School leaders visit NC Caterpillar plant
Monday, June 24. 2013
Madison County assistant superintendent Dr. Sherrie Gibney-Sherman told county school board members June 11 that school system representatives visited the Caterpillar plant in Sanford, N.C., to see a model for the internship that the new Athens CAT plant wants to replicate here, utilizing the new college and career academy.
"That is huge for us that CAT wants to replicate that here," she told the board.
Caterpillar has built an Athens-Oconee plant to construct small track-type tractors. Once the plant is fully operational, it will employ an estimated 1,400 people. Madison County school officials aim to provide students with the skills needed to work at the plant.
In other matters, Gibney-Sherman reported that 45 students are attending math credit recovery classes during summer school on the high school campus. The classes are funded through the new Bowman Mountain Education Charter High School (MEC). She said MEC will open for transfer students on Aug. 12.
Assistant superintendent Bonnie Knight reported that asbestos in the CTAE wing is being removed in preparation for the college and career academy renovations. She said this removal should be finished no later than Monday, June 17. She explained that asbestos is found in most buildings dating earlier than 1976.
Knight also reported that an outside faucet break at Comer Elementary leaked into several classrooms and caused extensive damage to sheetrock, leaving it wet two – three feet up. Asbestos was also located around the pipe there and will be removed. She said repairs will be covered by insurance and will be approximately $30,000 and take up to three weeks.
Knight also reported that the summer feeding program is going well. Lunch is free to any child under 18 with no income requirements. Lunches are served at the freshman academy from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. each day and at Camp Maranatha. Three mobile sites (Tuesday – Friday) have also been set up at the following churches; Riverside Baptist, Colbert 11 – 11:30 a.m.; Colbert Baptist, 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and Joy Baptist, Hull, 12:30 – 1 p.m.
Superintendent Dr. Allen McCannon reported that a safety planning meeting was held on June 10 with over 40 people in attendance to review the current high school safety plan and to review the recent Georgia Dept. of Education safety plan. McCannon noted that numerous safety agencies, including the sheriff's office, EMS and others, principals and various school personnel were present to go over the plan. Georgia Emergency Management Association (GEMA) representatives were also present.
In other business Tuesday, the board approved the Classic Center grand hall as the site for the 2014 graduation ceremonies. They had considered moving the ceremonies back to campus, but agreed that due to ongoing construction and for other reasons, the next graduation will again be held at the Classic Center in Athens.
Several board members indicated they would like to revisit the matter at a later date.
They approved a tentative 2013-14 budget with estimated revenues of $42 million (including a $3,645,890 beginning balance) and estimated expenditures of $39,838,640.
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