Cartersville Schools Board of Education February 2013 Meeting Highlights

During the regular February meeting of the Cartersville City Board of Education, the Board approved the school system calendars for next three school years [2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16].  Input from staff and parents overwhelming supported a similar calendar to the one currently in use.

The calendars provide a full week break at Thanksgiving and the first full week in April for Spring Break.  The only difference in the adopted calendars and the current year is that Fall break will be the Monday and Tuesday of Columbus Day week instead of the Thursday and Friday before the holiday.  Many parents and several teachers had expressed interest in coordinating the Fall Break with many business calendars who close on Columbus Day.  School officials indicate there is always a desire to start the school year at a later date; however, in order to get the required number of days in the school year and not disrupt other desired holidays and breaks, school will continue to start in the early part of August.  The first day of school for students in the 2013-14 school year will be August 7.  The calendars all contain 180 days of instruction for students.  Many school systems throughout the state have a reduced school calendar due to budget cuts.  Details of the adopted calendars will be posted on the school system web site this week. 

The Board approved the Finance Committee’s recommendation to keep out-of-district tuition the same for the 2013-14 school year.  Current out-of-district students returning in 2013-14 will be charge a rate of $200 per family, if paid by June 30.  After June 30, the rate is $300 per child.  For all new out-of-district students the rate is $300 per child.

The Board also amended its schedule of regular meeting dates for 2013.  The annual meeting calendar was approved last month, but with the adoption of the new school calendar there was a conflict with the October 2013 meeting date.  The amended schedule calls for the Board’s regular October meeting to now be on Thursday, October 10, instead of Monday, October 14 because of the system Fall Break.

The Board adopted a resolution supporting the City of Cartersville’s increase in the Freeport ad valorem exemption from 40 to 60 percent, beginning January 1, 2014. The exemption lowers the taxes on business inventory and is designed to attract new businesses to the city.  In other business, the Board awarded a bid to Lockstep Technology Group of Duluth for various upgrades to the system’s technology infrastructure in the amount of $195,983.  The upgrades will significantly improve the capability for use of wireless devices and other technology being purchases through the Striving Readers Literacy Grant received by the school system.

The Board formally approved its revised Strategic Plan Goals to include a specific goal related to technology improvement designed to support the teaching and learning environment for student achievement and performance, and also to provide effective and efficient administrative requirements for the day-to-day operations of the school system.

A slate of personnel recommendations was also approved as presented.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Cartersville School Board is scheduled for Monday, March 11, 2013, at 6 p.m. The Board’s Work Session will be held on Thursday, March 7, at 6 p.m.