The Bremen City Board of Education met Monday night with Superintendent Stanley McCain applauding faculty and staff members for their diligence in academics, which earned the system state recognition this year for ongoing efforts within the system.

“Jones Elementary and Bremen Fourth and Fifth Grade Academy were recognized by the state Department of Education as “Title I Distinguished Schools,” he announced while presenting certificates that were awarded to the system. “We recognize the (Bremen Schools’) Special Education Department for awards from the state Department of Education for meeting the state targets for educating students in the least restrictive environment, graduates with regular education diplomas, reducing the students who drop out of schools and for students who meet or exceed state achievement standards for Reading/Languge Arts,” he stated. “The system was also recognized for highest performance by decreasing the number of students who drop out and increasing the percentage of students who meet or exceed state achievement standards for Reading/Language Arts.”

Director of Finance Cecilia Edwards later approached the board with a fair report on tax receipts. She said receipts indicate the system has received 59.6 percent of its tax payments. Data also shows monthly Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenue for Haralson County continues to run approximately 18 percent below last year’s revenue, while SPLOST revenue from Carroll County is 8.8 percent below numbers from last year. In financial updates, Anne Chaffin also weighed in on concerns about the after-school program. Chaffin intends to make recommendations for the fee structure and/or the number of personnel hours in the program due to budgetary matters.

Meanwhile, the board took time to bid farewell to board member Chris Coats, who is stepping down after 16 years of service. The board commended Coats for a job well done as newly-elected member Vann Pelt will replace him in January.

In other business, the board approved several items on the agenda, including the worker’s compensation insurance renewal with the Georgia Education Workers Compensation Trust. A Title 50 waiver was also approved to submit to the state, which allows flexibility in the use of instructional extension funding in direct instruction, instead of using the funding for extra 20-day instruction.

The board also permitted funding be returned into to the high school’s nutrition program after funding was rerouted to the program at the middle school in an effort to provide them with financial assistance. McCain recommended the money to be transferred into the high school’s program since it’s “back on its feet.”

Program budgets for the federal and state Title I programs were also approved, following a slew of fundraiser requests that were submitted for review in the recent meeting.

The board closed the meeting following a closed executive session to discuss information concerning a students’ educational records.

The next Bremen City School Board meeting will be held Monday, Jan. 11, at the Bremen Board of Education Office in Bremen.