By BECKY CRISSMAN

becky.crissman@cordeledispatch.com

CORDELE — A new school year is just around the corner for students in Crisp County and Board of Education here is gearing up for another great year in Cougar Country.

The board held their regular meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss the coming year.

Before moving forward with business the board elected officers for the coming year. Scott Forehand was nominated and unanimously approved to serve another year as the chairman of the board. Bill Wilson was nominated and unanimously approved to serve as the vice chairman. The board also approved the list of meeting dates which are the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. with the exception of October’s meeting which will be held on October 4 due to a school holiday set for the second Tuesday that month and the June 2017 meeting will be held on June 6 due to board members attending a conference the second Tuesday in June.

The board also approved several items on their consent agenda including:

• Overnight field trips for CCHS Basketball team, two for CCMS FFA club, one for the CCHS FBLA, and one for the CCHS FCCLA.

• Approved a list submitted by Director of Transportation, Renate McGee to surplus a list of buses and advertise them for bids.

• Lighting for the practice field and soccer field.

• Under school nutrition they bread contract extension and milk contract extension for FY17. They also approved produce bids from Lisa Leggett, school nutrition program director.

• Board members approved a list of personnel items.

Board members also were pleased to announce that there will not be any millage increase. They wanted and that teachers will be receiving a 3% pay raise this year, after all furlough days were eliminated last year.

Board member Charles Kerr commented on how pleased he was with the addition of a ninth-grade football team and that summer practice has begun for the Cougars.

Board member Lydia Adkins also commented on all the projects that are coming to fruition thanks to funds from the Special Local Option Sales Tax including;

• High school renovations, additions being ready to bid: Band, Chorus and weight rooms.

• New soccer fields are coming

• The baseball dugout renovation has begun, which was a joint project between the board and the school system and the baseball booster club.

• The football stadium restrooms and concession areas will also be renovated.

Board members commented how grateful they were to local citizens who turned up at the poles to approve the new SPLOST which will be going toward the building of a new middle school.