Call To Order: 5:30 pm
Invocation by New Hope Worship Center Youth Pastor Dawson Cleminte
Pledge of Allegiance: Lakeside HS JROTC
Approval of Agenda: Yay 5, No 0
Special Recognitions:
Governor’s Honors Program Finalist and Alternate
Greenbrier HS
Lucas Bew - Electrical and Computational Physics
Haydn Mangione - Communicative Arts
Noah Torabi - Brass: French Horn
Lakeside HS
Marble Bradshaw - Science
Saisurya Lakkimsetti - Science (Alternate)
Darren Li - Engineering
Stephen Liu - Music/Flute
Anunya Madhavaranman - Social Studies
Arnav Patel - Mathematics
Georgia BioGENEius Challenge Award
Saisurya Lakkimsetti - Lakeside HS
GSBA Youth Advisory Council Representative
Anna Claire Wall - Harlem HS
National Science Bowl
Lakeside HS: A Team, 1st Place in State, 5th Place Nationals’ Bracket
Eliana Benevides
Kareem Hassan
Arnav Patel
David Wang
Steven Zhang
National Beta Club - Schools of Merit & Distinction* 2025-2026
Elementary Schools
Baker Place
*Blue Ridge
Brookwood
Euchee Creek
Greenbrier
Grovetown
Lewiston
North Columbia
North Harlem
Parkway
Riverside
River Ridge
Stevens Creek
*Westmont
Middle Schools
Columbia
*Evans
Harlem
Lakeside
Riverside
Stallings Island
High Schools
Evans
Greenbrier
Harlem
Lakeside
National Beta Club Competition
Blue Ridge ES
1st Place: Spelling - Raghav Thumsi
6th Place: Pottery - Ward Walker
10th Place: Musicology
Adelie Baker
BlessingMessan
Happiness Messan
Ward Walker
Stevens Creek ES
1st Place: Social Studies Academic Competition - Vivek Raval
4th Place: Elementary Reimagine, Recreate, and Recreate Team Exhibition
Navtej Farmaha
Avni Makhija
Ayan Patel
Vivek Patel
Vihaan Shah
National Beta Club Convention
2nd Place mathematics - Krish Patel, Lakeside HS
National Civics Bee Competition
Columbia MS: Charlotte Anderson
Harlem MS: Hannah Leatherwood
Board Comments:
Katie Allen (D4): Praised the students’ academic and intellectual achievements across science, engineering, math, civics, Beta Club and other areas. Thanked parents, teachers, administrators and district staff for supporting them. She also thanked the pastor for the invocation and said, “we’ve got to start with Jesus Christ if we want to go somewhere strong.”
Philip Kent (D1): Thanked the pastor and referenced the Holy Spirit in the invocation. Praised the students’ abilities but emphasized that talented students still need strong teachers to guide them toward success, and recognized the district’s teachers for their role in the students’ achievements.
Judy Teasley (D3): Said the district’s success comes from a combination of talented students, good teachers and supportive parents. Thanked the pastor for emphasizing gratitude and described the district as blessed to have all the necessary “ingredients” working together.
Kristi Baker (D2): Thanked the pastor for the invocation and said prayers from him and the community are appreciated. She noted that although board members may appear calm during meetings, they can be nervous because of the weight of their decisions and said they continue thinking and planning about district matters outside of meetings. She otherwise agreed with the preceding comments.
David Dekle (Chair): Focused primarily on the National Beta Convention, which he attended in Nashville with his wife. He praised Columbia County students’ performance and especially recognized the parents for the substantial work involved in getting elementary students to the national competition. He said seeing younger students alongside successful high-school students showed the district’s future potential and said student recognitions remind the board of its purpose and mission.
Approval of Consent Items: Yay 5, No 0
8/11/2026 Regular Session Meeting Minutes
June and July financials
Fundraisers
Employee Travel
Program/Camp/Employee Participation Request
Lease/Use of Facilities
Discussion Topics and Presentations
Strategic Planning
Vision and Mission
Vision: The Columbia County School District will lead the nation in educational excellence where each student is engaged, enriched, and inspired.
Mission: The Columbia County School District will provide each student challenging content in a supportive environment resulting in increased academic achievement through shared accountability.
