During their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Dec. 10, the Bremen Board of Education discussed the financial report, a highly anticipated renovation at Bremen High School, and the toll the flu has taken on attendance at the middle and high schools.

According to Bremen Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hicks, the system has put in an application to the state for a $439,000 grant to replace the heating and air units in the “lower hall” of BHS where the main office is located.

“That wing is quite aged,” Hicks said. “So we’ll use the funds to replace the HVAC system and the drop ceiling. If there are any funds left over, we’ll replace a few windows and possibly update some electrical.”

The local match for the grant is $28,000. Hicks also said the windows and HVAC units the school purchases will be energy efficient. Hicks expects the work to be completed sometime in the summer of 2013.

“Each school system qualifies with the state over time for renovations to HVAC systems and roofing,” Hicks said, “but you have to apply a year in advance. Hopefully, once the governor signs the budget in April or May, the funds will be available.”

At that time, the school system will bid out the project and get things moving.

In other news, it was reported that the Bremen School System had a very high percentage of absences recently due to seasonal flu and viruses.

“The high school was hit especially hard,” Hicks said. “[Last] Monday, 90 kids out of 570 at the high school were absent, mostly due to sickness.”

Hicks said the round of sickness-related absences had hit early this year, saying the flue usually goes around the schools later in winter and usually hits the younger grades harder than the older ones. He said the absences had been a challenge as End of Course Tests were held last week.

“However, we have a break coming up, and hopefully everyone will get well over the holidays.”

The board also discussed and approved the financial report. The report stated that once again the Haralson and Carroll ESPLOST collections were up. It was also reported that the system received their yearly tax payment from Honda Lock, so December payroll will be met without transferring any funds. Also, the grant submittals with the Georgia Department of Education are complete, so the system expects to soon receive those grant funds as well.

The next Bremen Board of Education meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14.