[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6606203,"mediaKeyId","2977758-51e73503daf52720c303f5065ee8a12e","parentId",2977758,"title","Pickens County readies students for Georgia Milestones; accreditation interview set for April 24","audioSeconds",335,"startMs",733000,"endMs",1068000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2977758-51e73503daf52720c303f5065ee8a12e&start=733&end=1068","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2977758-51e73503daf52720c303f5065ee8a12e/thumbnail_733000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606203/Georgia/Pickens-County-readies-students-for-Georgia-Milestones-accreditation-interview-set-for-April-24","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606203-d1a15731db6fe55bfd9f4ed3a805745a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773632354&Signature=fnquIQygUFPhK0EbvwXuyrfwIf6i-eGG2V~MkG1hbGL4Klc6PnksXgaezHRfTUrHKtAl6-uVt4atiQuwkHxjmf0poMiG3ozpr5JYETgUXexvt53zyTnSdV2p~nMzmsB~Inipc4u0NNaEX3iDVM-JqFZ40KwyZfCDfTWB6Kxx8eWBQFA8nT-8xohJXxdbh8OcajmQZgZ5kpBLERluYuHquDbM3yKNdg7C2K7wSkYKGN0uJXEMz0A6rDBTAQJkYR6M7z9u-7yGQFKz7BEhi4pdhKUhqeprhgpyWPNLCdBPZKJ-WSjP-ha~kL6kpqJycxaMNtawNMz4m8Yo9lUCvZcipA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School Board of Georgia ","date","2025-04-13T00:45:47.137Z","article","At the April 10 meeting, Dr. Abby May, the district executive director of teaching and learning, outlined plans to prepare students for upcoming Georgia Milestones assessments and said the district had submitted accreditation materials to Cognia ahead of an April 24 interview.

\"We are just about ready to take those lovely milestones tests in just a few weeks,\" Dr. May said, describing school-level incentives and targeted instructional work the district is using to boost attendance, test-taking strategies and readiness.

May told board members that elementary and secondary schools are using differentiated strategies: attendance incentives and targeted ELA/math instruction at some elementary schools; short \"cram\" and practice sessions and after-school preparation at middle schools; and focused standards-based instruction at the high school. She also said staff reviewed third-grade Beacon scores and have scheduled unit work and practice sessions to address specific gaps.

Superintendent-level remarks at the meeting noted that the district had submitted its accreditation materials to Cognia and will appear for its accreditation presentation on April 24. The presentation follows a multi-year review process; Dr. May and district staff led the submission, the district said.

Why it matters: Georgia Milestones are state accountability assessments; accreditation by Cognia is part of the district's cyclical review to confirm it meets regional standards for school systems.

What was not decided: No new instructional policies were adopted at the meeting. The report was informational and outlined ongoing classroom and school supports heading into testing.

Next steps

The district will hold the Cognia interview on April 24 and continue its test-preparation activities in the weeks leading up to the assessments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pickens County Board of Education | April 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The district reported preparations for upcoming Georgia Milestones tests and said it submitted accreditation materials to Cognia, with an on-site presentation scheduled for April 24.","taxTitle","Pickens County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",59451,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606206,"Pickens County updates capital projects, moves ahead with school-based health center RFP",420,1494000,1914000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2977758-51e73503daf52720c303f5065ee8a12e&start=1494&end=1914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2977758-51e73503daf52720c303f5065ee8a12e/thumbnail_1494000.jpg","/articles/6606206/Georgia/Pickens-County-updates-capital-projects-moves-ahead-with-school-based-health-center-RFP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606206-f7ba6c112dc385e85f714a5bfe600fe0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773632354&Signature=WpfPMiIa02LLvAtSFCYRnUQZAtxyKUJl3OMBQ97r7Qd8wsF3afMvDo6mmaF6BNq8u3wc0ee95TSjWEYbrmRVN1YOFWaYhup6dw0on8nRehfcvQ814XTPZxPppnr1pvPtNt2AHLdikNPFDJeDq8L7qsJsaUqerMwxdhAR-~eA3uTs2z65RQJVN3RFKc9E6re~Gu3vr-awIwUTbrdiTvB3PhavC8iDu2-0uhircjk4IOHQikO2W4XdaV7uFqlMQu1C6LrhooisNwDauzMckmNB0VslrBi1cPdORSZX9bMc44nK-6wQeOIUqSsQq83SVL7TafYca3i~O3THYUnTi9CrcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pickens County operations staff on April 10 told the Board of Education that several construction projects are on track and that an RFP is underway to site a school-based health center adjacent to Jasper (junior) High School, with services provided by Good Sam and funded through a state grant reimbursement.

Assistant Superintendent Chris Parker said the high school remodel, the district track project, and the Grove facility work are proceeding on schedule and under budget. \"The track project is going on on time, under budget, ready to finish,\" Parker said.

Parker described plans for a school-based health center that would offer mental and physical health services to students and family members. \"This doesn't cost us a red cent,\" Parker said, explaining the construction expense would be reimbursed by a state grant once the district builds and outfits the facility. The district intends the center to serve students districtwide, Parker added, not just junior-high students.

The school-based health center effort is a partnership that Parker said includes community healthcare providers and local stakeholders; he named Good Sam as the partner expected to provide clinical services and said the district had community participants on the project committee.

