Fannin Board of Education June Meeting Notes: New Principals, Economic Challenges and Money Well-Spent

This month East Fannin Elementary School gave a state-of-the-school report to the School Board.  Principal Sarah Finch spoke about the infrastructure improvements and technology increases that have happened over the past year at East Fannin Elementary School.  This year the school added 30 security cameras, replaced windows in one wing of the building, put a new roof on the main building and bought a new piece of playground equipment.  The school spent $90,000 increasing its Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering programs by buying a greenhouse, graphic design equipment and laptops.  Now there is better than a 1 to 1 ratio of technology equipment to students says Ms. Finch.  Ms. Finch also thanked the East Fannin Parent Teacher Organization for its donations for students to go on field trips.

Over the course of the past week, leadership changes within the school system happened.  Robert Ensley, Principal of West Fannin Elementary School, took over as Director of Assessment at the Central Offfice.  Lucas Roof, former Assistant Principal at Blue Ridge Elementary School, will become Principal at West Fannin Elementary.  Later this summer, Keith Nuckolls joins Fannin County School System as the Principal of Fannin County Middle School.

Superintendent Mark Henson also talked about the economic demographics of Fannin County students.  He said that 78% of Fannin students are on free or reduced-price school lunches.  These are the same economics as students from 20 or 30 years ago.  People may think of Fannin County as a wealthy county, says Mr. Henson, but the wealth hasn’t trickled down to the families in the county.  Mr. Henson also stated concerns about the number of students being raised by grandparents and foster parents.  He says that it is a growing trend for children in the area to have their primary care from someone who is not the child’s parent.

The school system continues to be prudent in spending.  With 83.33% of the fiscal year completed, only 81% of the budget has been spent, meaning that the system is running 2.33% below cost.  It may seem like a small number, but with a projected budget of over $31 million. 2.33% goes a long way.