Board approves handbooks, personnel transfers and job-description updates; one abstention on a transfer

The Effingham County Board approved updates to the 2025–26 student-parent and employee handbooks, adopted updated job descriptions and salary schedules that mirror the prior year, and approved a personnel transfer with one abstention.

Board members reviewed the student-parent handbook changes, which included language adding a catch-all for items "unrelated to school instruction," relaxed guidance on skirt/short length and tank tops for K–2 exceptions, replacement of a reference to a nonexistent "hardship committee" with a referral to the assistant superintendent of administrative services for book-bag disputes, a new bus rule limiting use of electronic devices while boarding and riding, and addition of a late-submitted school-based club the transcript identifies as the "Bible Braves Club." Following discussion, the board moved and approved the student-parent handbook.

Dr. Ratner presented two employee-handbook updates: expanded guidance about Social Security and retirement notifications reflecting House Bill 37 and a new AI section under electronic-communications guidance titled "Ethical Considerations and the Appropriate Use of AI." "That just came out from the PSC this week, in fact," Ratner said, and the board approved the employee handbook update by voice vote.

After returning from executive session, the board approved a separate personnel action to transfer Brianna Johnson from assistant to lead teacher at Rankin Stars; that transfer was approved with one abstention. The board also approved updated job descriptions for several CTE and transportation positions, the annual salary schedules (no changes from last year), and additional duties/supplements (athletics had been approved previously) by voice vote.