Kelli P. Duke

Key discussions and actions included the recognition of a Lee County High School Junior for the GSBA Youth Advisory Council and the LCHS Dairy Team for their participation in the FFA Nationals. The Board unanimously approved the September 2025 financial report, which detailed numerous transactions across General, Bond, Debt Service, SPLOST, Building, Food Services, and Activity accounts. Personnel actions included recommendations for hiring a Paraprofessional, Behavior Specialist, and an Extended Day Program Adult Leader, as well as accepting resignations from a Paraprofessional and two Teachers, and one reassignment. Consent agenda items approved covered out-of-state/overnight trips for LCMS-W (MidFest Honor Band) and LCHS (NJROTC), a facility use request by the Lee County Warriors Pop Warner, the distribution of a website flyer for the City of Leesburg Christmas Tree Lighting, and consideration of Draft Policy JCDAF regarding student electronic device use. A resident also expressed concern regarding senior tax.

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the tentative agenda by consent. The Board unanimously approved entering into an executive session to discuss matters related to the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplinary action, dismissal, or evaluation of a public officer or employee, specifically regarding the Superintendent position. Following the executive session, the Board unanimously voted to re-open the meeting. The Board then unanimously approved the personnel consent agenda, which included the resignation in lieu of termination for a teacher at LCHS, effective February 3, 2026.

The meeting began with recognition for several schools: Lee County Middle School East and West for Algebra Concepts and Connections achievement, and Lee County Middle School East and Kinchafoonee Primary School for PBIS implementation levels. The Board approved the October 2025 financial report, which detailed transactions across various general, bond, debt service, building, food services, and investment pool accounts. Following an executive session concerning personnel matters, reports were provided on Superintendent Updates, including a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lee County Fire Department for a joint teaching and certification pathway, an academic update, and K-5 ELA instructional resources. The Board approved a personnel consent agenda covering new recommendations, resignations, extended day program actions, and a correction to a previous agenda. A separate consent agenda covered approval for various fundraisers, several out-of-state or overnight trips for LCHS, facility use requests, the 2026 Board Meeting Calendar, LCHS course additions (Essentials of Fire and Emergency Services and Applications of Firefighting), Class Size Commitments for SY27, Legislative Priorities, generator replacement, and policy regarding electronic device use by students.

The key discussions during this meeting involved the adoption of the Tentative Agenda and the approval of a personnel consent agenda, which included one new clerical position appointment, one paraprofessional resignation, and a correction regarding a clerical retirement. Furthermore, the Board unanimously adopted the 2025 Millage Rate for Maintenance and Operations at 15.96 and for Bonds at 0.58. A Guaranteed Maximum Price of $10,983,736.00 was set for the LCHS Additions project, which includes a gymnasium, wrestling room, coaches' offices, and locker rooms, funded through SPLOST.

The meeting commenced with recognition for student achievements, including members of the All-State Band and spelling bee champions, and a highlight of Black History Month activities. Key financial discussions involved the approval of the December 2025 Financial Report, detailing transactions across various general, bond, debt service, and building funds. The Board entered executive session to discuss personnel matters. Upon returning, reports were provided on the Superintendent's activities, summer school planning, and budget/audit reviews. The Board approved several items via consent agenda, including personnel actions (recommendations, resignations, retirements, reassignments, and corrections), various fundraisers, several out-of-state or overnight trips for students, a website flyer posting, and facility use requests. Further approvals included the purchase of five school buses (not to exceed $840,000), the SY 2026-2027 and SY 2027-2028 School Calendars, the contract issuance for certified employees, and state funding applications for HVAC at LCHS and a new roof at LCMS-East campus. Finally, a delegate and alternate were appointed for the GSBA conference.