Dougherty schools get $902,000 grant for technology upgrades

ALBANY — Monday night’s meeting of the Dougherty County School Board got off to a good start for the local school system when State Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, D-Dawson, presented the board a $902,000 Technology for Teachers grant from the One Georgia Authority.

“I call Gov. Deal the ‘Education Governor,’ and this money just strengthens that opinion,” Sims said.

Dougherty County School System Superintendent Ken Dyer said the money has been earmarked for systemwide technology upgrades such as enhanced software and new computer tablets for students at Robert Harvey, Turner and Alice Coachman elementary schools.

“The money will be spent on high-quality instructional software,” Dyer said to Sims. “The board and I just want you to know how much we appreciate what you do for education in Dougherty County and Southwest Georgia.”

The superintendent also congratulated Robert Cross for its recent CCRPI score of 101.5, which ranked third among Georgia’s middle schools and 17th overall among all schools in the state.

The board later adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel and litigation.

In action items, the board:

— Approved a purchase order in the amount of $13,962 for security and access control system upgrades from Gordon Electric;

— Approved a purchase order in the amount of $16,571 for access control emergency lock-down buttons;

— Awarded a bid of $47,793.35 to SACAL Environmental Management Co. for asbestos abatement at the former Magnolia Elementary School;

— Awarded a bid of $42,947.25 to SACAL Environmental Management Co. for asbestos abatement at Monroe High School;

— Awarded a scaled bid for consulting services for dual enrollment for the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy to Jayda Lives Inc.

The board removed from the agenda a resolution that would have given all seven board members raises. Compensation for the board chair is currently $300 per month, and the remaining board members get $250 per month. The date of the body’s last raise has reported to be more than 30 years.

The board would have to set the amounts of any raises before approving the resolution.

The School Board’s next meeting is set for Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m.