Call To Order: 5:30PM
Invocation: Harlem Baptist Church Connections Minister Rebekah Dickerson
Pledge of Allegiance: River Ridge ES & Riverside ES 4-H Presidents
Approval of Agenda: Yay 5, No: 1 (Allen stated that she had items that have not been added to the agenda yet)
Special Recognitions:
Georgia Chamber of Commerce National Civics Bee 2025
Vivienne Kim, Stallings Island Middle School, 3rd Place
Next local Civics Been at Lakeside HS PAC on 3/19/2026
School District Military Veterans: Appreciation video
Board Comments: All Board members are thankful for the high number of staff that our veterans. Proud of 4H Presidents and Vivienne Kim at Civics Bee.
Board Policies:
Board Policy IB, Instructional Program Goals and Objectives
Board Policy IF, Instructional Resources
Board Policy JR, Student Records
Board Policy KHE, Gifts to Schools
Flynt: Policies 1-3 were on the table but we haven’t received any input.
Allen: I do have some points of discussion about Board Policy IF, Instructional Resources. We removed 4 paragraphs and inserted the electronic aspect. I have no problem with the addition we added, but I would like to consider we keep the early original paragraphs. The reason is that they go into detail about the extent the district will go to protect PII. In the new phrasing, it reduces these 4 very detailed clauses and reduces it down to one generic clause.
Flynt: Some of the things that we’re removing, and the personally identifiable information is obviously extremely important to us, but a good bit of this is required in state law. And so we remove that and don’t restate state law, because when the state law is either adjusted change or some of the rules and regulations change, then we don’t want to miss that on the other side. And that’s one of the reasons on the policies that we list, the associated official Code of Georgia. So we’re sure that we have those as well. But we try not to restate it in policy.
Allen: So, pull this one [Board Policy IF] out of the group and table it for one month. Yay: 5, No 0
Vote on Board Policy IB & Board Policy JR: Yay 5, No 0
Flynt: I’ll move on to Policy. KHE gets to schools. There’s one addition here.Even though we typically do follow this, we thought it was important to have this put it into procedure. And that’s around donated items, making sure those, such as books or any instructional materials, meet the selection criteria. And we would do that in practice, but we felt that there was a good place in Policy to add that. So that’s the only change to khe. No need. Unless there’s Discussion to vote on this tonight, we’ll leave it on the table for input.
Building Program
Bid Results
Approve: Yay 5, No 0
This is for switches and peripheral equipment at Evans High School.
Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Able to use $176,220 from State Bond Funds. Baker asked about rotating the fleet. Some buses are used for travel to extracurricular and field trips. So, not all buses are used every year. Also, have some so if one breaks down we have others. Break downs aren’t as big of an issue because our fleet is fairly new but whenever opportunity comes to use State funds, then we get a discount. The new will come from the general fund.
Approve: Yay 5, No 0
There was some discussion about if some of the companies were local and if they weren’t local if the district would have to pay extra for the company to travel. The bids here include everything.
Approval of Naming of Facility at Stallings Island Middle School. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
SIMS to name their football and soccer field Cooper Field after Mr. Brett Thomas Cooper, who died of non Hodgkins lymphoma in 2022. Mr. Cooper taught Math in Columbia County Schools for 20 years, as well as coached football and baseball.
Resolution to close out Westmont Elementary School. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Adoption of Bond Resolution for the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds and Related Terms and for Authorizing the Sale of the Bonds to he Successful Bidder. Approve: Yay 4, Abstain: 1 (Katie Allen)
(This discussion is transcribed using Fireflies AI Transcription)
Flynt: As you know, we’ve been preparing to issue general obligation bonds to fund much needed improvements, which will start with Harlem High School. The design funding, as you also know for Harlem High School was previously approved, and you’ve seen a number of those renderings, and we’re looking forward to once this passes. Starting construction... We successfully bid the sale and secured great pricing at 3.79%. So congratulations on that. Much of that goes back to the financial stewardship of this district over a long period of time. And you were able to read through the ratings that we were provided for both Moody’s and Standard and Forest, and we were very excited to see those so strong. We also have an amazing team who did this work. I’d like to thank a couple of them before we get to the. To the vote on this. Jamie Wilson, who is our advisor. Ken Pollock with Butler Snow, who’s our bond attorney. Larry Fletcher, general counsel is in the room. And of course, Alex Cassado, our cfo. Great team. I know there’s a lot of others that helped, but we’re very honored to be able to work with this group and get such a very good pricing. So at this time, we ask that you adopt the required resolution that authorizes the issuance and sale of $180 million in bonds.
not sure: So moved
Baker: Second
Dekle: Discussion
Allen: Dr. Flynt and Chairman Dekle, could you state in good faith that you conducted this process in full transparency to the best of your ability to board members and citizens?
