School board begins phasing out EL Elementary

The Laurens County Board of Education agreed last week to take the first steps in phasing out East Laurens Elementary School.

During a called meeting May 15, board members approved a resolution to phase out ELE since the board had determined the cost of upgrading the facility was greater than the state funding to replace it. The resolution also stated that the LCBOE plans to demolish ELE.

“This is our first step in securing capital outlay funds for building a new East Laurens Elementary School,” said Laurens County Superintendent Clifford Garnto. “Of course, all of that is depending on a new SPLOST and passing a bond resolution. This is actually the first step with the state of Georgia and the Department of Education to start the process.”

The goal is to have a bond resolution and new SPLOST referendum ready to be on the ballot by this November.

“We are starting that whole process of getting that ready,” the superintendent said. “The two main projects we are looking at is East Laurens Elementary and an East Laurens Middle Athletic Complex. (ELE) is one of the oldest buildings, built in 1971 or early 1970s. We are approaching 55 years in that building and it kind of sits in the middle of the campus.” 

They are looking at placing the new ELE on the backside of the campus between the East Laurens Primary School and ELHS.

“We have an architect looking at a design flow, not a design for the school yet,” Garnto said. “We’d like to do a demo of the current East Laurens Elementary and put the athletic complex there. It will be something real nice for the community.” 

Garnto added that this resolution will not limit them in future earnings if something were to happen and the LCBOE was not able to proceed.

“There have been systems who have been phasing out their schools for 20 years,” he said. “This does not paint us in the corner.”

Also during the meeting, the board approved the fiscal year 2026 budget. During a second public hearing on the plan, held 30 minutes before the called meeting, Chief Financial Officer Mary McCullough gave a presentation on the budget, which would end the fiscal year with $28.8 million in total funds available.

“About 60 percent of our FY26 projected revenue will come from the state with 30 percent local and 10 percent federal,” McCullough said. “This year we will have a $1.5 decrease in equalization funding, which results in about $150,000 that we’ll be bringing home less.”

Garnto added that Laurens County moved from being the 151st poorest county to 145th. 

“I guess we got a little bit richer,” he said. “That played a little bit into that.”

McCullough pointed out that their local revenue comes from taxes for a total of $16.875 million. They also anticipate receiving $250,000 in Medicaid funding, $70,000 in tuition, around a $1 million in interest earnings, $30,000 in rebates and $10,000 in rentals. Showing a chart, McCullough said instruction will count for about 90 percent of their expenditures in FY 26.

There will be an increase in employee benefits.

“For classified staff, it’s going to cost us $808,860 additional for state health benefits,” McCullough said. “All of that will be paid by local funds. The TRS (Teacher Retirement System) for classified staff will be about $50,000 more next year and that will also come from local funds.” 

They plan to increase the stipends for the school safety teams, giving everyone a $500 increase. Everyone who has served on this team for more than four years will receive an additional $500, which will cost the school system $14,500, McCullough said.

She also went over the FY26 expenditures by students – with a student count of 6,284 – showing that instruction will be about $9,535 per student, pupil services will be about $775 per student, general administration will be about $430 per student, school administration will be about $827 per student and transportation will be about $716 per student.

In other meeting news:

– The board approved Sam Wright’s retirement as a custodian at East Laurens High School.

– Approved the following resignations: Angela Hardy (teacher at Southwest Laurens Elementary School), Kaitlyn Knight (food nutrition assistant at West Laurens Middle School), Lee Ann Jones (teacher at SWLE) and Katherine Ray (teacher at ELHS).

– Approved the following new hires: Jacob Floyd (paraprofessional at WLMS), Melissa Morton (teacher at ELHS), Heather Smith (teacher at SWLE), Cailyn Snellgrove (teacher at SWLE) and Draquavius Stanley (paraprofessional at WLMS).