Goal Areas and Related Performance Objectives
Maximum Achievement and Success for Each Student (Leanne Gregg)
Understanding & Mastery of Curriculum
District continue refining K–12 instructional guides, add exemplar teacher videos, improve assessments/semester exams, and use writing-assessment data to improve instruction. Plans include Next Gen Science resources, expanded K–12 robotics, an 8th-grade career exploration experience, standardized science labs, professional development, and additional IEP/specially designed instruction support.
Increase instructional rigor
Expand CTE offerings, including the new construction/heavy-equipment operator pathway; increase industry certifications, internships in high-skill/high-wage/high-demand fields, gifted instructional units, and middle-school outreach about CTE and fine arts. District also plans to identify and integrate “vetted and trusted” AI resources. Staff identified Gemini for students through the Google environment and Microsoft Copilot primarily for staff.
Discussion
Allen: Asked what the district meant by “vetted and trusted” AI resources and how students would use them.
Gregg: District’s two vetted AI resources are Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. Gemini is available to students through the district’s Google environment; Copilot is primarily used by teachers/staff.
Allen: Asked whether student activity and information stored through Google Workspace, including student papers, notes and other activity, could be collected or used to train or improve AI systems.
VanMeter: No.
Allen: Asked whether other district software programs contain AI features.
Staff: Said some curriculum software includes AI features. Galileo was specifically discussed, but whether its AI functionality is being used was not clearly established.
Enhance academic supports
New credit-recovery platform; expanded elementary and middle-school math interventions; EL teacher training; school-based special-ed department chairs; expanded co-teaching; individual college/career plans; use PSAT 8/9 data to identify students for AP; SAT/ACT prep with student incentives; and expanded virtual instruction through CVA for alternative-school students.
Community Engagement & Support (Alex Casado)
Maximize family/community involvement
Continue developing the Columbia County School District Foundation and expanding community partners/trustees.
Expand meaningful business & post secondary partnerships
Increase internships where students use CTE certifications, high-skill/high-wage fields. Partnerships include AU dual enrollment and teacher leadership certification and Augusta Tech programs. Augusta Tech partnership will allow students to earn three course credits toward a basic heavy-equipment operator technical certificate of credit.
Discussion
Teasley: Asked for clarification about the Augusta University Tier I and Tier II leadership certification courses.
Casado: Confirmed the partnership will provide leadership certification coursework through Augusta University, with district personnel teaching courses using AU resources.
Improve internal/external communications
District will explore replacing/updating its website to make it more user-friendly. The annual communications campaign is “The Promise.” District will also continue refining the new mass-communications platform piloted last year.
Consistent & Supportive Culture (Steven Cummings)
Ensure Safe Learning Environment
Alert systems continue to be installed/implemented. All schools completed first intruder drill of the year and Student Behavior Threat Assessment training. Staff are monitoring locked doors and use of employee alert badges.
Discussion
Allen: Asked what information is being collected through the district’s school-safety monitoring tools and whether the district uses facial-recognition technology.
Jackson: Said administrators and SROs use a mobile application to document safety and facility conditions, currently focusing on locked doors and employee alert badges. It can also document maintenance and other hazards.
Allen: Asked what student data are collected and whether facial recognition is used.
Jackson: Said the district is not using facial recognition through the system and is primarily collecting facility and employee-compliance information rather than student data. SROs may photograph hazards, such as an open door, but staff said they do not photograph students or teachers for this purpose.
Kent: Asked whether the district has considered expanding camera technology to provide additional documentation when disciplinary incidents or disputes involving teachers, students or parents occur.
Jackson: No clear commitment to expand cameras for that purpose was made during the discussion.
Nurture Strong Relationships in Supportive Environment
District implementing ACEs across schools to strengthen connections between students and trusted adults. Staff are receiving district-approved de-escalation training.
Support the Overall Health of Students
In response to HB 268, district will provide one hour of evidence-based suicide-awareness/prevention training and one hour of youth-violence-prevention training. It is expanding its 24-hour anonymous reporting system and providing counselors/families with additional resources.
Discussion
Allen: Asked about district procedures for parental notification when students speak with school counselors, distinguishing ordinary counseling from mental-health counseling.
