The Polk School District’s monthly MERIT Award continues, and their December focus was the technology department.

Nikki Bray was named the December 2020 winner of the award, getting a certificate and gift card after she was nominated for her dedication to her work and helping supply teachers with the technology they need in the classroom to help educate children.

Superintendent Laurie Atkins, Board Chair JP Foster and Assistant Superintendent Katie Thomas presented Bray with the award during the December 8, 2020 school board meeting.

Along with the MERIT Award presentation, the Board of Education also handled several other items. Included in that were the surplus of five buses that were purchased anonymously, which will be refurbished and later up for resale to benefit The Tori Luke Foundation. The board voted unanimously to take the single bid available for the five buses they previously approved to surplus that were being used for parts.

The five buses were sold at $700 each.

The board also approved the latest financials available based on October numbers verified and up-to-date. Without full tax collections in for 2020, the district has $17,064131.93 in their general fund balance as of two months ago, with $4.7 million in the SPLOST V account, and $1.9 million in the 2017 Construction account. SPLOST VI’s balance sheet was at $496,007.81 in funds in the bank at this time.

That was with revenue down by more than 13%, and expenditures 13%+ less than expected.

Also approved during the meeting was the continuation of the PSD cleaning contract with Sullins Enterprises, LLC., and to approve the board meeting calendar for 2021.

Every month, the board meets twice – once for a work session on the first Tuesday of the month, and then again on the following Tuesday for a regular session to vote on items.

Some years with the way the calendar falls and holidays, the board is required to combine sessions into one. The 2021 calendar year will only require that to happen once, with a combined session being held because of Spring Break in April.

Starting off the year in January, board members are back to work on the 5th and the 12th of the month, followed up with Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 sessions, March 2, and March 9, then the lone meeting on April 13 combined for spring break.

No combinations will be needed after, not even for July 4th, which usually sees a combined session. The May 4 and May 11 meetings will be followed up by June 1 and June 8 sessions, then July 6 and July 13 meetings, and stretch through August 3 and August 10, September 7 and Sept. 14, October 5 and Oct. 12, November 2 and Nov. 9 and December 7 and Dec. 14 of next year.

After an executive session for personnel matters, the board wrapped up their year and wished everyone happy holidays for 2020.