
Superintendent Michael
Williams said some of the
best opportunities for the
county students have been
the ability to “serve kids
by need not label,” allow
ing students to be grouped
individually by specific
skills. He also mentioned
establishing agricultural co
horts, which allow students
to work on local farms for
academic credit as options
that might not have been
available without the charter
system.
REGULAR MEETING
Also at the BOE’S regu
lar meeting on Aug. 8, both
Williams and BOE chairman
Robert Hooper commend
ed teachers and staff for a
smooth and safe start back
to school. Williams also told
the board that open house
had great participation with
an effort from the faculty to
complete a lot of work in a
short amount of time.
The board approved the
2024-25 out-of-county tu
ition rate of $2,297. Out-
of-county enrollment is
restricted to students who
have recently moved out of
the district but have been
students for at least 10 years.
In a detailed presentation,
former superintendent Alan
McCannon explained equal
ization funds to the board. In
his report, McCannon said
that some school systems
in the state are dropping
their millage rate below the
“actual or effective” rate
of 14 required by the state
to receive the equalization
funds, having assurances
from state legislators that
their funding was not in
jeopardy. However, Mc
Cannon warned the board
that dropping below that
millage rate has risks for
the future.
The school system re
ceived its allotment of
equalization funds of about
$4.6 million for 2024-25.
The formula for these funds
is complicated but are gen
erally awarded based on
property assessments and
the number of students in
a system. It lags two years
behind current values.
Madison County ranks 124
out of 180 school systems
in the state in property
values, which also pushes
it slightly out of the lower
income tier for additional
funding through equaliza
tion.
After several questions
from the board, McCannon
advised a conservative ap
proach to setting a millage
rate below 14 mills, since a
large portion of the budget
comes from the equaliza
tion funds.
Piedmont students receive
degrees during summer 2023
Ninety-six Piedmont Uni- ceremony on the Demorest bachelor of science in nurs-
versity students received campus. ing degree and April Roach,
undergraduate and graduate Class of 2023 summer of Bowman, who earned a
degrees on Friday, July 21, graduates include Jacob Bak- bachelor of arts in psychol-
during a commencement er, of Athens, who earned a ogy degree.
UNG students receive degrees
For the summer 2023
semester, the University
of North Georgia (UNG)
awarded about 460 degrees
and 43 certificates to gradu
ates. Almost 300 graduates
participated in the summer
2023 commencement cere
mony held Aug. 4 at the Con
vocation Center at UNG’s
Dahlonega Campus.
Local students included:
•Marilyn Alva-Arroyo of
Athens graduated with an as
sociate of science in the edu
cation pathway.
• William Chambless of
Athens graduated with an as
sociate of science in the crim
inal justice pathway.
• Wyatt Chandler of Com
merce graduated with an as
sociate of science in the poul
try science-business pathway.
• Amber Ortiz of Royston
graduated with a bachelor of
business administration in
management.
•Kelly Still of Monroe
graduated with distinction
with an associate of arts in
the business administration
pathway.
• Lorena Valdivieso of
Winterville graduated with a
bachelor of business admin
istration in accounting.
•Osvaldo Zacarias-Torres
of Colbert graduated with
distinction with an associate
of arts in the business ad
ministration pathway.
Ayers named to UNG dean’s list
Evan Ayers of Royston of North Georgia (UNG) for more credit hours in one se-
made the summer 2023 achieving at least a 3.5 grade mester and having no grade
dean’s list at the University point average, carrying 12 or lower than a B.
City of I LA
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES
Date: August 16, 2023
Plans are to contract a reputable architectural firm for design services for federally and locally
funded projects related to a new city hall building at 5211 Danielsville Street, lla, GA 30647.
This project may include USDA-RD funds in compliance with CFR 200 for Procurement. This
procurement action may also lead to additional project contracts and/or contract addendums
for Preliminary Architectural Report (PAR), Geological Survey, design, and construction
administration services for state and federally funded projects. This is not a request for retainer
services. Immediate plans call for services to assist the City of lla with design services. The
complete RFQ can be found at the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission website at
www.negrc.org.
All contracts are subject to federal and state contract provisions prescribed by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture-Rural Development.
The City of lla abides by the following laws: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Section
109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Title 1; Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act); Section 104(b)(2) of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended; Title II
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA); and the Architectural Barriers Act of
1968.
Interested parties should request copies of a Statement of Qualifications Form prior to
preparing and submitting their qualifications. Submissions should be received no later than
5:00 PM on September 20, 2023. Qualifications received after the above date and time may
not be considered. The City of lla reserves the right to accept or reject any and all submissions
and to waive informalities in the proposal process. Questions and Statements of Qualifications
should be directed to Lisa Brosnan at NEGRC, 706.523.8332 or LBrosnan@negrc.org.
Qualifications packages (one hard copy and/or digital copy) should be submitted to the name
and address listed below:
Lisa Brosnan, Grants and Planning Specialist
Northeast Georgia Regional Commission
305 Research Drive
Athens, GA 30605
706.523.8332
LBrosnan@negrc.org
The Comer Lions Club’s
Madison County Fair is set
for Sept. 26 through Sept.
30. The fair is a special tra
dition that takes place each
fall in Comer. “The Lions
Club members generously
give their time and energy to
make this hometown event,
which has taken place for the
last 75 years, a delight to the
people from the Northeast
Georgia area,” leaders said.
