BOE Hears Fine Arts Update And Request For $40,000 LED Screen

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

The March 24 meeting of the Dade County Board of Education featured many highlights of student achievement, an annual fine arts report, and a potential addition to the Dade County High School (DCHS) gymnasium.

First, the board highlighted the winners of the Trenton-Dade Optimist Club Oratorical Competition. Eden Wylie (elementary winner) presented her speech about how optimism helped her through challenges. She recounted several challenges she’s experienced, explaining, “Optimism doesn’t make everything better, but it gives hope.”

Maggie Hamby (middle and high school winner) was also recognized, but she did not give her speech.

Next, the board heard an annual report from Gabrielle Haston (coordinator of fine arts) about the importance of music and arts education. Opening this presentation, the DCHS literary trio (Nayla Smith, Zoie Gibson, Kaitlynn Kenimer) performed “Down to the River to Pray” a cappella.

Haston recognized a number of other students for musical accolades and accomplishments. She also briefly highlighted the Dade County Schools fine arts team.

Noting recent updates to the DCHS auditorium’s sound and lighting system (as voted on during the August board meeting, the upgrades cost $219,379), Haston said, “This auditorium is really the only one in the county that can serve as a place to gather this many people, so we are really excited about what this updated system means for our students and our county.”

She reported that Davis Elementary School received a donation of a baby grand piano; the Dade Middle School (DMS) art room sink (which had been part of the Northwest Georgia High School photography room) has been replaced; and Dade Elementary School (DES) replaced a piano that would not stay tuned with a keyboard.

Of the value arts bring to the community, Haston noted that parents and the community are invited into the schools through the arts. Also, DCHS and DMS students visit the elementary schools each fall to perform for the younger students and inspire them with what they could one day get to do.

Students also connect with senior citizens by performing at the Dade County Senior Center and Thrive Senior Living. Haston said, “Music therapy is a growing field in elder care…community is an integral part of what the arts bring to our school system.”

She also highlighted the economic impact of the arts in Georgia. “Georgia’s creative industries are worth an estimated $37 billion in revenue, $12.1 billion in earnings, and have a total economic impact of $62.5 billion, employing over 200,000 people.”

Haston concluded, “The imagination of creating a new piece of music, learning a new instrument, writing a new song ties directly into improving our students’ literacy skills in reading, writing, and comprehension. To be able to look outside and be inspired by nature, to create something new, or to study the masters of art and create our own imagining of their work, or to learn how to express your ideas in a healthy and emotionally aware manner, develop your own voice, and then to utilize that voice to create brand new expressions and ideas—this is what helps us inspire and imagine the future.”

Josh Ingle (superintendent) then addressed the question of how Dade might be impacted by the dismantling of the federal Department of Education, saying, “We really don’t know.” Because Dade County Schools don’t have direct communication with the federal department (everything flows through the state down to each district), the potential impact is unknown.

He speculated that if many positions are cut at the federal level, money may be left over. “I guess they can 1. possibly cut taxes, or 2. disperse additional funds to the 50 states.” However, should such funds be dispersed, the amount coming to each school district would likely be minimal.

Ingle will pass any further information he receives about the subject on to the school board members.

Next, Brent Cooper (DCHS principal) asked the board to consider purchasing an LED video scoreboard/screen (like a small jumbotron) for the DCHS gym. This was just a topic for discussion, not voted on at this meeting.

First, Cooper noted that he’s proud of the facilities we already have, but this is just an idea he wants to consider. He saw an indoor LED display at Sylvania High School’s gym, and Fyffe High School and Gordon Lee High School also have these types of displays.

He said outdoor LED displays are much more expensive than indoor ones. An indoor one would benefit wrestling, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, and volleyball. Each sport is willing to contribute $2,500 a year each for two years, for a total of $20,000 toward the purchase. Prices and sizes for the displays vary, and Copper recommends the largest (which is also the most expensive): a 13.5×7.5 display for $40,000. The school board would be responsible for the remaining $20,000.

Beyond sporting events, Cooper said the screen would be helpful for events like Class Night and pep rallies. He added that the screen could be used by the community during events hosted at the high school. He also believes it would create a cleaner look in the gym because business advertisements could run on the screen instead of cluttering up the gym with signs.

The board may return to the topic at a later meeting.

The board then approved the policy change that was laid on the table last month to streamline overtime pay for classified staff and laid another policy adjustment on the table, this time for the Wellness Program policy. During a five-year administrative review, the recommendation was made to add the following line: “Dade County only permits the marketing or advertising of those foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks in Schools standards.”

Jennifer Bowden (director of school nutrition) wasn’t told why this needed to be added except to be in compliance with federal regulations.

Jennifer Hartline (Sand Mountain representative) asked how this policy would impact fundraisers that sell desserts and special events where students get treats. Bowden said, “If it’s not being sold, if the kid’s getting it for rewards, that’s fine, but under the current federal guidelines, schools are not allowed to compete with our program.”

She explained that junk food can be sold during fundraisers to be eaten outside of school hours or given as rewards, but it cannot be sold to students with the intent that students will eat it at school.

The board then approved an expenditure of $188,780 to complete the addition of smart boards to all classrooms in the district. This will come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

Two years ago, a grant allowed the district to add Promethean smart boards to all DCHS classrooms and start on DMS and Davis classrooms. However, Promethean has completely sold out of the two board options Dade was interested in, so the schools previewed a Samsung board at DES.

The Samsung boards cost almost half of the Promethean price. Tanner Bradford (director of IT and network services) explained that in an effort to establish itself in the school market, Samsung is running a promotional sale.

The board approved the purchase of 114 Samsung interactive display boards and four stands (to make the boards in pre-k classrooms adjustable) for $188,780. This will finish outfitting DES, Davis, and DMS with smart boards.

Lastly, the board approved a $1,266,180 bid (the lowest of three, submitted by Integrated Builds) for roofing and HVAC work at DES. Two portions of the roof need to be re-roofed. The project qualifies for capital outlay funding, meaning Dade will get $363,896 back after the project. The work will be completed this summer.

The personnel report is as follows:

• Retirement (end of FY25): Susan Rose
• Hire: Staci Mason, Greg Brown, Tori Caldwell, Kelsey Lee, Leslie Wilson
• Resignation: Katie Burrows (end of FY25), Hannah Richmond
• Hire FY26 Administration: Charity Barton, Brent Cooper, Chris Davis, Tonya Gatlin, Shenea Hill, Susan Reyes, Jeremy Roerdink, Melissa Valtierra
• Substitute Teacher: Morgan Johnson