CORDELE — Crisp County Schools plan to put build a new middle school took a step forward at the Crisp County Board of Education meeting.

Crisp County Superintendent Dr. David Mims said they hoped to break ground on the new building during the 2019 school year. In the lead up to the construction, decision such as how the bidding process will take place as well as the management of the project.

The topic of Construction management at risk approach to be used for the middle school was up for debate.

Essentially, Crisp County would hire a construction management company to come up with qualifications for prospective bidders. The prospective bidders would be graded based on how qualified they are to fulfill the contract.

“This give us a lot more control over the stuff we have had problems with,” said Crisp County Board of Education Chairman Scott Forehand. “This is not a new way of doing things and has been around for a number of years.”

Councilman Lonnie Nelms motioned they proceed with hiring a construction management company and was seconded by councilman Charles Kerr. The board unanimously passed it.

In addition, they passed the annual Perkins Grant Application, which is where the school systems CTAE program gets it’s funding.

The board asked to go into an abbreviated executive session for personnel reasons, however it turned into a 45-minute affair.

The board voted as a whole on all 12 actions in the personnel report, which included: two retirements from Crisp County Primary School Media Specialist Beverly Harris and Crisp County Middle School Teacher Laura Wade. Both will retire at the conclusion of the semester.

There were a total of ten new hires. Cassandra Bullington, a long-term substitute teacher at CCMS and Edward Sutton a paraprofessional at CCPS both started in August.

Three substitute bus drivers — Bonnie Murphey, Latina Hill and Mattie West all began on Friday, September 15 while Santana Porter began as well in the position of a substitute bus monitor.

Maurice Wilson (Substitute Custodian), Lori Rodgers (Substitute teacher) and Melissa Haugabrook  (Substitute teacher) also began on Friday.

Finally, Jackie Dickerson will begin on October 2 in the central office as a Finance and HR Clerk.

In closing remarks, Dr. Mims announced the Reach Scholarship would be held on October 4 at the middle school at 10 a.m, State Superintendent Richard Woods would be visiting Crisp County High School on Thursday, October 5 and the next meeting would be that Thursday.