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School Board approves property purchase
Nearly 2-acre parcel is adjacent to Fort White Elementary.
By TROY ROBERTS
troberts@lakecityreporter.com
The Columbia County School Board approved a contract to purchase a piece of property adjacent to Fort White Elementary School Tuesday night and also discussed the growing trend of truancy at the district and state levels.
The property, a two-acre strip of land located near the elementary school and currently occupied by a residence, has been sought after by the school district for several months. The district recently entered into contract negotiations with the landowner, which resulted in a $117,500 asking price. School Board attorney Guy Norris said that the asking price was significantly less than the appraised value, which was approximately $130,000.
After further discussion, the board opted into the contract.
The school board also discussed the problem of truancy within the district. The levels of absenteeism have risen in recent years, and while current trends show a slight decrease during the current school year — compared to the 2006-2007 school year — the percentages of students at the high school level with more than 21 absences were alarming to board members.
Board member Glenn Hunter asked if the district had the resources to address the issue. Lex Carswell, assistant superintendent of instruction, said the best way to fight against the growing trend is to make parents aware of it and get community involvement. While the Columbia County elementary and middle schools are either below or slightly above the state average, board member Linard Johnson said the greatest concern was at the high school level, where the percentages of students
missing more than 21 days is well above the state average. He asked if there was a way the district could look into seeing what some of the factors are for the high levels of absenteeism.
The board also:
n Considered the reimbursement of invalidated tax certificates at the site of the Corrections Corporation of America Lake City Correctional Institution. Norris said the board has been involved in litigation for a number of years because of tax certificates that were sold in 1997 by the county tax collector. He said when the correctional facility was constructed there was some debate on whether the facility would be required to pay county taxes. After one year, the tax certificate to the property was sold and the buyer paid the school board its required taxes on the property. That tax certificate was recently validated and the school board will pay back the $103,277.26 the man paid the board at the time of the purchase.
Norris said the board has anticipated this and has money in reserves that have been withheld by the tax collector and the money won’t come directly out of the district’s pocket.
n Superintendent Grady “Sam” Markham was recognized for his participation in the Florida Superintendent Leadership Development Program training, “Core Concepts of Leadership for Florida Superintendents,” hosted by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and Department of Education. This training seminar means Markham’s special qualification certification will be extended until April 30, 2009.
The property, a two-acre strip of land located near the elementary school and currently occupied by a residence, has been sought after by the school district for several months. The district recently entered into contract negotiations with the landowner, which resulted in a $117,500 asking price. School Board attorney Guy Norris said that the asking price was significantly less than the appraised value, which was approximately $130,000.
After further discussion, the board opted into the contract.
The school board also discussed the problem of truancy within the district. The levels of absenteeism have risen in recent years, and while current trends show a slight decrease during the current school year — compared to the 2006-2007 school year — the percentages of students at the high school level with more than 21 absences were alarming to board members.
Board member Glenn Hunter asked if the district had the resources to address the issue. Lex Carswell, assistant superintendent of instruction, said the best way to fight against the growing trend is to make parents aware of it and get community involvement. While the Columbia County elementary and middle schools are either below or slightly above the state average, board member Linard Johnson said the greatest concern was at the high school level, where the percentages of students
missing more than 21 days is well above the state average. He asked if there was a way the district could look into seeing what some of the factors are for the high levels of absenteeism.
The board also:
n Considered the reimbursement of invalidated tax certificates at the site of the Corrections Corporation of America Lake City Correctional Institution. Norris said the board has been involved in litigation for a number of years because of tax certificates that were sold in 1997 by the county tax collector. He said when the correctional facility was constructed there was some debate on whether the facility would be required to pay county taxes. After one year, the tax certificate to the property was sold and the buyer paid the school board its required taxes on the property. That tax certificate was recently validated and the school board will pay back the $103,277.26 the man paid the board at the time of the purchase.
Norris said the board has anticipated this and has money in reserves that have been withheld by the tax collector and the money won’t come directly out of the district’s pocket.
n Superintendent Grady “Sam” Markham was recognized for his participation in the Florida Superintendent Leadership Development Program training, “Core Concepts of Leadership for Florida Superintendents,” hosted by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and Department of Education. This training seminar means Markham’s special qualification certification will be extended until April 30, 2009.
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