The Putnam County Board of Education met on July 23 to approve this year’s dress code and hear updates on the new elementary and primary schools.
The main change for the dress code was verbiage to ensure there would be no questioning of the rules between staff, teachers, students, and parents. The new dress code is written in an easy-to-follow format, focusing on the list of what can not be worn to avoid any confusion. This dress code was approved unanimously with the code of conduct for this year.
Assistant Superintendent Scott Sauls presented the Putnam County Primary School sinkhole update. He showed the board pictures of the process, from clean-up to the surrounding area of the hole being filled with cement. The hole itself was originally a storm drain and has been safely closed off again with a grate.
Superintendent Derick Austin said $350,000 was set aside for the project, but the final cost will be less.
Austin then updated the board on the elementary school development, reporting that contractors are still breaking through rock and trying to quantify the amount of rock to be removed. Numerous footers have been placed, and Austin showed pictures of the new storm drains being installed.
“We’re working hard to get through this site … as of now, we are not being slowed down,” reported Austin.
Moving into action items, the board approved the SPLOST VII resolution for the November election.
This resolution will be advertised in the paper soon.
Additionally, the board approved the advertising of the tax digest and the history of the five-year levy. The 2024 millage rate is set at 10.724, and there will be no tax increase.
The board approved the advertisement of the FY2025 Budget, which Austin reported is in a “little better shape than anticipated.”
The board also approved Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education grant applications for about $121,000, the FY25 Foothills Collaborative Operating Agreement specifying the details of a student transfer from Putnam County to Foothills, and the renewal of the School City assessment and Educlimber platform, Illuminate education, for $54,393.