Dr. Campbell: Said parental permission is not required for ordinary counseling conversations, such as a student discussing friendships or having a difficult day. Parents are involved when mental-health or safety concerns reach a level involving potential harm. Said counseling procedures are addressed in the district’s counseling handbook.
Allen: Asked where families can find counseling and community resources.
Campbell: Said resources are available through school websites under community resources.
Allen: Asked about staff training materials and whether the district is considering suicide-prevention programs other than Signs of Suicide (SOS).
Jackson: Said Georgia recently identified three approved programs, including SOS. The district has not vetted the other two and currently plans to continue using SOS.
Allen: Asked for the names of the other two state-approved programs.
Jackson: Said they would provide them.
Facilities & Operational Processes & Systems (Penny Jackson)
Improve Operational Processes & Systems
Improve custodial hiring/training; continue implementing transportation routing and camera systems; implement standardized school inspection checklists covering cleanliness, maintenance and safety.
Identify & Plan for upcoming facility needs
Continue maintaining the comprehensive building program and security/alert-management systems.
Improve Technology Access (James VanMeter)
Planned infrastructure refreshes rather than waiting for equipment failure; E-rate funding; wireless heat mapping; increased network capacity; disaster-recovery/business-continuity testing; and device-management measures aimed at a “distraction-free” learning environment.
Discussion
Kent: Asked what the district’s next major technology replacement will be and whether it is adequately budgeted.
VanMeter: Said a roughly $2.7 million edge-switch upgrade is scheduled to begin in mid-to-late September. Said the district plans and budgets for infrastructure upgrades and competitively procures equipment while maintaining compatibility across network systems.
Dekle: Asked about the status of replacing security cameras throughout the district.
VanMeter: Said the district has approximately 1,600 cameras and replacement is proceeding. Some older equipment remains but is isolated so its traffic cannot leave the district network. Video storage servers/NVRs are also being replaced.
Talent Optimization (Tony Wright)
Attract a highly-qualified staff
District wants to become more data-driven about which teacher-preparation programs and recruitment pipelines produce successful employees. Recruitment will expand beyond traditional education majors to undecided college students, career changers, paraprofessionals and the district's own students.
Kent: Asked what the district is doing differently or “outside the box” to attract new employees.
Wright: Said the district is expanding its geographic reach for some specialized positions and using internships as a recruitment pipeline, but emphasized culture, working environment, relationships, competitive salaries and communicating the district’s strengths as the primary recruitment tools.
Provide professional growth opportunities & development for all employees
District wants to become more data-driven about which teacher-preparation programs and recruitment pipelines produce successful employees. Recruitment will expand beyond traditional education majors to undecided college students, career changers, paraprofessionals and the district's own students.
Retain a highly-effective workforce
Continue reviewing compensation for market competitiveness/internal equity and better communicate total compensation, including insurance and leave. District also wants to improve retirement planning/support.
Discussion
Dekle: Asked how Georgia legislation allowing retired educators to return to work in high-need areas is affecting district staffing.
Wright: Estimated approximately 3–5 fully retired educators have returned to full-time work, with additional retirees working part-time. Said current targeted areas include math and science.
Dekle: Asked how salaries are handled when an experienced retiree and a newer teacher are candidates for the same position.
Wright: Said principals select the best candidate and returning retirees are placed at the salary level they would have reached had they continued working. District does not pay the employee’s portion of TRS for those retirees. Said the district is also looking for ways to encourage experienced employees to remain beyond 30 years.
Teasley: Asked whether the district offers flexible or part-time arrangements for experienced teachers who want to return but do not want a full schedule.
Wright: Said flexibility depends on the position. Specialized positions such as speech-language services are more conducive to fractional positions than general classroom teaching.
Teasley: Asked about telehealth and mental-health resources for employees.
Wright: Said mental-health assistance is available through the district’s EAP and more employees are using it, although availability of providers accepting new clients remains a problem.
Kent: Asked what the district is specifically doing to eliminate workplace barriers that cause teachers to leave.
Wright: Said retention is strong and the most common reason employees leave is retirement, followed by spouse relocation/moves. HR follows up with employees reporting negative experiences through exit evaluations and works with departments to address problems that can be corrected.
Allen: Asked whether the district’s annual Gallup employee survey includes comments and whether results are analyzed over multiple years to identify improving or declining trends.
