The Bremen Board of Education held its scheduled board meeting Monday to hear financial updates and public participation, as well as to approve Superintendent David Hicks’ recommendations for resignations, new hires, transfers and the substitute teacher list.

At a meeting last Friday, the board gave consent to bypass most of the agenda – including new business and some informational items. Among the items not discussed at Monday’s meeting, but approved by the members of the board, “the board consented to approve an updated capital asset guide; a resolution to authorize investment related to change in Superintendent; an agreement with the University of West Georgia regarding counseling practicum and internships; a Circle of Honor Committee Recommendation; 2010-2011 student handbooks; and fundraising requests for sale of T-shirts by Bremen Special Olympics.”

Beginning with Director of Finance, Celia Edwards’ monthly report, the board learned that the system’s operating account balance was $529,131.67 and that substantial amount of that sum would be spent in checks to worker’s compensation and other areas at the beginning of the school year. Edwards went on to say that the current budget is very similar to the budget from the 2009-2010 fiscal year and that this information was very encouraging.

“The school tax exemption doubled in 2009. This year, 295 senior citizens took advantage of the tax exemption.” she said.

Edwards said that the full amount that was saved by senior citizens utilizing the tax exemption amounted to approximately $88,000. She added that for those interested in getting the exemption this year, citizens must apply with the Haralson County Tax Assessor’s office.

“I just want to make it clear that we do appreciate our senior citizens and all they do for us,” Hicks said.

Board Chairman Darryl Sellers added that it was indeed an impressive number of applicants for the policy.

Edwards said that Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) collections and the school accounts are also in good shape, with nearly all having increased balances.

“School nutrition finance is doing very well,” she said, “but they’re looking at replacing old equipment. There are some fairly big items at the elementary school and some items at the high school as well.”

Edwards said that the only area of finances that saw a loss was the after-school program. She said that the program was able to halt some of its losses, but it should improve with the next fiscal year as new students will be joining the program.

“We have a $6,200 deficit for this year,” she said, “but Jones Academy will be incorporated in the program this year.”

Edwards added that 2009 taxes were quite accurate with how they had been projected and that they should have a complete picture of what is due when the city finishes its own assessment in August.

Public participation included a word from Harry Kent about the Bremen High School wrestling team. Kent said that he was concerned about whether the team would have adequate funding to face opponents next year.

“I’ll have no problem with anything if all [the teams] will be treated the same,” he said.

Bremen High School Principal Duane McManus told Kent that a great deal of funding for athletic programs must now come from booster clubs and fundraisers because the department has lost nearly $30,000 of revenue at games, but that no one sport will be chosen over another.

Finally, Hicks announced that the Bremen High School reached Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act and that the school earned “exceptional scores with a 93 percent graduation rate.”

“Of course, we want these scores to be at 100 percent, but this is really good,” he said, “it’s the highest in this area, definitely.”