Flynt: I can, yes.
Allen: May I share some of my reservations for discussion that I find this process has not been transparent to board members or to taxpayers?
Dekle: Floor is open…
Allen: Has the district shared the bond terms or amortization schedules to the public? More they shared prior to the meeting on August 26, when this was first voted upon by board members.
Flynt: This process has been going on for about a year and a half. We’ve had not only retreats with the board where we’ve gone through many of these specifics, but we’ve also answered all the questions that we’ve been asked. So as well as we could. I think we have. I don’t know that we need to go back and repeat all of that, but you’ve had access and we give you the information that you’ve asked for.
Dekle: We had an earlier preliminary resolution vote in August, did we not?
Flynt: We did….
Allen: Were board members given the amortization here before…
Teasley: What exactly are we doing right now?
Allen: Were board members, given the amortization schedule….
Teasley: What are we doing without. I mean, I’m…
Allen: I’m raising my reservations that the public was not made aware of the amortization schedule, and I’ve only received it today at 3 o’ clock. Specifically in the fact that interest is going to cost taxpayers over $112 million.
Dekle: Ms. Allen, are you…?
Allen: Is that something that we would normally…?
Dekle: Publicly stated on a number of occasions that you’re against borrowing money and you’re….. against improvement at Harlem High School.
Allen: That’s not correct.
Dekle: So you’re on record for doing that? I’m on record for supporting the updates to Harlem High School. Borrowing money is absolutely essential for us to bring that school into the 21st century. This is your district. This is the high school that sits in your district. And we’ve already done many improvements to other high schools throughout our county.
Allen: Are you for transparency and keeping your word to taxpayers, Chairman Dekle?
Dekle: Excuse me, ma’am.
Allen: Are you for transparency and keeping your word to taxpayers?
Dekle: Very transparent.
Allen: Okay. Historically, in 2019, taxpayers were told that esplost referendums allowed school districts to issue bonds to build immediately and then use esplost revenue to repay the bonds over the Life of the Five Year esplost. How is it that we tell taxpayers their bonds will be repaid over the term of the esplost? And this particular bond, it was repaid over 20 years. I’ve asked for schedules. I’ve asked to see what it would look like repaid over seven years and 10 years. Those have not been provided to me. Why have they not been provided? Why are we only looking at 20 years ago?
Dekle: What qualifies you to ummm?
Allen: I’m trying to keep my word to taxpayers. When we tell taxpayers, if you approve this, we’re intending to pay this back over the life of the esplost, and then we quietly, without even informing board members until after the original vote, bring in something that has a 20 year 4 eSPLOST cycle payment schedule with $112 million in interest alone. That’s almost the price of the school. And we want to do it [muffled]?That’s not transparent.
Flynt: I would just say the resolution that was approved by the voters was very clear that we were able to use debt service. And as a matter of fact, over that last year and a half, through multiple public meetings, we stated that there was a possibility that we may need to use debt service to do that. And over the last maybe six or seven months, we’ve seen where we’re able to do that without adding a debt service or anything else to the millage. And so that’s good news to the taxpayers. We’ve been very forthright with y’ all on this. The voters knew it for the resolution that they approved. And now it’s Yalls Turn to make a motion to either approve or deny the sale of these bonds that ask.
Allen: The question not transparent is our bonds advisor is receiving a commission on this, is that correct? Our financial.
Dekle: Okay. There’s a motion to call for a question. I’ll second that. It’s not debatable. All in favor of ending debate, please raise your right hand. All opposed? All right. The motion to end debate passes three to two. (In favor of ending debate: Teasley, Baker, Dekle. Opposed: Kent, Allen) So now the motion is on the floor to adopt the bond resolution. I will ask all in favor, raise your right hand. All opposed. All in favor of approving the bond resolution as presented by superintendent. All in favor of approval of the bond resolution as presented by the superintendent, raise your right hand. Any abstentions?
