Oconee County Schools cite strong test results, approve contracts and equipment purchases for Sept. 15 consent agenda

Oconee County School leaders on Sept. 8 presented district test results, new course offerings and multiple operational items and recommended a slate of approvals for the Sept. 15 regular meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Harden opened by announcing the district’s Teachers of the Year and noting upcoming banquet plans. Dr. Harden also said North Oconee and Oconee County high schools were named among the U.S. News & World Report 2025 state and national high‑school rankings and that “it’s not lost on any of us how important and meaningful it is to be appreciated by your peers.”

In a detailed presentation, Teaching and Learning Director Ms. Whitaker reviewed 2025 Georgia Milestones results and said Oconee County outperformed both the Northeast Georgia RISA comparison group and the state across tested subjects and grades. “Across all subjects and grades, we outperformed both the RISA and the state,” Whitaker said. She also outlined four new course additions — promotional and digital marketing; Teaching as a Profession (K–12 focus); Programming, Games, Apps and Society; and two government and public administration courses — which the district plans to phase in at no additional cost and that will offer embedded credit and pathway recognition through the Technical College System of Georgia.

Whitaker reported that Senate Bill 63 (effective July 1, 2025), which amends the QBE Act to allow homeschool students equitable access to standardized testing, requires districts to post testing dates and registration procedures; the district has posted those dates and information on middle‑ and high‑school websites. The superintendent recommended the board approve board policy IBB (charter schools) at the Sept. 15 regular meeting, noting no public comments were received during the review period.

Special education director Ms. Conroe summarized the district’s parent survey results used for federal reporting and said participation increased to 768 respondents with a 96.4% satisfaction metric. She presented a recommended shared‑services contract with Northeast Georgia RESA for occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiology, vision impairment services and orientation and mobility services totaling $458,773.40; she said that contract will be on the Sept. 15 agenda for board approval.

Technology Services reported classroom audio installations at the district’s middle schools are in use; Mr. McCullers highlighted a Clear Connect translation application that provides real‑time translation for students and said the translation devices are now available at all three middle schools. He recommended approval of a revised Internet Acceptable Use policy (IBFG) at the Sept. 15 meeting to align with Senate Bill 351 (Protecting Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act of 2024).

Operations Director Dr. White updated the board on an emergency stormwater pipe repair at North Oconee High School that had been authorized up to $150,000; he said repairs have been completed and the district will review the remaining stormwater system. Dr. White recommended purchase of a towable electric boom lift from Yancey Rentz for $57,085 to replace an existing bucket truck with a failed front differential; he said the project will be paid using East Bloss and general fund dollars and will be on the Sept. 15 consent agenda.

Student Services Director Dr. Yancey said annual flu clinics for employees and immediate family members will be held later this month at 14 district sites (all 12 schools, transportation and maintenance, and the district ISC site). He also recommended two out‑of‑state field trips for board approval at the Sept. 15 meeting: North Oconee High School girls basketball to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in December, and an Oconee County High School performance trip to Universal Studios in Orlando in February 2026.

Human Resources reported an administrative record‑keeper change for the district’s 403(b) and 457 plans from Lincoln Financial to Tia and said the switch will not change plan benefits or employee contributions; Canon Financial remains the district’s financial advisor for investments. Communications noted high social‑media engagement in August, including multiple posts with tens of thousands of views and a district newsletter open rate of 71.4%.

Procedural votes during the work session included a 5–0 vote to approve the work‑session agenda and a 5–0 vote to adjourn to executive session for personnel matters. The board did not take final votes on the Sept. 15 consent items during the work session; the presenters recommended formal approval at the regular meeting.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Sept. 8 work‑session agenda: Passed 5–0 (Chair; second: Mister Hammond) - Motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss personnel matters: Passed 5–0 (mover: Chair; second: Miss Parrish)

What’s next - Items recommended for approval at the Sept. 15 regular meeting include board policy IBB (charter schools), board policy IBFG (Internet acceptable use), the Northeast Georgia RESA shared special‑services contract ($458,773.40), two out‑of‑state student field trips, and the purchase of a towable electric boom lift ($57,085). Stormwater repairs at North Oconee High School have been completed; staff will bring any follow‑up work or contracts to the board if required.