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Cobb County school board approves personnel moves, property sale and two construction contracts
Summary
On Aug. 21, 2025, the Cobb County School Board approved personnel appointments, affirmed a student-discipline appeal in part, authorized sale of two Lower Roswell Road properties for $4,275,000 and awarded construction contracts for site improvements and a transportation facility.
The Cobb County School Board on Aug. 21 approved a package of personnel actions, affirmed a student-discipline appeal in part, authorized the surplus and sale of two Marietta properties and awarded two construction contracts for district facilities.
Superintendent Ragsdale asked the board to approve the human-resources personnel report, which included three principal-level (or higher) appointments: Dr. Tiffany Barney to executive director, Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, effective Aug. 22, 2025; April Sandifer to director, Cobb Virtual Academy, effective Aug. 22, 2025; and the rehire of Shay Thomas as part-time director of organization and workforce development effective Sept. 2, 2025. The board approved the personnel report by voice/hand vote with seven members recorded in favor.
Board member Hutchins moved to affirm in part and revise in part the hearing decision in Student Discipline Appeal Number 1, as discussed in executive session; the motion was seconded and approved by the board.
The board also approved a motion to surplus and sell two district parcels at 2570 and 2618 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta, Cobb County, to AOA Properties Holdings Incorporated for $4,275,000. The authorization includes related agreements and preserves the district’s control of two telecommunications leases on the property.
Two construction contracts were awarded after presentations by Mr. Smith. The board approved a $1,971,538 contract to MPSG (Woodstock, Ga.) for site improvements at 440 and 460 Glover Street; the project’s substantial completion date is January 2026 and it is budgeted through the building fund. The board approved the motion on the floor 5–2.
The board also approved a contract for the Veterans Memorial Transportation Facility to Place Services Incorporated (Canton, Ga.). Mr. Smith stated the bid amount as 4,589,000 and referenced additional budget-project language in his presentation; procurement staff confirmed Place Services had been vetted through the procurement process. That motion passed 4–3.
During his remarks, Superintendent Ragsdale offered condolences for recent losses in the district, noted the start-of-school operations that welcomed over 100,000 students and 19,000 employees, and discussed safety and visitor procedures. “We’re only going to allow the hard copy of the photo ID to be utilized,” he said about IdentiKid visitor checks, and added, “antisemitism will not be tolerated in any form.”
The meeting began with an extended recognitions segment honoring dozens of student-athletes, coaches and teachers across the district. With the two discussion items resolved, the board adjourned.
What’s next: the approved contracts include superintendent authorization to execute agreements; the Glover Street work has a January 2026 substantial-completion goal and the Veterans facility is slated for March 2026 completion per the presentations.
