Coffee County Board of Education recognizes teachers, approves nonresident-student policy and nutrition bids

The Coffee County Board of Education on May 8 honored school-level Teachers of the Year and student competitive achievements, heard that every elementary school in the district earned national showcase recognition under the Capturing Kids' Hearts program, and approved a consent agenda that includes a revised nonresident-student policy that will charge tuition for new out-of-county students.

The board approved the consent agenda after consideration in a prior work session. The consent package included approval of minutes and financial reports; surplus property (furniture replaced at three schools and held in storage using federal COVID relief funds); a $1,000 stipend for teachers who completed mandated science-of-reading training; the Okefenokee RESA contract for FY 2026; a memorandum of understanding allowing Coastal Plains High School’s night-school program to operate in Coffee High School’s building; and a revision to policy JBCB on nonresident students.

Under the revised policy JBCB, out-of-county students who enroll after the policy takes effect will be required to apply and pay tuition of $250 per student or $500 per family; currently enrolled out-of-county students will be grandfathered in (they must apply but will not be charged tuition). The board discussed implementing the change while preparing for the coming school year.

Board members also approved the school nutrition bids for fiscal year 2026 as presented by the district’s nutrition director. A motion to accept the nutrition bids was made and seconded; during the vote one board member abstained, citing a potential conflict of interest as a food service manufacturer. The abstention was recorded but the bids were approved as presented.

In recognitions and reports, the board named Teachers of the Year from district campuses: Tiffany Rooker (Ambrose Elementary, kindergarten), Sandra Green (Boston, fifth-grade English/language arts), Roxie Taylor (Eastside Elementary, kindergarten), Heather Preston (Indian Creek Elementary, fifth-grade math), Leah Knowlton (Satilla Elementary, second grade), Allison Camp (West Green Elementary, third grade), Katie Johnson (Westside Elementary, kindergarten), Robert Stewart (Mote Middle School, eighth-grade gifted English/language arts), Rebecca Waldrop (George Washington Carver Freshman Campus, ninth-grade art), Colby Patton (Coffee High School, 12th-grade science) and Kelly Waldron (Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy, grades 10–12 health care science). The district said one of those teachers will be selected as the Coffee County School System Teacher of the Year for 2025–26 in August.

The board also heard summaries of student competitive results across career and technical student organizations (FBLA, SkillsUSA, TSA/VEX Robotics, FFA, FCCLA) and multiple state-level recognitions. The district highlighted individual and team placements in regional and state competitions.

Administrators reported that every Coffee County elementary school that participated in the Capturing Kids' Hearts (CKH) initiative has achieved national showcase status within two years of implementation, earlier than the three-to-five-year window administrators had been told to expect. District presenters said CKH training was delivered districtwide (with new teachers trained as they joined) and that the initiative focuses on relationship building, school climate and consistent expectations across campuses.

The board took personnel recommendations under the high-quality workforce agenda item and adjourned without convening an executive session.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes, financial reports, surplus property, $1,000 stipends for science-of-reading-trained teachers, Okefenokee RESA FY26 contract, Coastal Plains night-school MOU, revised policy JBCB nonresident students): approved (mover not specified; seconded in meeting; outcome approved). - School nutrition bids, FY 2026: motion to accept bids as presented; seconded by a board member identified as Jarrell; one abstention recorded citing a conflict of interest; outcome approved.

The board meeting opened with an invocation and included special recognitions and reports before the business items were taken up.