Columbia County board approves personnel, hears start-of-year operations update and Pathways injury report

Columbia County School Board members on Aug. 12 approved personnel items and the consent agenda and heard a start-of-year operations update from Superintendent Cooley, who reported mostly positive openings at district schools, a smaller-than-expected rise in insurance costs and remaining questions about bus deliveries and final enrollment counts.

The board approved the agenda, personnel items and the consent agenda by voice vote; the chair announced “the ayes have it” after members responded in the affirmative.

Dr. Janae Delaney, president of the Columbia Teachers Association, said a staff member who tried to break up a fight at Pathways was injured and “has a concussion,” and she thanked Superintendent Cooley for taking the employee to medical care. The board and superintendent said the incident involved students and that the district will “deal severely” with those involved.

Why it matters: the approvals enable immediate personnel and operational steps while the superintendent’s update addressed budgetary and safety matters that affect students and employees during the critical opening weeks of school.

Superintendent report and operations Superintendent Cooley told the board the district’s insurance renewal, which staff initially expected might rise as much as 17 percent, was taken to bid and is now expected to increase by about 3.8 percent. “It’s only gonna go at 3.8%,” he said. He framed the smaller increase as a significant benefit to district employees.

Cooley outlined several staffing and operational items: he said two teaching vacancies remain systemwide, described one as a certified math vacancy, and reported that a certified staff member moved into a music position to cover a sudden opening at a new facility. He said the district has “2 vacancies on our whole school system,” and characterized that level as unusually low for the start of the year.

On hiring changes, Cooley said Bonnie Penner will begin work earlier than previously scheduled, starting Aug. 25 rather than Oct. 13; the district will pay out remaining days to Lindsay Laxon and then contract Penner for up to 10 days and up to $5,000. Cooley said the $5,000 cap is a contracting placeholder and that Penner indicated the amount likely will not be reached.

Facilities, buses and enrollment Cooley credited facilities and maintenance staff for running air-conditioning systems across schools during the opening days, saying the upgrades prevented widespread heat issues. He said one room still had an issue but described the overall deployment as successful.

Board members asked about school bus deliveries. A staff member identified as Dana told board member Hudson that two units from Florida Transportation “should be here by the October” and that a later group (referred to in the record as “the ’15”) was expected in the April time frame; the transcript did not specify exact models, quantities beyond “2,” or which routes the buses will serve.

Cooley cautioned that official enrollment figures would not be final until the district completes its 10-day count and later FTE calculations. He gave a preliminary figure of “like, 7,800,” and said that number is likely low and not final until district counts and weighting are completed.

Public comment and safety In public comments, Dr. Janae Delaney, who identified herself as president of the Columbia Teachers Association, described a serious student altercation at Pathways and said Mr. Garrett, a staff member, had been “kicked in the chest, kicked in the face,” and suffered a concussion while trying to intervene. Delaney thanked Cooley for assisting and for taking Garrett to the doctor. Board members expressed sympathy and said the district will take disciplinary steps regarding the students involved.

Next steps and scheduling Cooley reminded the board of a workshop set for Aug. 26 and noted a local memorial service for former principal Bill Orr. He closed his remarks by thanking school principals, staff and maintenance teams for preparations during the summer.

Ending: The board did not take further formal action related to the Pathways incident during the meeting; the personnel and consent approvals carried by voice vote, and several operational items remain contingent on the 10-day enrollment count and on delivery dates for buses that staff said are expected in October and next April.