At its August 28, 2025 meeting, the Bulloch County Board of Education heard updates on the district’s finances and construction projects, celebrated the launch of a new school-based health center, and approved a revised attendance policy to align with new state law.
The board also affirmed support for maintaining both the LIFE program and the Transitions Learning Center while continuing efforts to close a projected budget shortfall in FY27.
Board members opened with reflections on the recent Minneapolis school shooting and shared community reminders, including information on Title One parent events and free athletic passes for senior citizens. Public participation saw no speakers.
Superintendent Charles Wilson reported that the new school-based health center at Langston Chapel schools is already serving students and staff, reaching half its first-year goals within three weeks.
He also confirmed that design work for the new Southeast Bulloch High School remains on track for a July 2026 completion, contingent on passage of ESPLOST VI in November. Wilson further updated members on negotiations with the City of Brooklet regarding water and sewer service for the new high school, stressing that timely resolution is needed to avoid costly redesigns.
On finances, Wilson reviewed the effect of the recent millage rate increase, which reduced the FY26 deficit from $13.2 million to $2.7 million and stabilized the fund balance at about three months of reserves. To address future gaps, the district is eliminating 10.5 instructional coach positions and considering additional central office reductions, while leaving classroom instruction intact.
Board members voiced strong consensus to protect the Life program alongside the TLC alternative program, noting their value to at-risk students.
The board then approved adoption of Board Policy JB: Student Attendance, replacing the older JBD: Absences and Excuses policy. The change was required under Senate Bill 123, which amended Georgia’s compulsory attendance law earlier this year. The new policy:
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Defines the types of absences that are considered excused or unexcused.
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Establishes circumstances in which excused absences cannot negatively affect a student’s final grade.
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Requires timely parent/guardian notification when students accrue unexcused absences.
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Outlines procedures aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism.
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Prohibits expelling students solely for excessive absences.
During discussion, members clarified that under the new law, students who stop attending school for ten consecutive days must be unenrolled, but not expelled—a distinction board members said aligns with Bulloch County’s long-standing practice.
They also approved the superintendent’s August personnel recommendations, which included the voluntary resignation of a bus driver and the separation of two secretaries and a groundskeeper. New hires approved were Charmayne Ashley and Lelia Stephens as school counselors, and David Avera as director of technology. A custodian appointment for Margaret Bowen was also advanced pending background check.
No executive session was held, and the meeting adjourned following approval of the agenda items.
A. Call to Order
B. Moment of Silence/Pledge of Allegiance
The board room observed a moment of silence in honor of the families who lost children in the recent school shooting in Minneapolis before standing together for the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Amend/Adopt the Agenda
D. Board Member Comments
Board member Donna Clifton opened by again acknowledging the recent school shooting in Minneapolis, asking the community to keep the families and children affected in their thoughts. She also expressed gratitude for the strong turnout at recent Title One parent meetings, saying she was encouraged to see parents engaged with their children’s schools. Clifton highlighted opportunities for senior citizens, reminding the community that free athletic passes remain available through the central office to attend all county athletic events at no charge. She encouraged seniors to take advantage of the program as both support for local schools and a source of free entertainment. Clifton closed by wishing teachers, students, and families a safe and restful long weekend, noting that time away could help students recover from recent sickness circulating in the schools.
Board member Glennera Martin followed by thanking the community for its input during recent meetings, particularly on the millage rate discussion. She said the exchange of perspectives had been “a very great discussion” and emphasized the value of listening to community voices. Looking ahead, Martin suggested that the board consider addressing senior citizen tax concerns in future meetings, though she noted it was not on the agenda for this session.
E. Public Participation
No members of the public signed up to speak during this portion of the meeting.
F. Work Session
1. FY26 Budget Follow-Up
Superintendent Charles Wilson opened the work session by highlighting the official launch of the new school-based health center serving Langston Chapel Elementary and Middle Schools. He explained that while the center is currently housed in a temporary space, a mobile unit will soon be installed to provide more permanent services. Wilson credited Dr. Dawn Tysinger, Executive Director of Student Wellness & Support, for driving the project forward after the Governor’s Office made grant funds available for start-up centers in Georgia. Tysinger, he said, developed a plan in partnership with East Georgia Healthcare and Dr. Sreevalli Dega, presented it to district leadership, and secured the grant funding to make it a reality.
Wilson described the initiative as an example of how local leadership and community partnerships can create long-term opportunities. He stressed that the three-year trial period funded by the state will determine the program’s sustainability, but early results are promising. At the ribbon-cutting earlier in the day, Tysinger reported that the center has already reached half of its first-year goals in just three weeks, with more than 10 percent of students and staff enrolled and an average of five patients seen per day, compared to the goal of 20 percent enrollment and 10 daily patients. The clinic will expand from two days a week to five days a week starting next week, offering medical services to students and staff who otherwise might have missed school or gone untreated. Tysinger emphasized that the center is already helping keep students in classrooms and healthy, which directly supports the district’s educational mission. She also noted that East Georgia Healthcare is interested in expanding the model to other schools in the county if results continue to be strong.
