Faced with having several months with no income, the Wilkes County Board of Education joined with Wilkes County Commissioners in filing suit to collect taxes while the tax digest is being finished.

In their regular November meeting Monday night, the board approved Superintendent Dr. Rosemary Caddell's recommendation that the school system join the county in a "Petition for Interim Collection of Taxes Pending Approval of 2009 Tax Digest," which was to be filed Tuesday.

In discussion, board Chairman Ricky Callaway, Vice Chairman Andrew Jackson, and members Kay Finnell, Bob Guin, and Steve Albertson, considered the fact that such a filing had been done in the past, that it was the only way to avoid extensive borrowing to pay the system's bills, and that the state of Georgia says that the system has to do everything possible to collect taxes or state funding may be cut off.

"We don't know when the digest will be approved," said Callaway. "It's likely to be the second or third quarter next year before we have a digest, so we're backed up against the wall."

The Wilkes County Commission voted to file its petition last week.

In other action, Dr. Caddell reported that the state had approved waivers for class size and for an instructional extension of 20 days. The waiver for instructional extension would pull summer school back into the school year. Instead of allowing students in grades one through eight to fail, then go to school in the summer, the waiver would allow summer school to start after the CRCT results are back.

The board reluctantly approved a state-required final payment of $100,000 to McKnight Construction. "They haven't finished their work, but this payment is required by the state to get a state payment," she said. "I don't like having to pay them, but we're going to need that state payment of $670,000 saying the new complex is substantially complete. We have bills to pay."

The board approved the payment 4-1, with Bob Guin voting in opposition.

The board did approve a further payment of $112,899 to Two State Construction for construction on the new field house, which is on schedule and expected to be complete December 16.

The board also voted on the final reading of Policy KG for use of school facilities, and of Policy IFBG on internet acceptable use. Both passed, with Albertson voting in opposition to the internet policy.

The board tentatively set different meeting dates for January and February 2010, when holidays conflict with the usual third Monday meeting times. Board members agreed that meetings on January 25 and February 22 will work if approved.

Stimulus funds will be used to purchase a 24-passenger special needs bus from Bluebird. The 2009 wheelchairadapted bus was bid at $61,837, and the board approved the purchase.

At the end of a meeting that dealt with one funding shortfall after another, Superintendent Caddell reflected on what might happen when stimulus funds run out next year. "In some systems, dozens of teacher jobs will be lost, but I think we can avoid that. We're going to try to keep all our teachers and maintain quality instruction, no matter what."