Clarke County School District Packet Summary — 2026-08-13
Meeting: 08/13/2026 - 05:00 PM August 13, 2026 Work Session Board Meeting
Location: Vernon Payne Meeting Hall, 595 Prince Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30601
The Clarke County School District work session agenda includes an update on the district's disparity study and procurement initiatives, first readings of three board policies, two policies requiring board action, and several business items being prepared for the consent agenda. Financial items include FY27 federal and state program allocations, a proposed $10,000 trauma-informed communities grant application, and a Head Start/Early Head Start request for a non-federal share waiver.
Key Items on the Agenda
Disparity Study and Procurement Update
The Board is scheduled to receive an update on the district's implementation of recommendations from a disparity study conducted by Griffin & Strong, P.C. The study began in 2022 to examine participation in district contracting opportunities, compare business availability with actual utilization, identify barriers and disparities, and recommend changes intended to improve competition and transparency.
The packet reports that 789 new vendors have been added since January 2024, bringing the district to 5,169 active vendors. District initiatives described in the update include vendor education, procurement advisory teams, community outreach, earlier communication of contracting opportunities, recognition of outside business certifications, and efforts to simplify the vendor experience.
Several recommendations remain in progress, including establishing measurable participation goals and improving vendor and contract data tracking. Planned next steps include:
- Continuing the Procurement Advisory Team for FY26-27.
- Strengthening vendor outreach, education, and technical assistance.
- Improving participation and utilization tracking.
- Establishing performance indicators and providing periodic updates.
- Implementing an electronic bidding platform with vendor registration, business-classification data, and automatic solicitation notifications.
- Expanding community engagement ahead of the district's third annual Prime Time with Purchasing event.
Policy / Governance Items
The Superintendent recommends that three policies receive first readings and be placed out for public comment for 30 days.
- Policy EBB: Safety — The packet notes that all district schools have school safety plans and employees are trained on them, while copies of an Emergency Operations Plan are not maintained in every classroom.
- Policy EBL: Environmental Programs — Minor revisions are proposed to update the types of plastics being recycled and the name of the relevant Athens-Clarke County department.
- Policy FDBA: Existing Facilities Inventory — The policy is undergoing periodic review, with no changes recommended.
Policies Requiring Board Action
Two additional policies appear under the agenda's "Policies Requiring Board Action" section.
- Policy FDAB: Architects Involvement in Long-Range Planning — The Superintendent recommends that the policy be marked as reviewed.
- Policy GCRA(1): Drug Screening of Bus Drivers — The Superintendent recommends adoption with revisions identified in the draft policy.
Major Financial and Program Items
FY27 Federal and State Program Allocations
The Superintendent recommends approval of the district's annual FY27 federal formula allocations covering ESSA and IDEA programs, along with federal and state Career, Technical and Agricultural Education programs and the local CTAE application.
The allocation document reports $11,962,375 in total federal and state grant allocations as of July 30, 2026. Major components include:
- $10,838,340 in listed federal ESSA, IDEA and related grants.
- $700,000 for two 21st Century Community Learning Centers awards: $350,000 for the middle-school S.P.A.R.K. program and $350,000 for the elementary S.T.A.R. program.
- $215,110 in federal Perkins V CTAE funding.
- $208,925 in state CTAE grants.
Among the listed federal allocations are $5,871,551 for Title I, Part A, $2,968,006 for IDEA 611, $767,516 for Title II, Part A, $444,600 for Title IV, Part A, and $219,100 for Title III, Part A.
The district's FY27 CTAE plan identifies priorities including updating laboratory equipment, increasing the number of industry-certified pathways, expanding access to recognized industry credentials, providing professional development and externships for CTAE teachers, and strengthening career pathways aligned with workforce needs. A CTAE presentation is scheduled for the September Board meeting.
The Superintendent recommends approval of the district's intent to apply for a $10,000 Resilient Northeast Georgia Trauma-Informed Communities Grant.
