The Fannin County Board of Education kicked off 2014 with some good news for those interested in the county’s education goals and progress. There was a slight change in positions at the BOE regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday. As always, the board must elect a chairperson and a vice chair at the first meeting of the year. Board member, Lewis DeWeese nominated Steve Stanley as chairman. Bobby Bearden seconded the motion and it was carried. Board member, Terry Bramlett made the nomination of Sandra Mercier to be the vice chair. DeWeese supported the motion and it was carried.

After the pair switched positions and seats, the board had to declare a time, place and date of upcoming meetings. Bramlett suggested that the work session that takes place the Tuesday prior to the meeting be moved to morning or evening instead of being at noon. The board agreed and elected to have the work sessions begin at 8:00 am on the Tuesday before the regularly scheduled board meeting.

After an executive session lasting approximately half an hour, Superintendent Mark Henson and the members of the board returned to say that no action was taken behind closed doors. They also announced the personnel changes. With the results of the criminal background check and fingerprints being clear, the board approved hiring James Pavao as a teacher and high school football coach, Christine Carper Hinman as the school psychologist and Sheena Rymer as the assistant payroll/finance bookkeeper. Paula Hyatt was also approved as a paraprofessional.

Healthy financial reports were also a part of the good news announced at the meeting. With 41.66 percent of the fiscal year complete, the BOE is 1.66 percent below budget compared to this time last year. SPLOST was also reported as being above expectations and the county is projecting to receive well over 18 million in funds.

Several projects are underway and Assistant Superintendent, Art Hubbard, addressed the progress on those. Weather has presented problems but Hubbard hoped to be able to pour half of the concrete slab for the maintenance facility on Monday, January 13, 2014 and the other half later in the week. The building is on site waiting to be erected and will take between five and seven days to do so. The classroom wing that is being constructed at the high school has the interior footer and excavation completed. The plumbing and electrical roughs are also complete. Gravel was expected to be poured early during this week. Hubbard was hopeful that they would be able to pour the walls later in the week. The steel for this building is ready and awaiting shipment. It will be shipped when the grounds are more prepared to put the building up. Hubbard also displayed photos of the new lockers that were installed in the varsity locker rooms in the gym while students were on winter break.

With the consent agenda approved, no public comment was made and the meeting was adjourned following the board members’ comments.