School Board Approves FY25 Budget, STEM Camp Proved Successful
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Photo courtesy of Dade County Schools – Josh Hurst (digital media teacher) shows students how to operate a drone during this May’s STEM camp for third-sixth graders.
With summer in full-swing and the new fiscal year about to begin, the June 24 meeting of the Dade County Board of Education was fairly short, dealing with annual items of business and approving the fiscal year 2025 budget.
Josh Ingle (superintendent) noted the success of this summer’s STEM camp for elementary students, which was funded by a grant that Tonya Gatlin (CTAE director) applied for. About 80 students attended the camp and learned about A/V technology, handled drones, went through CPR simulations, worked in the mechatronics lab, and built a greenpower car.
Ingle noted that another mobile food pantry will be on July 27 with extra back to school elements. Several community groups will be at Dade County High School providing information, free book bags, and free haircuts for children.
He then recapped, and the board later voted to approve, the FY25 budget. The board held two public budget hearings, and nothing changed from the tentative budget (see the May 29 Sentinel). Ingle explained that the increases are due to health insurance and salary increases (not unlike the county government’s budget).
He also noted that each year, the state takes the first five mills from each school district for Local Fair Share. Last year, five mills of the budget was $2,779,319. This year, it is $2,881,382.
Ingle noted that the last of our ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds which were part of the CARES Act will expire at the end of this September, so the board will use all of the funds before they expire.
As usual, the board approved the monthly financial report. SPLOST V has been completed, and SPLOST VI funds began to be used in June.
The board then approved several annual business matters:
- Continuation of annual license with NWEA MAP Growth (an assessment program)
- Renewal of GSBA risk management services (which includes property and casualty, auto/transportation, workers compensation, and cyber risk)
- School meal prices (with no change from last year for student meals but increases for adult meals)
- Continuation of contract with Family Resource Agency (known as Head Start) with Dade County Schools providing meals for Head Start
The board also voted to adjust board policies (per Georgia House Bill 1010) to increase paid parental leave from 120 hours maximum to 240 hours, and they appointed Melissa Valtierra to the Dade County Public Library board.
Lastly, the board approved a transmission replacement in one of the school buses for $14,503 from SPLOST (in the new fiscal year). John Smith (director of facilities, maintenance, and transportation) explained that this line of buses had faulty transmissions that have since been discontinued.
Jennifer Hartline (Sand Mountain District) and Jayne Griffin (At-Large) inquired about the feasibility/financial implications of simply replacing the bus, but new buses cost $123,000 with a lead time of 16 months. The transmission can be replaced in several weeks, and Smith explained that the bus only has 55,000 miles on it and is in good condition otherwise.
The personnel report is as follows:
- Resignations: Kelly Beesley (last day June 21, 2024), Ronnie Cartwright (end of FY24 school year)
- Hires: Shannon Ricker, Crystal Blevins, Kristi Jones, Mary Edna Howard, Paige Hill, Mark Whitt, Stephen Doolittle
- Voluntary Transfer: David Tate
- School Nutrition Worker Substitutes: Rachel Lee, Monika Bible
- Hire Student Workers: Katie Barger, Zoie Gibson, Alaina West