Hundreds of exhibits
and twelve community fair
booths will be entered in the
fair this year. The Comer Li
ons Club sponsors ribbons
and prize money. Those
placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
place win premium prizes
for their winning entries in
the amounts of $5, $4, and
$3 respectively. Youth and
adults will be judged sepa
rately. Every effort will be
taken to protect items, but
the Lions Club cannot be
held responsible for loss or
damage to entries. Those
interested in entering a craft,
canned good, sewing, cro
chet, knitting, or artwork
should read and pay close at
tention to the following rales
that have undergone specific
changes this year.
Check in for exhibits will
be Friday, Sept. 22, from 6
to 8 p.m., or Saturday, Sept.
23 from 8 a.m. to noon. Ex
hibits must be dropped off
on these two days as judging
will take place on Monday,
Sept. 25. Exhibits should
stay all week and may be
picked up the end of the fair.
Pick up will only be on Sun
day, Oct. 1, from 1 to 3 p.m.
You may drop off your items
the week of Sept. 18-22 at
the Madison County Coop
erative Extension Office.
Items not picked up will be
held at the Extension Office.
Fair exhibit tags for each en
try will be available to pick
up prior to exhibit check-in
at the Extension Office start
ing Friday, Sept. 1 for those
who wish to fill them out in
advance.
Divisions and Classes:
Division 1: Needlework
Household Accessories
Class 1 - Counted Cross
Stitch (Framed or unframed)
Class 2 - Printed Cross
Stich (Framed or unframed)
Class 3 - Embroidery
Class 4 - Sewn Items (ex:
pillow cases, organizers,
toys, dolls)
Class 5 - Plastic canvas
items
Class 6 - Miscellaneous
Division 2 - Crochet
Class 7-Afghans
Class 8 - Tablecloths/run-
ners/doileys
Class 9 - Clothing Items
(Hats, shawls, sweaters, etc.)
Class 10 - Dolls/Doll
Clothing
Class 11 - Miscellaneous
Division 3 - Knitting
Class 12-Afghans
Class 13 - Tablecloth
Class 14 - Clothing
Class 15 - Dolls/Doll
Clothing
Class 16 - Miscellaneous
Division 4 - Quilting
Class 17 - Hand-sewn and
hand-quilted
Class 18 - Machine-sewn
and quilted
Class 19 - any combination
of quilting
Class 20 - lap quilt/quil-
low/baby quilts
Class 21 - Wall Hangings
Class 22 - Hand or ma
chine sewn purses
Class 23 - Miscellaneous
Division 5 - Clothing
Class 24 - Dresses
Class 25 - Infant wear
Class 26 - 2 pc outfit
Class 27 - Skirt/pants
Class 28 - Jackets/top/
blouse/coats
Class 29 - Miscellaneous
Division 6 - Art
Class 30 - Painting
Class 31 - Drawing/Sketch
Class 32 - Photography
(according to number of en
tries this may have additional
classes such as people, land
scapes, animals, etc.)
Class 33 - Miscellaneous
Division 7 - Craft House
hold Accessories
Class 34 - Ceramics/Pot
tery
Class 35 - Holiday Deco
ration
Class 36 - Macrame/weav-
ing
Class 37 - Gourds
Class 38 - Metal craft
Class 39 - Woodcraft
(turned bowls, furniture,
small items)
Class 40 - Jewelry/hair ac
cessories
Class 41 - Basketry
Class 42 - Floral Arrange
ments
Class 43 - Trash to Trea
sure
Division 8 - Canning
Must be canned in stan
dard canning jar according to
USDA standards. Unsealed
jars are disqualified.
Class 44 - Green Beans
Class 45 - Soup Mixes
Class 46 - Tomatoes
Class 47 - Tomato Prod
ucts (Sauce, Ketchup, Juice,
Salsa)
A. Sauce
B. Juice
C. Salsa
Class 48 - Miscellaneous
Vegetables
Class 49 - Apples
Class 50 - Peaches
Class 51 - Pears
Class 52 - Miscellaneous
Fruits
Class 53 - Dill Pickles
Class 54 - Sweet Cucum
ber Pickles
Class 55 - Miscellaneous
Pickles
Class 56 - Relish
Class 57 - Sliced or whole
Peppers
Class 58 - Pepper sauces
Class 59 - Apple Jam/Jelly
Class 60 - Berry Jam/Jel
ly (Blueberry, Strawberry,
Blackberry)
Class 61 - Grape, Musca
dine, Scuppemong Jam/Jelly
Class 62 - Hot Pepper Jam/
Jelly
Class 63 - Miscellaneous
Jams/Jellies
Class 64 - Fruit butters
Class 65 - Fig Preserves
Class 66 - Peach Preserves
Class 67 - Strawberry Pre
serves
Class 68 - Pear Preserves
Class 69 - Miscellaneous
Preserves
Class 70 - Bee Honey
Class 71 - Miscellaneous
Syrups/Fruit type Honey
Class 72- Okra
Class 73 - Dried foods
Division 9 - Garden
Bounty
Class 74 - Apples (3)
Class 75 — Other fruit
Class 76 — Beans or peas
(10-15 pods)
Class 77 — Cucumbers
(3-4)
Class 78 — Pepper (3-5)
Class 79 —Squash (3-5)
Class 80 - Pumpkins
Class 81 - Tomatoes (3-5)
Class 82 — Potatoes (3-5)
Class 83 — Misc. Vegeta
bles
Class 84 — Decorated
pumpkin
Class 85 — Decorated
scarecrow
Please contact Angie Mc
Ginnis at 706-540-0404 or
Angie.McGinnis@piedmont.
org with any questions about
fair exhibits.
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