Wright: Said the standard Gallup survey consists of 12 questions used consistently from year to year. Schools and leaders receive their results and can track them over time and identify particular areas for improvement.
Allen: Asked whether the district similarly compiles exit-survey data to identify multi-year trends in why employees leave.
Wright: Said responses can be difficult to categorize and the district receives responses from roughly half of employees surveyed. Staff look for patterns, including recurring problems at particular locations, and follow up on concerns.
Kent: Asked whether the district has considered making participation in the Gallup survey mandatory.
Wright: Said employees are strongly encouraged to participate and characterized district employee-engagement results as strong.
Next Five-Year Strategic Plan
District will spend the remainder of 2026 developing process for revising the strategic plan. Beginning January 2027, district plans to solicit input from teachers, staff, students, parents, community members and the Board, along with professional organizations and educational experts. Regular updates are planned during the second semester, with a revised five-year strategic plan expected to be presented to the Board in summer 2027, tentatively July.
Staff Reports
2027-2028 School Calendar - Option A retained majority votes from stakeholders. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Nuclear Science Week (Dr. Campbell)
October 19-23
Discussion
Teasley: Clarified that Nuclear Science Week does not require teachers to add activities, change the curriculum or attend additional meetings.
Campbell: Said nuclear-science material discussed already part of the curriculum and the recognition week does not add new curriculum requirements.
Allen: Asked what students would be taught under Nuclear Science Week themes including “carbon-free energy” and “global leadership,” expressing concern that some themes could become politically charged.
Campbell: Said those are themes identified by the Nuclear Science Week organization and are not automatically being adopted by the district. Any materials incorporated into instruction would go through the district’s review process.
Allen: Said she supports teaching nuclear energy but wanted assurance that the district was not endorsing outside positions simply because they were included among the organization’s themes.
Campbell: Confirmed that inclusion in Nuclear Science Week’s materials does not mean the district automatically endorses or incorporates them.
Building Program Bids:
Furniture for Evans HS (Cost: $269,479.34). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Discussion
Allen: Asked whether the additional $269,479 purchase is included within the approximately $1.8 million budget for furniture and equipment at Evans High School or represents spending beyond that amount.
Casado: Said the purchase is included within the overall Evans High School project budget. “Additional” refers to purchasing furniture for additional/new spaces, not increasing the project’s budget.
Kent: Asked why the district is continuing to use pricing from the January 2025 bid rather than bidding the furniture again.
Casado: Said district bids can include provisions allowing future purchases at the approved price as long as the vendor agrees to continue honoring it. Georgia Specialty Equipment is still honoring its January 2025 pricing. Rebidding could result in higher current prices and could also create inconsistencies in furniture makes/models already purchased for the school. Said the district generally allows such pricing arrangements for no more than three years.
FMO Vans (Cost per van: $51,435, Total cost: $205,740). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Discussion
Teasley: Asked whether Akins Ford was the closest dealership offering the best price and whether a local dealership could match the pricing.
Casado: Said the state contract includes approved dealerships throughout Georgia. District staff reviewed dealerships on the contract; a geographically closer dealer did not have the vehicles available and would have required a significant wait. Akins Ford was the closest dealership with reasonable availability and offered the largest discount among the state-contract dealers contacted.
Allen: Asked for the funding source.
Casado: Said the vans are budgeted in the General Fund under FMO. Vehicle needs are included during the budget process based on fleet replacement needs and new positions requiring service vehicles.
Superintendent Reports:
9/3/2026 Lakeside HS Ribbon Cutting 5:30 pm
9/3/2026, Progress Reports
9/4/2026, Early Dismissal/Parent Conferences
9/7/2026, Labor Day
9/16/2026, CCSD Retiremnt Reception
9/17/2026, CCSD Annual Foundation Event
10/1/2026, Columbia County Teacher of the Year Celebration
10/6/2026, End of First Nine Weks
10/9/2026, Fall Break/ District Professional Learning Day
10/12/2026, Columbus Day
10/14/2026, Report Cards
Executive Session:
Approval of affidavit: Yay 5, No 0
Personnel Sheet: Yay 5, No 0
Adjourn at 8:30 pm : Yay 5, No 0
Next meeting regular session: 9/8/2026