The Oglethorpe Echo
The Oglethorpe County Board of Education approved an incentive that will allow classified employees to apply their unused sick leave toward retirement benefits.
Employees of the Oglethorpe County School System who are classified employees are now eligible to receive a retirement payout for having unused sick leave, the board decided at its meeting on May 7.
Compared to teachers, workers with the Public School Employee Retirement System lose their unused sick leave with no benefits when they retire. Staff such as food nutrition workers, custodians, bus drivers and front office secretaries will qualify for the benefits.
The payout:
- 20-39 days: $1,000
- 30-59 days: $2,000
- 60-79 days: $3,000
- 80-plus days: $4,000
Chair Becky Soto said she sees the classified employees as “massively important” toward the education system. Soto added it’s a way to retain the group of “dedicated” employees, so that they don’t have to burn through their sick days before retirement.
“It’s a great way to say thank you,” she said.
The board approved the tentative budget for fiscal year 2025. The board will take public comment at its work session on May 21 before approving it.
In addition, the board will hold a strategic planning meeting to review the progress on the school system’s strategic plan at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, May 30 at Oglethorpe County Middle School.
The meeting will include planning for the next school year, as well as provide an update on district and school improvement plans, parent and family engagement and school-parent compacts.
Also in the meeting, the board approved K-5 math and English language arts materials with a combined cost of $496,457.20. This will provide math materials for the next six years and English language arts materials for the next six.
The board also approved the purchase of a laser engraver for CTAE classes at OCHS. The engraver costs $6,484 and will be paid by Perkins grant money. Health care and EMT classes were also approved to purchase four adult nursing manikins, priced at $5,549 each.
The board recognized seven students and educators for their recent accomplishments. Among the recognized were OCHS agriculture teachers Travis Sertich and Kaitlyn Marchant.
Sertich was recognized with an Honorary American FFA degree.
Marchant was recognized as being chosen among 20 other teachers in the state to be a part of LEAD CTAE, a leadership exploration and development program.
“We always appreciate being recognized,” Marchant said. “In education, so much of what we do is to prompt the kids, so it’s nice to sometimes have our efforts on behalf of kids recognized.”
In other business, the BOE:
- Recognized OCPS student Lincoln Firster as RESA winner in the Young Georgia Authors Contest.
- Recognized OCES students Colton Carlson and Landen Elrod for their first place finish in the Science Olympiad in the Data Cruncher competition.
- Recognized OCMS twins Brinley and JC Holloman as champions at the state FFA competition in the Agriscience Fair.
- Approved the refinishing of the OCHS gym for $17,200 on recommendation of Superintendent Beverley Levine.
- Approved out-of-state trips for HOSA, FCCLA, wrestling and basketball students.
- Approved a memorandum of understanding to partner the school-based health center with MedLink, to provide services.
Upcoming meetings
The BOE will hold its monthly work session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. A strategic planning meeting is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Thursday, May 30 at Oglethorpe County Middle School.