Other upcoming capital actions Parker previewed include an RFP for a replacement playground at Tate Elementary, HVAC replacements that may be eligible for state reimbursement, and an RFP related to the Hill City remodel expected in the fall. Parker also noted nonconstruction operational items: a district job fair planned for April 22 and a large safety exercise scheduled for July 24 that will involve the sheriff's office.

Why it matters: The projects affect facility safety, student services and future operating arrangements; the school-based health center would introduce a new on-campus clinical partner for student and family care while using state grant reimbursement to pay project costs.

What was not decided: The board did not vote on the RFPs during the meeting; staff said formal approvals and procurements will return to the board when required.

Community partners and implementation

Parker named community organizations and providers participating in planning for the health center and said local providers and pharmacies have assisted the effort. He said staff expect to present the building procurement for board approval, probably at the May meeting, and that the district will seek reimbursement under the state grant after construction is complete.

Next steps

Staff will bring formal procurement items to the board for approval as RFP responses are evaluated.","Operations staff reported the high school remodel and track project remain on schedule and under budget, and the district has an RFP out to build a school-based health center to be operated by Good Sam with state grant reimbursement; additional RFPs for playground and HVAC work were previewed.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6606211,"Pickens County board approves personnel report, FY25 budget amendment and $7,500 bus price increase",1153,1101000,2254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2977758-51e73503daf52720c303f5065ee8a12e&start=1101&end=2254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2977758-51e73503daf52720c303f5065ee8a12e/thumbnail_1101000.jpg","/articles/6606211/Georgia/Pickens-County-board-approves-personnel-report-FY25-budget-amendment-and-7500-bus-price-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606211-6697b06b1de88855e1e04fe56ce535c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773632354&Signature=Qagn0R15mm25AC2udjSPhHZwnKQ~fTi3mYf0f~tFmD70EfwrvJ23R-hK5dmIF2EiIyvpUgyJUDvuzf2-JB28-VTupL-pnXaqH8X7y5k2253gPzo2LXWS6fut2phrLxA2xToU4Wk-pRRbUYgpPv-xJjNVAG0trb5YUiL1c9rtHjjOPJGiNO4MOBorYBf5kXPbfsZ5DwBT~pYv77Gn8PgUfBCy5lR-FynESbOAtoI5xlS7CYfJOrjsXTeqHOq9BviXgABEpHNfecfIFWAT9j7KJxBvRVFQJe25jzn3dd-~ghA1-Vmb9qT6m8993fQ0jEleFcUAS4uS6B-NSQEnTiMzPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pickens County Board of Education on April 10 approved a personnel actions report, a fiscal 2025 budget amendment, and an amended request to increase the district's payment for three school buses by $7,500 during its regular board meeting, board members said.

The actions followed a financial briefing from Amy Smith, the district chief financial officer, who reported that general fund revenue collected through March 2025 stood at 78.2% of the annual budget while expenditures through that month were about 60.1% of budget. Smith said the district's month-end enterprise fund balance was $9,302,052.61 and that collections for March included a capital-related receipt of $697,610.99.

Why it matters: The votes finalize routine personnel and budget business for the district and clear an amendment tied to an earlier bus purchase approval. The bus-price increase responds to rising materials costs and adjusts the district's payment obligation for the three vehicles.

Board action and votes

- The agenda as amended was approved by the board. (Motion and second from the floor; no individual roll-call recorded.)

- The personnel action report was approved. The board recorded the vote as 5-0 in favor. (Motion and second on the record.)

- The fiscal year 2025 budget amendment was approved by voice vote after a motion and second; no roll-call tally was recorded in the minutes.

- The board approved an amendment to the previously authorized purchase of three school buses to increase the district's payment by $7,500. Dr. Thomas said the change \"is to increase our payment for the purchase of these 3 buses by $7,500\" to reflect higher materials costs. (Motion and second on the record; approved by voice vote.)

- A consent agenda including financial reports, an ELA textbook adoption for grades 6'12, minutes from March board meetings, and surplus declarations including six school buses over 10 years old was approved by the board.

What was discussed

Board members did not debate the personnel report or the consent agenda at length. The bus amendment was introduced earlier in the meeting when Dr. Thomas explained that increased material costs required a $7,500 upward adjustment to the district's payment for the three buses that the board had previously authorized.

Financial context

Smith told the board the district typically reports a month behind on consolidated fund activity and reminded members that payroll and year-end items will shift the seasonal percentages when the fiscal year closes. Smith also noted the district's process for special-revenue collections and reimbursements and praised the federal programs and special-education teams for prompt claims processing.

Looking ahead

Board members did not attach additional conditions to the approved items. The amended bus purchase will proceed under the previously authorized procurement process. The board set no separate deadline related to these items during the meeting.","At its April 10 regular meeting, the Pickens County Board of Education approved a personnel actions report, a fiscal 2025 budget amendment, an amended school-bus purchase increasing district payment by $7,500 for three buses, and several consent-agenda items after hearing a financial update from CFO Amy Smith.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pickens County readies students for Georgia Milestones; accreditation interview set for April 24

Pickens County updates capital projects, moves ahead with school-based health center RFP

Pickens County board approves personnel report, FY25 budget amendment and $7,500 bus price increase