Paulding County board approves construction contracts, multiple easements and opts out of homestead rollback

The Paulding County Board of Education approved several construction and services contracts, four utility easements, a 52-item personnel report and a change to board policy during its Feb. 11 regular session, and voted 6–1 to adopt a resolution opting the district out of the state homestead assessment cap under OCGA 48-5-44.2 (House Bill 581).

Board action included approval of a site-work contract for “elementary school number 20” with Arcade Redding Construction Inc., a construction-management-at-risk award to Winter Construction Company, LLC for auxiliary athletic multipurpose buildings at four high schools, and authorization for the board chair and superintendent to sign the Family Connection fiduciary/physical agent agreement with the Georgia Department of Education for fiscal year 2026. The board also approved a third renewal of the lawn-care maintenance contract to Broadview Landscape Inc.

The board voted to grant four easements to Greystone Power to add electrical service for communication towers or new building additions at Allgood, Poole, Roberts and Northside elementary schools. The superintendent presented the personnel report covering items 1–52, which the board approved. Board policy DA (goals and objectives) was approved, with the vote recorded as unanimous.

The most contested vote at the meeting was on resolution 25-01, a Paulding County Board of Education resolution to opt out of the homestead assessment cap pursuant to OCGA 48-5-44.2 (House Bill 581). The resolution passed 6–1; the meeting transcript records the tally but does not identify the opposing member by name in the roll call.

Procedurally, motions and seconders were recorded in the minutes for many items (for example, the Winter Construction award was moved by Ms. Lyons and seconded by Mr. Fuller; the Family Connection agreement was moved by Mr. Fuller and seconded by Ms. Lyons). Where the transcript did not name a mover or seconder, the board minutes record the superintendent’s recommendation and a motion was called and voted on.

Why it matters: the construction awards and easements enable several school facility projects and site work, and the homestead opt-out changes the district’s taxing flexibility under state law, which board members said has budget implications for operations and long-term planning.

Agenda items approved at a glance: - Site-work contract for elementary school No. 20: approved (contractor listed as Arcade Redding Construction Inc.; subject to final legal review). - RFP 25-241218 (construction management at risk) for auxiliary athletic multipurpose buildings at four high schools: awarded to Winter Construction Company, LLC of Atlanta — approved. - Family Connection physical agent agreement with the Georgia Department of Education (FY26): authorized for signature — approved. - Renewal of RFP 2221 (lawn-care maintenance): awarded to Broadview Landscape Inc. — approved. - Greystone Power easements to add power at Allgood, Poole, Roberts and Northside elementaries — approved. - Personnel items 1–52 — approved. - Resolution 25-01 to opt out of the homestead assessment cap pursuant to OCGA 48-5-44.2 (House Bill 581) — approved 6–1. - Board policy DA (goals and objectives) — approved.

The board chair said the approvals allow staff to proceed with contracts and site work; no effective dates beyond standard contract provisions were specified in the discussion. The superintendent noted the board had been presented several of the items at the Jan. 28 meeting and that tonight’s votes were to finalize approvals because there is only one February meeting.

The board scheduled its next work session for March 4, beginning at 8:30 a.m., where staff said follow-up breakout sessions on the quarterly financial and human-resources reports will be available for board questions.