By BECKY CRISSMAN
becky.crissman@cordeledispatch.com

CORDELE — Crisp County Board of Education members welcomed several special guests to their regular meeting Tuesday evening. The board honored five students from the school system who won the RESA Young Authors Writing Competition for their grade levels. Those students are: Addie White – Kindergarten, Ryleigh Gustin – 1st Grade,  Ronderious Armstrong – 4th Grade, and Jasia Kajfus – 6th Grade and Breanna Wilkes – 9th Grade.
Those winners will have their writing submitted to the state competition.
“Congratulations and thank you for representing your community,” said Board Chairman Scott Forehand. “I encourage you to continue to do well and work toward graduation.”
On their consent agenda the board approved several items including:
• Minutes from the April 7 work session, executive session minutes from April 7, minutes from the regular April 12 meeting, and executive session minutes from the April 12 meeting.
• Approved a field trip request from Diann Powers Crisp County High School FCCLA for student Allie Brown to compete at the National Leadership Conference in San Diego, California July 3-7 where she will be speaking on Teen Suicide.
• Approved a request form Allison Odom for students from CCHS, CCMS, CCES and CCPS to compete in the Special Olympics Summer Games at Emory University in Atlanta May 20-22 (36 students and 10 chaperones).
• Approved a request from Ben Robbins and Brittany Robbins for the CCHS Softball Team to attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Softball Camp in Columbus on July 11-13 (20 students and 3 chaperones).
Board members also approved the final adoption of the FY2017 budget. The proposed budget remained on the table for review for 30 days and was properly advertised. There was no question or opposition to the budget. It was approved by a unanimous vote.
In regards to the Blackshear Trail property, bids were submitted to the board for the purchase of said property. The board voted to accept the higher bid from R&R Harvesting of Labelle, Florida. There are some stipulations such as the re-zoning process and entering the purchase and sale agreement. The bid was for $151,000. The board unanimously approved the bid.
In order to follow state requirements the board revised Policy EEE: Wellness policy. That policy also remained on the table for 30 days and no comments were received. The board voted to approve the policy unanimously.
The board also approved several personnel recommendations. Forehand announced several coming newsworthy events including: BOE training from 3 p.m . until 6 p.m on May 18, last day of school/early release on May 25, end of year celebration – Teacher of the Year announcement and recognition of retirees on May 26, Post Planning and graduation on May 7 (graduation at 8 p.m.), an a board work session at 3 p.m. on June 2.