Emanuel BOE holds February meeting

The Emanuel County Board of Education met on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at Swainsboro Middle School with the following members in attendance: Brandon Jones, Cherie Hooks, Del Brown, John Allen Bailey, Tanya Lane, Elizabeth DeVane and Jeanette Harden. Board Chair Del Brown welcomed everyone calling the meeting to order. John Allen Bailey delivered the invocation followed by Jeanette Harden leading the Pledge of Allegiance. John Allen Bailey made a motion to approve the agenda. Brandon Jones seconded the motion. Del Brown, Tanya Lane, Cherie Hooks, Brandon Jones, John Allen Bailey, Jeanette Harden and Elizabeth DeVane voted “yes”. CARRIED.

SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS

Dr. Warnock expressed her gratitude for the dedication and support of the BOE, ECS staff, our families, and our community. She noted that, despite encountering hurricanes and a snowstorm, we have remained resilient and focused on academic growth and achievement, competitiveness in athletic and co-curricular events, and student safety and well-being.

a. ECI Star Student & Star Teacher Awards-Stefanie Mason

i. Allie Rigdon, student

ii. Mrs. Tori Pellerin, teacher

b. SHS Star Student & Star Teacher Awards-Stefanie Mason

i. Robert “Bo” Brown, student

ii. Dr. Gene Hundley, teacher

c. Emanuel County District Star Student & Star Teacher Awards-Stefanie Mason

i. Robert “Bo” Brown, student

ii. Dr. Gene Hundley, teacher

d. Readers Theater Performance

e. Swainsboro Middle School Jr. Beta Awards-Stefanie Mason

i. Songfest Performance

Swainsboro Middle School – State Jr. Beta Convention – Savannah, GA – December 5-7, 2024 – Marcie Gay, Amy Screws, Shanna Foskey – Event/Achievement – Maddux Hendrix, 5th Place Woodworking; Kaybreigh Hostilo, 5th Place Engineering; Rayleigh Hutcheson, 5th Place Engineering; Sydney Lively, 5th Place Engineering; Alice Lopez Acosta, 3rd Place 7th Grade Spanish; Leilany Lopez-Acosta, 2nd Place 6th Grade Spanish; Stella Kate Marsh, 5th Place Engineering; Melina Ramos-Perez, 5th Place Fiber Arts; Aubree Roberts, 1st Place Accessorized Design; Colton Sconyers, 5th Place Engineering; Kaylee Screws, 1st Place Quilling, 2nd Place On-Site Painting, 5th Place Two Dimensional Design; Jurnee Wynn, Premier Performer Performing arts Dance Solo; 1st Place Songfest, Ju’Siyah Bell, Benton Bishop, Ryan Brown, Banks Burke, Hannah Camarero, Christopher Castrejon-Villalta, Kynlie Claxton, Drake Clements, Adalia Cloud, Brennan Collins, Ethan Colston, Edwin Cruz Simon, Tamorrion Daniels, Jenna Farmer, Savannah Graves, Jaliyah Hall, Maddux Hendrix, Kaybreigh Hostilo, Blane Hutcheson, Blake Johnson, Abigail Joseph, Nathan Kersey, Chance Langford, Layton Lindsey, Sydney Lively, Alice Lopez Acosta, Leilany Lopez-Acosta, Jose Marcelino Castro, Jace Marchman, Shaniyah Marion, Stella Kate Marsh, Lenox McNeely, Jenavieve McRee, Victor Middleton, Adamarie Moran-Esparza, Isabella Mulrooney, Parker Outlaw, Juan Perez-Hernandez, Herman Powell, Aubree Roberts, Maritza Saldana-Martinez, Colton Sconyers, Kaylee Screws, Stetson Sheppard, Marley Stewart, Sara Talledo, Cayleigh Taylor, Cierra Thomas, Abi Torpy, Isis Trice, Ashlyn Turner, Elijah Vaughn, McKinley Walden, Raleigh Walls, Kinsley Watson, Julianne Way, Jocelyn Williams, Jurnee Wynn

DISCUSSION OF CONSENT AGENDA

The Consent Agenda was presented and approved as follows:

a. Approval of Minutes of the January 14, 2025, Regular Board Meeting.

b. Approval of Financial Reports – Mollie Smith

c. Approval of FY26 Academic Calendar-Dr. Denise Warnock

d. Approval of East Georgia Healthcare School-based Health Clinic, ECI Lease-Dr. Denise Warnock e. Approval of Swainsboro High School HVAC Modification Project to Pope Construction-Jansen Ware f. Approval of Swainsboro High School Roof Modification Project to Pope Construction-Jansen Ware

g. Approval of Swainsboro Middle School Roof Modification Project to Pope Construction-Jansen Ware h. Approval of Swainsboro Elementary School HVAC Modification Project to Pope Construction Jansen Ware

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION –Allayna Farrow expressed concerns over instruction in theology in the classroom and Julia Carswell appealed to the board about adding more Pre-K classes.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

The Board approved the consent agenda as presented.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

EMPLOYMENTS:

The Board approved the renewal, employment, retired, retirement and resignations of the following certified and classified employees:

RENEWALS (PRINCIPALS AND DIRECTORS):

Brandon Andrews, Stefanie Mason, Stacey Barber, David Miller, Jessica Collins, Lara Norton, Anetria Edenfield, Sarah Tapley, Brooke Frye, Jansen Ware (Asst. Supt.), Chandra Hooks, Valorie Watkins, Demita Clark-Hubbard, Dionne Woods-Gamble, Rusty Kea (49%)

RESIGNATIONS, CERTIFIED:

Marsh, Selena Brooke – Teacher – TCE – 5/28/2025; Scott, J Alisa – Teacher – TCE – 5/28/2025

RETIRED, CERTIFIED:

Cowart, Sondra – Teacher – ECI – 5/28/2025; Gay, Judy – Teacher – TCE – 5/28/2025; Freeman, Donita – Teacher – SPS – 5/28/2025; Kearson, Christopher – Teacher/Head Football Coach – ECI – 5/28/2025; Cravey-Kraus, Elizabeth – Counselor – ECI – 5/30/2025; Smoyer, Alison – Teacher – SES – 5/28/2025; Williams, Annie – Teacher – SES – 5/28/2025; Worthen, Annette – Teacher – TCE – 5/28/2025

RECOMENDATIONS, CLASSIFIED:

Phillips, Sylvia – Bus Driver – Transportation – 3/3/2025 – NCIC Complete; Walters, Beverly – Sub – Custodian – Emanuel County BOE – 2/12/2025 – NCIC Complete

RESIGNATIONS, CLASSIFIED:

Jenkins, Shateria – Bus Driver – Transportation – 1/29/2025

RETIREMENTS, CLASSIFIED:

Ellison, Classie – Custodian – ECI – 5/23/2025; Johnson, Tina – Paraprofessional – EHS – 6/30/2025