The proposed project, Nurturing Positive Early Childhood Experiences (NPECEs), would support Early Head Start, Head Start, Preschool Special Education, and Pre-K programs. The proposal focuses on trauma-informed practices, emotional literacy and self-regulation, coaching, reflective supervision, and classroom support.
Planned uses include Mindset certification and de-escalation training, trauma-informed care training, CLASS interaction training, Pyramid Model Preschool Classroom Tool Kits, and substitute coverage to support coaching and reflective supervision.
Head Start / Early Head Start Non-Federal Share Waiver
The Superintendent recommends that the Board review and approve the intent to apply for a non-federal share waiver for the 2025-2026 Early Head Start / Head Start budget period.
The program estimates that it can generate approximately $1,086,928 in non-federal share and is requesting a waiver of approximately $724,619. The packet attributes the shortfall to limited local non-federal resources, budget reductions affecting potential matching sources, inflation, reduced volunteer participation, and declining availability of in-kind support.
Program staff report efforts to generate additional non-federal share through grants, partnerships with parents, the University of Georgia and community agencies, and work with the district to identify additional matching resources.
Student Programs and Field Trips
The Superintendent recommends approval of a group of field trips being discussed for the consent agenda. Proposed trips include:
- Coile Middle School FFA: Sept. 8-9, 2026, Covington, Georgia, for approximately 11-25 students attending the FFA Region Rally. The trip is planned as student-funded, with fundraising or other assistance potentially available.
- Cedar Shoals High School FFA and SkillsUSA: Sept. 17-18, 2026, Covington, Georgia, for 18 student officers attending leadership training. The packet lists a cost of $65 per student, funded through FFA and SkillsUSA.
- Clarke Central High School ODYSSEY Journalism: Nov. 18-22, 2026, Orlando, Florida, for approximately 15-20 students attending the National High School Journalism Convention. The packet estimates $1,005 per student plus incidentals, with an additional suggested $300 meal allowance outside the payment to the school.
- Barrow Elementary School fifth grade: Dec. 7-9, 2026, Jekyll Island, for approximately 60 students. The packet lists a $100 per-student cost, with PTA sponsorship planned for students unable to pay.
- Clarke Central High School ODYSSEY Journalism: March 4-7, 2027, Columbia, South Carolina, for approximately 45-50 students attending the Southern Interscholastic Press Association Spring Convention. The packet estimates $565 per student plus incidentals, with a suggested additional $80 for meals.
- Barnett Shoals Elementary School fifth grade: May 5-7, 2027, Orlando, Florida, for approximately 70 students participating in the Universal Studios Storytelling Program. The proposal connects the experience to fifth-grade English language arts instruction and plans to request $6,500 in LSGT funding for bus transportation, while students would be responsible for other trip costs.
- Howard B. Stroud Elementary School fifth grade: May 12-14, 2027, Jekyll Island, for approximately 48 students. The packet lists a $225 per-student cost, with transportation supported by an LSGT grant and additional funding expected from parent payments and fundraising.
Other Agenda Items
The work session agenda also includes the Board President's report and review of the June 11, 2026 Work Session and Board Meeting minutes as a business item for discussion for the consent agenda.
The President's written report includes recognition of the start of the school year, district literacy efforts, and district efforts to identify lawful pathways supporting students from undocumented families seeking dual-enrollment opportunities within legal and financial constraints. It also includes reminders for Board members to complete the Board Self Assessment by August 21 and notes a Board retreat scheduled for September 2, beginning with breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
The agenda provides for an executive session if needed before adjournment.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- How the Board responds to the disparity-study implementation update, particularly the remaining work on participation goals and vendor and contract data.
- Whether the three first-read policies advance to a 30-day public-comment period.
- Board action on Policy FDAB and the proposed revisions to Policy GCRA(1).
- Review of the $11.96 million FY27 federal and state grant allocation package and the district's longer-term CTAE priorities.
- Consideration of the $724,619 estimated Head Start/Early Head Start non-federal share waiver and the proposed $10,000 trauma-informed communities grant application.
- Review of the seven proposed student field trips before they proceed through the consent-agenda process.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials from the official Clarke County School District meeting packet.
