Fannin County Schools Receives Improvements

As students in Fannin County begin their new school year, The Fannin County Board of Education discussed new and ongoing Construction projects at their monthly workshop on August 11.

 

Mr. Art Hubbard, Facilities Director, gave an update on SPLOST funded construction at each school. At Blue Ridge Elementary, a new computer lab is underway (Pictured above). A new playground was also built over the summer.

 

At East Fannin Elementary, a new hood was installed over the kitchen.

“That is the next to the last kitchen with an old fashioned hood,” Mr. Hubbard said.

This hood has “make-up air,” which draws in air from the outside to make up for air lost during heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. This is anticipated to save the system money. Hubbard mentioned West Fannin will be next for a kitchen hood update.

 

Fannin County Middle School had a new cooler/freezer installed. This freezer will have a canopy over it like the other freezers in the county, which Mr. Hubbard anticipates will be built within the next month. FCMS students also came back to school with freshly painted hallways. All the bathrooms at FCMS have also been re-painted. Classrooms are getting painted gradually during school breaks.

 

Seven classrooms at West Fannin Elementary School received vinyl tile to replace carpet over the summer. There are only about five more classrooms with carpet, which are anticipated to receive tile in November and December.

Hubbard said, “All the elementary schools except the media centers and a few other small areas [such as] offices will have vinyl tile.” The bathroom near the main office at WFES received sensor-operated toilets, which is saving the system money on water.

Also at West Fannin, the foundation for a greenhouse is expected to be poured by the end of the week. The greenhouse will be located by the pavilion and will allow for a large outdoor classroom and an orchard at a later date. Telephones in each classroom are also on their way.

Hubbard explained, “It’s modeled after the middle school design. That’s something that we’ve been missing for a long time is the ability for emergencies.”

Hubbard expects to put telephones in East Fannin Elementary and Blue Ridge Elementary if they are successful at West Fannin.

Fannin County High School’s parking lot was re-striped over the summer. Hubbard also addressed the need for replacing about four air conditioning units struck by lightning. These units are the only electric units still in use, as the rest of the units at FCHS are gas powered.

 

During the meeting, the Board also reviewed the agenda for their upcoming regular meeting to be held on Thursday, August 13.

 

Transportation Director, Benny Long, requested that one bus be salvaged and sold for scrap metal. Long explained that the 1996 Bluebird had been used as a “donor bus,” giving various parts to fix other buses. He also asked that five buses be sold on August 25 at the Highway 515 Auto Auction. Mr. Long is also expecting to purchase five new air-conditioned buses this school year, four using SPLOST funds, and one using a state issued bond. This purchase will help increase the number of air-conditioned buses on routes. These buses will be equipped with digital video equipment, which all buses have. Mr. Long also said about 30 to 40 percent of buses have stop sign cameras.

Board Member Terry Bramlett stated, “It’s impressive looking buses we have now. Our fleet has really been updated.” Superintendent Mark Henson responded, “If it weren’t for SPLOST, we wouldn’t have what we have over there.” Susan Holloway, Finance Director, noted, “It’s been over five years since we purchased out of the general fund for school buses.”

 

The board also heard from Mrs. Karen Walton, Director of Curriculum and School Improvement, who has negotiated an agreement with 4-H which will, according to Henson, “provide more time for 4-H and cost us less.”

Mrs. Walton explained that UGA and AmeriCorps would be providing an employee to work in the 4-H office for 40 hours a week. Mrs. Walton anticipates that this person will be able to help with the system’s STEM initiative. The board will pay a small portion of the employee’s salary. Mrs. Walton reminded the board that some details still need to be ironed out.

 

The Board is expected to approve these items on the agenda as well as vision statements and system goals at their August 13 meeting at 6 PM.