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Oconee board hears clean audit, approves budget transfer, courses and policy updates
Summary
External auditors delivered an unmodified opinion and the board approved a midyear budget transfer, three local board-approved courses, rescinded an outdated electronic-device policy and adopted multiple administrative policy manual sections after discussion of remote work, facility use and naming rules.
The Oconee County School Board received a favorable 2024 audit and approved several administrative and budget actions during a combined board meeting.
Auditor Donnie Step told the board the district received an unmodified opinion on its financial statements and on federal compliance, meaning no modifications were required. He reported an improved district‑wide net position and a roughly $22 million positive change in net position for the year, and a total district-wide net change of about $23 million when the business-type activities (food service) were included. "The main opinion on the financial statements is once again an unmodified opinion," Step said during his presentation.
On the financial motions, the board voted to approve a budget transfer request intended to realign allocations to reflect staffing changes and to move some salary costs to contracted services for special‑education related providers. Board Member (Speaker 3) moved the transfer and Board Member (Speaker 7) seconded; the motion was adopted with no recorded objections.
The board also approved three local board‑approved courses (peer mediation; Adventure Ed 2; Green Steps environmental science half‑credit) after a presentation by district staff. Board Member (Speaker 12) moved approval and the motion passed.
Policy actions: after discussion the board moved to rescind Policy JICJ-R (possession and use of electronic communication devices) and adopt a transitional approach to cell‑phone consequences for the spring semester, with level‑specific procedures for elementary, middle and high schools and explicit exceptions for medical needs. The rescission was moved by Board Member (Speaker 3) and seconded by Board Member (Speaker 12); the motion carried.
The board completed second and final readings of administrative policy manual sections C, D, E and F with amendments: section D incorporated revised budget‑transfer language to reduce administrative barriers; section E was adopted but without the remote‑work subsection (EBCR1); and section F was adopted with an amended naming rule that retains a five‑year separation-from‑employment limitation for employees but does not require a namesake to be deceased.
Nut graf: Together the audit results and board approvals shape near‑term fiscal planning and district operations — including staff assignments, curriculum options and rules governing student devices and facility naming. Several approvals were routine and procedural, but the budget‑transfer and policy changes will affect how district administrators implement services and notify families in the coming weeks.
Quotes and next steps: "We've actually improved our position by $22,000,000," the auditor said when summarizing the net change on the year. Board and district staff said the budget adjustments are budget‑neutral reallocations, not increases in total spending. Administration said it will communicate the midyear phone practice to families before the January rollout and will return updated policy language in spring for inclusion in the student behavior code.
Ending: The board closed with member comments and a motion to enter executive session; no further public votes were taken at that time.
