PUTNAM COUNTY
The Putnam County Board of Education hosted its first work session of 2023 on Monday.
The meeting began with selecting Dr. Steve Weiner to continue his position as chairman for the next two years. The board unanimously agreed he was the best candidate.
Assistant Superintendent Lauren Melton then presented local winners from the Oconee Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) Art Competition to the board and let board members see the winning art displayed. The competition was for first- through 12th-grade artists from six Oconee RESA counties, with two pieces submitted per grade level.
Several Putnam County students will receive medals and certificates for placing first, second or third in the competition. These awards will be presented individually at each school with accompanying ceremonies.
At the primary school, there was one first-grade winner and two third-place winners. At the elementary school, there were two first-place winners, two second-place winners, and one third-place winner, while the middle school saw two first-place winners, three second-place winners, and one third-place winner. The high school produced one first-place winner and two third-place winners.
“We did very well in this competition, and it shows just how talented our students are,” said Melton.
She also highlighted to the board that the school system has now partnered with The Plaza Arts Center to provide after-school art classes for both the primary school and elementary school. This program meets every Tuesday each month with two sessions for each school and about 30 different students attending each session.
After looking at the art displayed and recognizing these students, BOE Superintendent Eric Arena presented a very short update on the elementary school construction project. He said the elementary school will be built on the existing 33 acres adjacent to Putnam County Middle School.
The funding plan is currently laid out as a balance of $40.5 million.
This can be broken down into $21 million from the board’s bond sale, $4.5 million from state entitlements and $15 million assigned from the fund balance.
According to Arena, further updates and better clarity of a projected elementary school construction timeline will be reported on Jan. 23, during the public board meeting.