Glynn County school board donates 0.6 acres for county road, approves superintendent contract effective July 1

The Glynn County Board of Education unanimously approved two major items at its Jan. 14 regular meeting: the donation of roughly 0.6 acres to Glynn County for a road connection between Mackenzie Drive and DePrater Lane and a contract naming Mike Blackabee as superintendent effective July 1.

Board members said the donated parcel will allow the county to construct a second way in and out of the Sterling Elementary/Jane Macon Middle School area, improving emergency access for parents, buses and first responders. Dr. Spence, a district staff member who presented the proposal, said the county approached the district about the project and that the county would build the road if the district donated the land.

The board emphasized that the district would retain a vegetated buffer between the new road and Sterling Elementary. "That buffer would stay there ... we won't even see that road," Dr. Spence said during the presentation, referring to trees on district land that the board expects to remain in place.

The land donation motion was offered by Board Member Sams and seconded by Board Member Medalla; the motion passed unanimously.

Separately, after returning from an executive session on legal and personnel matters, the board approved a contract for Mike Blackabee to serve as superintendent beginning July 1. Board members noted the item was introduced at the Dec. 17 meeting and that the 14-day hold period had expired, allowing the board to take final action. Board Member Gibbons moved the appointment; Board Member Badala seconded the motion, which passed with no opposition.

Earlier in the meeting the board approved a consent agenda that included approval of the December meeting minutes; a personnel report; field trips; the Good report; the November 2024 financial report; a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for Brunswick High School football fieldhouse; procurement of combi ovens for Brunswick High School; resurfacing of the Risley Annex track (RFP 2511); and a revision to board policy JG1. The consent agenda items were on the board's work-session agenda and were approved by unanimous voice vote after motions to adopt the consent agenda were made and seconded.

No formal public commenters were signed up for the citizens-address-the-board period. The board adjourned after completing its actions.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved (items: Dec. minutes; personnel report; field trips; Good report; Nov. 2024 financial report; Brunswick High football fieldhouse GMP; Brunswick High combi ovens; Risley Annex track resurfacing RFP 2511; policy JG1 revision). Motion to approve moved by Gibbons, seconded by Lee; final consent motion recorded as moved by Dodgen and seconded by Gibbons; outcome: unanimous approval.

- Mackenzie/DePrater land donation (approx. 0.6 acres): motion to donate property between Mackenzie Drive and DePrater Lane to Glynn County; moved by Sams, seconded by Medalla; outcome: approved unanimously. Key details: county to construct the road; district retains vegetative buffer; no monetary cost to the district other than conveyance of land.

- Superintendent contract: motion to approve contract for Mike Blackabee as superintendent, effective July 1; moved by Gibbons, seconded by Badala; board stated the 14-day hold period from the Dec. 17 introduction had expired; outcome: approved unanimously.

Context: The land conveyance responds to safety and circulation concerns in the Sterling Elementary/Jane Macon Middle School area where, as presenters noted, there is currently a single entry and exit. The board framed the conveyance as a partnership with Glynn County that creates an alternate route for school traffic and emergency vehicles. The superintendent appointment follows a prior introduction at the Dec. 17 board meeting and was acted on after the statutory or board-prescribed hold period had elapsed.

Sources: meeting presentation by Dr. Spence; motions and roll-call voice votes during the Jan. 14 Glynn County Board of Education regular meeting.