Allen: I’m abstaining due to transparency concerns.
Dekle: Speaker 1: 00:00
Okay, so the motion passes four to with one abstention. And the I’ll sign the bond resolution is present. Thank you, Dr. Flynt. Thank you.
Kent: Board members I’d like to make a comment, if I may, Mr. Chairman. Certainly. I don’t appreciate some of the statements were made. I don’t like the direction that necessarily came going here with this. But I also believe that Mr. Chairman said that she was not for rebuilding schools, and that’s not true. I want to make that very make us aware in this room. And she wants to build schools. She doesn’t like the plan. It was in place where I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but that was not true.
Allen: That’s absolutely correct. I’ve said all along I want to support these bonds because I support the projects that they stand for. But we must be transparent. We must protect taxpayer money and 20 years, $100 million. That’s not a good deal. That’s not a good deal for anybody. And we need to do better. And I believe we can do better.
Dekle: Okay, thank you very much. Let’s move on.
Teasley: I’m sorry. I need to make one statement. Okay. I resent the notion that anybody is sitting here saying we are not transparent. If you missed something, you felt that you weren’t provided information. If you chose not to investigate further. However you feel like you missed it, I regret that. Please don’t sit here and act like I am part of a board that is not transparent. And that will be the end of my….
Allen: Do you agree with that, Dr. Flynt? Do you agree with that?
Teasley: That question has already been asked and answered. Can we move on, please?
Allen: I just want to clarify that you believe that I did not pursue this information. That is why I don’t have it. Am I understanding correctly?
Dekle: I, I think you’ve been given all the information you’ve asked for. We’ve been completely transparent. And I, you know, if, if we don’t do the bond deal, then the construction doesn’t get done. It’s the bottom line. So, I mean, you can be in favor of building schools, but how are. How are you going to pay for it? You’re going to do it for free. Nobody’s going to do it for free. We, we can’t sit around and wait 20 years to update the school. So if you oppose the bond resolution, then you’re basically opposing our building plan. That’s my, that’s my.
Allen: That’s a false dichotomy to say I have to agree to a bad deal if I will support building schools.
Teasley: You can’t call us, say that we left…[muffled]
Allen: I can say that because we hired a financial advisor who makes a commission off of this. That’s not, that’s not transparent.
Dekle: I don’t think anybody would do it for free. So thank you very much. I think we need to move on and I hope that you’ve been able to air your differences….
Allen: …concerns about taxpayers.
Dekle: All right, well, let’s move on to superintendent reports.
Superintendent Reports
GA Apply to College Month through GA Match. Also No fee November
Baker: Asked how displaced/homeless students can receive this information.
District Personnel: They can logon at GA Futures
American Education Week, November 17-21
Principal for a Day, November 20
Thanksgiving Holidays: November 24-28
Early Dismissal, December 19
Winter Break: December 22- January 1
Public Particpation:
Priscilla Bence: Discussed porn addiction and the importance of removing “porn” from the school libraries
Marlena Bergeron: Discussed District Media Review Committee and does not agree with recent book removals
Janet Duggan: Doesn’t agree with the bonds. Asked for more transparency.
Brenda Heideman: Wants the district to post the 10 Commandments at all schools.
Joan Krupsky: Discussed District Media Review Committee and does not agree with recent book removals
Karin Parham: Made a statement on behalf of Freedom to Read Coalition of Columbia County. Submitted a policy analysis memo.
Cara Parker: Discussed District Media Review Committee and does not agree with recent book removals
Executive Session: Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Executed affidavit
Voted on Real estate: Yay 5, No 0
Personnel: Yay 5, No 0
Adjourn: Yay 5, No 0
Thanks Karin for covering the meeting and providing notes.
Thank you for the notes. The later dialog between Allen, Dekle, and Teasley was interesting. The school board has settled a huge bond on the citizens of the county. The item regarding the interest was eye opening. I am not a 100% sure all of this was needed, but then I questioned everything this county does at this point. We are top heavy with salaries at the board, I would rather see reduced class sizes.