In other business
The Bulloch County school board took the following actions during its work session Thursday evening:
— Tabled the renewal of a facilities rental agreement with Compassion Christian Church at Mill Creek Elementary, and a new rental agreement with City on a Hill Community Church at Julia P. Bryant Elementary, after some board members expressed concern that the rental agreements do not specify that the churches are only to be in the school buildings on Sundays. Some churches renting district schools have spent a few hours setting up and rehearsing on Saturday for their Sunday services, the board members said.
— Approved purchasing nine air-conditioned school buses for $770,249. The district will use $154,400 in funds from the sale of state of Georgia bonds, with the balance coming from local funds. The purchase will mean that 86 of the district's 102 school buses are air-conditioned.
— Approved replacing the 20-year-old fueling stations at the bus garages on Simons Road and Black Creek Church Road for $25,843 from Fuelmaster. Even though Fuelmaster was not the low bid, the district expects to save money in the long run because service calls are not a part of Fuelmaster's operating procedure. The other bids were from Gasboy ($25,203 plus $2,016 for Ethernet cards) and Trak ($24,675 plus a $1,000 annual fee).
Granted initial approval to a proposal for Siemens to install energy management hardware and software in older facilities that are not presently covered. The project would place all school buildings and the central office on energy management. Total project cost is $218,983, and projected annual savings in energy costs if $39,200, meaning the project would pay for itself in 5.6 years.
— Jason Wermers
The Bulloch County school system's loss is the Bryan County school system's gain.
After a nearly two-hour executive session Thursday night, the Bulloch County school board emerged from behind closed doors at about 10 p.m. and unanimously voted to accept the resignation of Dr. Fran Stephens, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.
The action also released Stephens from her contract, allowing her to accept a new position as an assistant principal at Richmond Hill High School.
The move allows Stephens to be closer to family in Brunswick and fulfills her desire to return to a school setting from central administration.
"I will always treasure my years in Bulloch County," Stephens said in a statement released after the board meeting Thursday night. "I have worked with many outstanding educators and support staff. I am excited about the opportunity to work in a school again. I love working directly with teachers and students."
Stephens resigned Oct. 18. Bulloch County Schools spokeswoman Hayley Greene said Stephens asked to be released from her contract to accept the Richmond Hill position because the Bryan County school board had been trying to fill the vacancy "for quite some time."
Greene added that the Bulloch County school system intends to fill the vacancy left by Stephens.
Stephens worked a total of 22 years in Screven and Bulloch counties.
She began her education career as an English teacher at Screven County High School. After a half-year there, she moved to Southeast Bulloch High School, where she spent 13 years as an English teacher.
She was promoted to the Bulloch County school system's central office, where she served two years as curriculum director and eight years as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. She also served about two months as interim superintendent after Dr. Lewis Holloway resigned to become superintendent of the Starkville, Miss., school district, in May 2012, until Charles Wilson was promoted from assistant superintendent of business and finance in July 2012.
"We definitely want to give Dr. Stephens the respect she deserves," Wilson said. "She led our school system's most recent successful accreditation process, and through the years, she oversaw the implementation of numerous state-required academic standards changes and initiatives such as Common Core. She also willingly stepped up to serve our community as interim superintendent. We wish her continued success."
In other business, the board granted initial approval to a request from Statesboro Food Bank Inc. that the nonprofit be allowed to transfer from the old Sallie Zetterower Elementary on East Jones Avenue to the old Julia P. Bryant Elementary on Donnie Simmons Way.
Under the proposal, the food bank will use two wings and the lunchroom in the old Julia P.
Joe Bill Brannon, the director of Statesboro Food Bank, explained that the move would provide the program with room to serve more people and have more volunteers. Another advantage, Brannon said, is that Julia P. is closer to a large number of children who can benefit from the food bank compared to the old Sallie Z.
Wilson said the school system still uses the rest of the old Julia P., but not the area Brannon has requested.
Meanwhile, the district has put the old Sallie Z. up for sale.
Jason Wermers may be reached at (912) 489-9431.