Fannin County School System’s Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Jan.14.  Most of the meeting was spent approving technology purchases and facilities upgrades.  Also on the agenda were changes in Board members, evaluation of Superintendent Henson, faculty hires and appointment of the attorney for the Board of Education.

The school system used SPLOST funds to buy the following technology:
Blue Ridge Elementary School –
100 iPads
27 laptops
93 desktop computers and monitors
$148,914.57

Fannin County Middle School –
5 zSpace units
90 iPads and WiFi
$75,898.50

Fannin County CTAE program –
32 desktop computers and monitors
$32,724.48

Blue Ridge Elementary School received the largest amount of technology purchases because it needs to outfit the computer lab which is currently under construction.  Fannin County Middle School brought the ultra-modern zSpace to enhance learning about design and construction through 3-D virtual reality.  Wearing special goggles and using a stylus connected to the computer, students can “reach” into the computer and pull out an object.  They also use the stylus to move and take apart the object.  For a video showing how the system works click http://zspace.com/

Through SPLOST funds, Fannin County High School is replacing all the lights in the gym.  The hope is that the new lighting system will make the dim gym a thing of the past.  Also, since the system will use LED lights that have a 25 year warranty, in the end there will be much money saved from not having to replace bulbs often and using less electricity.  The Middle School’s field house is being upgraded so it will meet the standards of the High School’s locker facilities.

The Fannin County School System received $4,655,234 in SPLOST funding for the 2015 school year, up $397,242 from 2014. Several times throughout the meeting, Superintendent Henson commented on how thankful he was that Fannin County citizens voted for SPLOST because it increases the money available for educational support items along with maintaining facilities.  He also thanked Fannin County’s Chamber of Commerce who has spent much effort advertising Blue Ridge as a vacation destination.  When tourists come and buy, the SPLOST money grows.  Because of SPLOST, Fannin County hasn’t had to raise property taxes to cover insufficient funding for education from the state.

At this time, the school system has completed 41.66% of the school year but used on 41% of the budget which means that the system is currently working below budget.

Since this was the first meeting of the year, it was time to elect a new Board Chair and Vice-Chair from among the current Board members. The new Chair is Bobby Bearden who replaces Steve Stanley, and Vice-Chair is Terry Bramlett who replaces Sandra Mercier.

Superintendent Henson also received his annual review. He scored five out of five in all the categories.  The Board thanked Mr. Henson for the great job he is doing and the great people working with him who help make Fannin County a top-notch school system. Superintendent Henson said that success in his job is because of the unified team of committed professionals that he works with in Fannin County.

In other personnel news : Annette Clement is coming out of retirement to take up her old job as Fannin County Middle School media specialist , Greg Hood will step into a vacant math teacher slot at Fannin County Middle School and Molly Davenport Conklin will become the new intervention paraprofessional at West Fannin Elementary School.  The intervention paraprofessional tutors students and works with families and social services to assist students in being successful at school.  Also, eight new substitute teachers were hired, most of whom are certified teachers.  According to Ms. Hyde, Associate Superintendent for Personnel and Support Services, having these new substitutes will greatly help with the amount of anticipated maternity leaves coming up in the next as only certified teachers can substitute for more long-term teacher leaves of absence.

Lynn Doss of Doss & Associates, Blue Ridge became the attorney for the Board of Education.  The vote was nearly unanimous with only one vote against her appointment.

The Board approved new guidelines for credit card use for authorized school system employees and Board use.  The new guidelines were not so much new rules as they were making the guidelines less specific so the Board did not have to vote on every change in user or change in credit card company.  The new guidelines still follow those required by state law.  Superintendent Henson remarked that he is proud that Fannin County School System doesn’t have credit card misuse like other counties do.

Fannin County elementary school principals want to remind parents that kindergarten registration is in April:  April 12 – West Fannin Elementary School; April 13 – East Fannin Elementary School; and April 14 – Blue Ridge Elementary School.  It is important for parents to register their children so that the schools will have the right amount of teachers for the fall.  If parents want their children to go to another Fannin County school which is not in the one in their district, parents will be able to register for a school lottery this summer.