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Community member Brent Howsmon gives an update on his involvement with the Future Business Leaders of America at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night. The BOE approved a security system for OCMS and OCHS. (Dawn Sawyer/The Oglethorpe Echo)
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved Superintendent Beverley Levine’s recommendation to install a new security and crisis alert system at both the middle and high schools at its regular session on Tuesday night.
Centegix designs and implements security systems for a variety of companies, school systems, medical facilities and governmental agencies, according to its website (centegix.com). The system will cost $98,000 and come from a security grant, according to the agenda.
The board said the new elementary school will have a different security system that encompasses alerts and intercoms.
“They are both so easy and operable, that with a click of a button we can (alert) three campuses,” Levine said.
The board also approved funding for a new app for the school system that Levine said will be more user-friendly and include individual pages for students to access the Google classrooms of each teacher.
According to the board, several parents have requested changes and fixes for the existing app.
Members approved the motion to spend $5,500 to build the app, which has features to make the process easier for faculty, students and parents. A website also is being built for K-5.
In a personnel report given by Levine, Brittany Cox was announced to fill the new reading position at the Oglethorpe County Elementary School, starting immediately. The motion to hire four new substitute teachers — Suzanne Kimbrell, Erin Dempsey and Saul Graciano — also carried.
The board defended its decision to keep schools open on Jan. 9, despite flooding and extreme weather, once it realized they would be able to transport students safely to and from school.
Chair Becky Soto said she received several messages from parents thanking the schools for not canceling class. Historically, Soto said the lack of school attendance has contributed to learning loss, behavioral issues and lack of social skills.
“Sometimes you’re not going to hit the mark,” she said. “This time, I stand firm that we hit the mark. The majority of our students were in school, where they were safe, they were warm, they were dry, they were fed and they were being educated.”
Brent Howsmon updated the board on his involvement with the Future Business Leaders of America during the public participation portion of the meeting. He said he wanted to have more branding for OCHS students and alumni.
Levine provided dates for the board to visit each of the schools, and for the upcoming work session on Jan. 23.