Athletic uniforms approved and intermediate school recognized at Sumter County Board of Education regular meeting

At its regular meeting on Thursday, July 11, the Sumter County Board of Education (SCBE) voted unanimously to approve the purchase of athletic uniforms in the amount of $248,477.68. This issue was discussed at length during the SCBE’s work session on Monday, July 8. Board Member Rick Barnes made a motion to approve the purchase of the uniforms and Board Member Vincent Kearse seconded the motion. The SCBE voted and the motion to approve passed unanimously.

In other news from the meeting, Sumter County School Superintendent Walter Knighton issued his Superintendent’s Dashboard Report. For the month of June, Knighton reported the SPLOST collections to be in the amount of $452,382.38. The Georgia Power bill was $43,797.27 and the Sumter EMC bill was $44,423.46. The water and sewer sanitation bill was $15,333.08 and the City of Americus energy bill was $2,680.05. Knighton went on to say that the cellular phone bills added up to $1,635.34. He added that the millage rate for Sumter County is yet to be determined, as well as the amount of one mill. Knighton also stated that the budget for FY 2025 at this point is $54,000,323,288.

Dr. Mohan Gugulothu, principal of the Sumter County Intermediate School, along with his staff, was recognized for a special achievement. Back in the month of June, the Georgia Department of Education, at a federal programs conference, recognized the Sumter County Intermediate School with a banner, which read, “In recognition for advancing achievement to meet the exit criteria for federal identification”. In other words, the school was removed from the Federally Identified CSI list.

The SCBE also heard from Craig Walker, a concerned citizen, who expressed his dismay at what he termed the “fleecing of our children for money to buy trinkets and/or food items”. Walker went on to say that three of the schools in Sumter County have three sneaker balls and he questioned how much revenue was brought in by that. He stated that in a letter that was sent to him by the SCBE that these types of events help subsidize extra curricular activities and projects to enhance the educational experience. “We want to know how much money those three sneaker balls amount to and the excessive selling and/or the food trucks that are showing up on the school properties,” Walker said. He went on to say that those food trucks are there to make money and he wants the SCBE to put in writing what the percentage the food truck is keeping and what percentage are they giving back to the schools to support extra curricular activities. Walker accused Sumter County Schools of being in violation of the Smart Snacks Program because, in his mind, if they weren’t in violation, the food trucks could only be on the property at certain times and couldn’t be there during lunch hours. Walker went on to say that there are allegations of teachers taking food orders to go to Chick Fillet and other restaurants for the students. “If they got that kind of time, why don’t they show that kind of zeal in making sure Billy can read when he’s in 11 ^th grade and reading on a fifth grade level,” Walker said. “It’s ridiculous for that to be happening.” Walker repeated his request that the SCBE show in writing the percentage the food trucks are keeping and the percentage of money they’re giving to the school to support their activities since they have to be here. He went on to say that the Smart Snack Program has very strict guidelines and that not anybody can be handing out food. “It is a fact that teachers are selling personal items to the children and profiting off of it. That’s unethical,” Walker said. He went on to say that he plans to get the findings and present them to the state school superintendent to see if what is going on is ethical.

Walker went on to say that the schools have a card with which they can purchase food. “They have a card and they can go to Sam’s and purchase food items and send it back to the children,” Walker said. “If they’re getting it free and the taxpayers are paying for it, why do the children in turn have to buy it back?”

He also stated that on days when kids are outside doing extra curricular activities, they have to pay $1 for bottled water and added that kids are having to constantly call home and ask for money. At the end of his speech, Walker was told by Board Chairman Patricia Harris that the SCBE will respond to his concerns in due time.

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