Turning to facilities, Wilson updated the board on the new Southeast Bulloch High School project, which remains scheduled for completion in July 2026. He said architects are finalizing design adjustments to reduce square footage and manage costs, including re-evaluating circulation spaces and HVAC systems. The project, he emphasized, is contingent on the passage of ESPLOST VI in November, as the sales tax provides the dedicated revenue stream necessary to fund construction. Wilson reminded the board that ESPLOST not only funds new schools but also offsets property taxes by covering millions in equipment and technology purchases that would otherwise fall on the general fund — equivalent to about two mills of tax relief for local property owners.
Wilson also addressed the ongoing negotiations with the City of Brooklet over water and sewer service for the new high school. He explained that without city utilities, the school would require its own well and septic system, which by state regulation would consume between 25 and 30 acres of land for primary and backup septic fields. This, he said, would significantly limit usable space on the campus and add long-term maintenance costs. Brooklet officials, however, see the school system as a major potential customer, and discussions have been ongoing for nearly two years. With a new city manager recently hired, Wilson and district staff met with him, Mayor Nicky Gwinnett, and city engineers earlier in the week to restart talks. He stressed that the issue is time-sensitive: if a fair agreement is not reached soon, the district may have to redesign the school site around septic, delaying the project. Board members voiced agreement that pursuing city water and sewer aggressively is the best option, both to preserve land and to reduce future costs, but emphasized that any deal must be equitable for both Brooklet and Bulloch County taxpayers.
Wilson then shifted to finances, providing a recap of the FY26 budget outlook. When the board adopted the budget in June, it included a $13.2 million deficit that would have reduced the year-end fund balance to about $34 million. The board’s recent decision to raise the millage rate increased net revenue by about $10.5 million, shrinking the deficit to $2.7 million and raising the projected fund balance to $44.3 million, or 3.3 months of operating reserves. Wilson said this positions the district more securely to manage cash flow and unexpected costs, but it also highlights the need to continue reducing recurring expenditures to prevent similar gaps in future years.
To begin addressing the FY27 shortfall, Wilson confirmed the district is eliminating 10.5 instructional coach positions. He explained that while these “force multiplier” roles have been filled by high-performing educators who support schools, their funding can no longer be sustained. Human Resources is working to reassign these staff into vacant school positions, ensuring their expertise remains in the district and avoiding job losses. This first step accounts for about half of the savings needed, leaving another $1.3 million to identify. Wilson said the remaining reductions will likely come from central office staff positions, attrition, and other district-level support costs, with the guiding principle of protecting classrooms.
Finally, Wilson asked the board for feedback on the district’s two alternative programs: the Transitions Learning Center (TLC), which serves students with disciplinary violations, and the LIFE program, which provides flexible, non-traditional options for students balancing work, health, or other life challenges. He noted that both programs had been included in earlier cut scenarios, but strong feedback from parents and board members convinced him they should be preserved. Several board members reiterated their support, emphasizing that both TLC and LIFE meet critical needs for at-risk students and should not be eliminated.
One member added that parent testimonies at earlier meetings clarified misconceptions about the Life program, and that cutting it could push more students into risk of dropping out. Wilson agreed, concluding that the district will protect TLC and LIFE while continuing to identify other areas for reductions to meet the $2.7 million target.
G. Old Business for Approval
1. Board Policy JB: Student Attendance Replacing JBD:Absences and Excuses
The board approved the adoption of Board Policy JB: Student Attendance, replacing the older Policy JBD: Absences and Excuses. Wilson recommended the change to align district policy with updates in Georgia’s compulsory attendance law under Senate Bill 123.
Policy JB redefines how the district addresses attendance by:
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Defining excused vs. unexcused absences in accordance with state law.
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Protecting student grades by ensuring excused absences do not negatively impact final course marks if make-up work is completed.
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Requiring timely notification to parents/guardians once a student accrues five unexcused absences, with continued written communication if the pattern persists.
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Outlining procedures to reduce chronic absenteeism, including parent notifications and judicial referrals when necessary.
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Clarifying that no student may be expelled solely for absenteeism; students who miss ten consecutive days must be unenrolled, not expelled.
During discussion, board member Lannie Lanier sought clarification on this final provision, asking whether students who stop attending are removed from the rolls rather than punished. Administrators confirmed that under the new law, students must be unenrolled after ten consecutive unexcused days, but not expelled—a distinction that reflects Bulloch County’s long-standing practice.
The policy was adopted unanimously on an 8–0 vote.
H. Executive Session
Wilson advised that there was no need for an executive session. The board voted accordingly and did not enter into executive session.
I. Return to Open Session
J. Personnel Recommendations
1. Personnel Recommendations for August 28, 2025
See recommendations at the link above. The board approved all personnel recommendations unanimously on an 8–0 vote.
K. Adjournment
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