by Denise Etheridge
White County News
Community members and school officials were reminded during a May 20 Board of Education meeting that the school board will hold two public hearings on a tentative budget for fiscal year 2026.
The first hearing will be held at 5:45 p.m. May 22 and the second is set for 7:45 a.m. June 24. Hearings will be held at the Board of Education administrative building at 136 Warriors Path, Cleveland. The new fiscal year will begin July 1 and end June 30, 2026.
The board ran a public notice promoting the first hearing in the News on May 8 and will advertise the second hearing in the newspaper’s June 6 edition.
The proposed budget lists a total revenue of $83.6 million, and total expenditures at $81.3 million, leaving about $2.26 million in reserve. The largest expenditure, over $40.5 million, goes toward instruction. Other large expenditures include the line items for school administration ($4 million), maintenance and operations ($4.3 million), school nutrition ($4.2 million), transportation ($3.9 million), pupil services ($3.2 million) and interest on debt ($4.6 million).
The school board is expected to adopt the upcoming year’s budget during a regular meeting at 6 p.m. on June 26.
School Bus Safety
In other school board business, Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Stribling informed the board that the system experienced three illegal passes of stopped school buses, according to a statewide Department of Education school bus safety survey conducted on April 23. Illegal passes mean drivers did not wait when a school bus stopped with its stop sign extended and lights flashing to allow students to get on or off. School officials said some buses have video cameras that can capture potential incidents which aid in making reports to law enforcement.
Stribling explained that a new law passed by the Georgia legislature last year, Addy’s Law, should help lower such incidents. Drivers that illegally pass a school bus can now face a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail. The law was established after an 8-year old girl from Henry County was killed when getting on her school bus in February 2024.
The law also requires school systems to “get as many bus stops on the right side, or door side, of the bus as possible on roads with speed limits above 40 mph,” Stribling said.
He added that two new school buses have been purchased to replace two old ones and are awaiting delivery.
Personnel and Health Inspections
The assistant superintendent told board members that the system is in the process of hiring new staff for next year, and is looking at the Georgia Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program as a way to possibly”home grow” teachers in the future.
“The teacher shortage is real,” Stribling said.
The program offers those wanting to become teachers, either students or paraprofessionals, a pathway to becoming certified. Program participants can combine their college coursework with field experience in the classroom while they are mentored by experienced teachers, according to teachinthepeach.org.
He also applauded the system’s six school cafeterias that earned 100% on recent health inspections.
Stribling also confirmed that the Centegix security system has been fully tested and integrated with the county’s 911 system.
The school board entered into executive session to discuss personnel and student matters. When board members reconvened into open session, they announced they would approve Superintendent Laurie Burkett’s personnel recommendations for six new hires and three resignations, and allow two students to graduate early.