Gilmer County board approves $154,329 bus purchase, field trips, personnel items and places lactation policy on review

At its regular meeting, the Gilmer County Schools Board of Education approved a set of routine business items including a bus purchase, field trips, personnel changes and a 30-day review of a lactation policy.

On a motion and voice vote, the board authorized a letter of intent to Matheny Motor Truck Company for the purchase of a 77-passenger Thomas Safety-Liner handicap school bus with air conditioning at a quoted cost of $154,329 to be paid from bus replacement funds. The motion was moved and seconded and carried without recorded roll-call votes.

The board also approved an out-of-state senior trip to Virginia Beach and Busch Gardens scheduled for May 18–20, 2025, and an out-of-state trip for the FFA land judging team to Oklahoma City (April 24–May 3). Other consent items approved included the minutes of the Jan. 27, 2025 meeting, bills for payment, and budget supplements and transfers.

On personnel, the board approved professional hires (substitute teachers Nicole Moyers and Caitlin Looney), accepted resignations (bus operator Patrick Buckner and custodian Britney Finchem) and approved extracurricular hires including Thomas Hamrick as auxiliary mini Titan baseball coach.

The superintendent recommended, and the board placed, Policy 8,700 (lactating employees) on a 30-day review and comment period under the district’s policy review process. The superintendent noted the policy came from Neola with current legislative updates and offered subject-area experts would be available to answer questions during the review.

The chair called for adjournment at the close of business; the motion to adjourn carried by voice vote.