Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
Dina Valadares told the Barrow County Board the morning car-rider procedure at Yargo Elementary is "inefficient and unsustainable," proposing allowing students to exit earlier near portables or use a backdoor to reduce traffic backups and tardies; she asked the board to support faster implementation of changes.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
District staff presented the fiscal year 2027 budget and millage timeline, reported a December SPLOST receipt of $2,104,279, and flagged a 1.8% TRS pension increase and a projected 7% rise in state health insurance costs for employees.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
The Barrow County Board of Education presented a commemorative plaque to the Barrow Community Foundation for creating a crisis fund after the Sept. 4, 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School; the presenter said the fund raised more than $1 million and distributed about $585,817 to the school for recovery services.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
The Barrow County Board approved minutes, the agenda, the consent agenda (with athletic improvements removed), a personnel report, and later approved system athletic improvements in a separate vote after a member announced a recusal; the board also voted to enter executive session to discuss superintendent employment matters.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
The superintendent asked trustees to approve a guaranteed maximum price of $5,876,900 from Parrish Construction Group for system athletic improvements (tracks, scoreboards, fencing, field lighting, drainage), to be funded by SPLOST; the item was presented for future approval.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
Trustees received recommendations to adopt a revised homeless students policy (JBC1) aligned with McKinney‑Vento changes, to temporarily waive promotion/retention policy IHE through July 31, 2026, to pay $250,000 to the City of Winder for Legacy Park maintenance, and to designate YOS as benefits broker beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
The Barrow County Board of Education approved purchasing 3,000 Dell Chromebooks, awarding the low bid and authorizing a second vendor as backup, citing rapidly changing market pricing and the district's five‑year refresh cycle. Voted 7–1.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
District presenters explained federal identification categories (CSI, TSI, ATSI) tied to Georgia's CCRPI and reviewed the Georgia Promise Scholarship rules; Yargo Elementary was identified for the 2025 Promise list and Winder Elementary is on the TSI list for students with disabilities.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
Deputy Superintendent Doctor Thompson and safety staff updated the board on midyear safety work including Syntegix mapping for first responders, threat-assessment tracking, StopIt anonymous reporting, SchoolDawg entries and expanded drills; district said mapping was completed ahead of the July compliance deadline.
Georgia / School Districts / Barrow County
Board tabled the Chromebook procurement due to sudden vendor price increases tied to AI-driven component shortages; the board approved a laptop purchase plan for up to 750 units with a maximum projected cost of $651,712.50 (vote recorded as 7–1; one recusal).