Oconee County Board places several policies on public review and approves budget amendments, field trip

The Oconee County Board of Education on July 7 voted unanimously on a series of procedural and policy items, placing several proposed policy revisions on the table for public review and approving final budget amendments for the fiscal year.

Board action included placing the following policies on the table for public review and comment until the next board meeting: JBC1 (homeless students); GARH (employee leave and absences, amended to include leave for bone marrow and organ donation); JBCD (transfer and withdrawals); IDFA (equity in sports, language revised in compliance with state guidance); and a suicide‑prevention policy (JGJA). Each of those motions passed 5–0.

The board also voted 5–0 to take policy DJEAA off the table and approve it. Business services presented two budget actions and the board voted to approve both: the final FY2025 general fund budget amendment and the FY2026 federal funds budget amendment (both passed 5–0). The board approved a North Oconee High School out‑of‑state field trip to Copperhill, Tennessee, on July 17, 2025 (5–0). The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to adjourn to executive session to discuss personnel matters.

Superintendent Deborah Harden recommended the policy postings and budget amendments during the meeting; board members moved and seconded the procedural motions in the public session. Several policy revisions were described in earlier staff presentations as being updated to comply with recent state legislation: Teaching and Learning staff said policy changes had been made to align with Senate Bill 154; Student Services staff said several policies were revised to comply with Senate Bill 123 and House Bill 268. The special education, operations, and facilities reports contained information items but no action items.

Votes at a glance - Place JBC1 (homeless students) on the table for public review and comment: Passed 5–0. - Place GARH (employee leave and absences; adds living bone marrow and organ donation leave) on the table for public review and comment: Passed 5–0. - Take DJEAA off the table and approve: Passed 5–0. - Place JBCD (transfer and withdrawals) on the table for public review and comment: Passed 5–0. - Place IDFA (equity in sports) on the table for public review and comment: Passed 5–0. - Place JGJA (suicide prevention) on the table for public review and comment: Passed 5–0. - Approve North Oconee High School out‑of‑state field trip to Copperhill, TN, 07/17/2025: Passed 5–0. - Approve final FY2025 general fund budget amendment: Passed 5–0. - Approve FY2026 federal funds budget amendment: Passed 5–0. - Motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss personnel matters: Passed 5–0.

Where relevant, staff presentations noted reasons for policy revisions: Teaching and Learning said board regulation JCAR1 and related policies were revised in compliance with Senate Bill 154 to include updated references to the U.S. Department of Education; Student Services said JBCD and JCAR2 were updated to comply with Senate Bill 123 and House Bill 268, including timelines for records transfer and language about non‑expulsion for absenteeism. Business Services reported a FY2025 general fund amendment that increases general revenue by about $3.5 million (driven by interest income and local ad valorem/title tax receipts) and said the amended budgets will allow continued district projects including curriculum purchases and facility work.

All recorded motions in the public session passed unanimously. The board scheduled executive session for personnel deliberations; no personnel actions were announced in open session.