Preparations for the new school year are underway, reported Jenkins County School Superintendent Joan Blackwood during the Monday, July 24, meeting of the Jenkins County Board of Education (BOE).

Open House at all three schools will take place from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, and New Student Orientation is set for 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2.

New Teacher Orientation was set for Monday, July 31, and all teachers were scheduled to return Tuesday, Aug. 1. Students will return Monday, Aug. 7.

Blackwood also presented a brief summary of the results of Annual Yearly Progress, noting that Jenkins County Elementary School is "distinguished" in that it has made AYP for four consecutive years. Jenkins County Middle School has shed its "Needs Improvement" designation after making AYP for two consecutive years, and Jenkins County High School is classified as "adequate". The facility did not meet AYP, but is not classified as "Needs Improvement."

Blackwood reported that wetland mitigation on the site for the new Jenkins County High School gymnasium was progressing without "too much resistance."

Other actions taken by the BOE included the following:

Approved a spending resolution for the months of July and August;

Tabled making an appointment to the Jenkins County Library Board;

Approved a $50,000 contract with Family Connection Services;

Approved fundraisers for Jenkins County Middle School;

Approved administrative transfers for Cheryl Conley and Jackie Burke;

Approved the employment of Anthoney Brown as Jenkins County High School Assistant Principal;

Aproved employment of Christine Stripling as Graduation Coach, pending certifications requirements;

Accepted the resignation of Vondessa Lee;

Approved coaching supplements for the new school year;

Approved an appraisal of the old elementary school building and land; and

Scheduled a budget meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1.