Newton Citizen

COVINGTON - The Board of Education has approved its 2008 meeting schedule.

The schedule includes most of the board's work sessions being held the second Tuesday of each month, except for April and July; most of the board's regular monthly meetings are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month, except for February, April and December.

April's work session will be held April 15, and July's work session will be held July 15, for a combined work session and monthly meeting.

In February, the regular monthly meeting will be held Feb. 26; April's meeting is scheduled for April 22, and December's meeting is set for Dec. 9, for a combined work session and monthly meeting.

The calendar includes two combined work sessions and monthly meetings - July 15 and Dec. 9. All other months are two separate meetings.

November's work session, scheduled for Nov. 11, is Veterans' Day.

"It is a holiday for some, but we are in school," said Superintendent Steve Whatley at January's meeting, when the board approved the calendar.

Any changes to scheduled meetings will be announced in advance.

"Once we set the date, we can only change one meeting," Whatley said.

The board members were presented with the dates at the January work session and had until the January meeting to suggest any changes; no board members presented any changes.

All work sessions and regular monthly meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held in Board of Education's board room at 2109 Newton Dr. N.E. in Covington. Both meetings are open to the public.

Work sessions are for Newton County School System employees to give reports and presentations and for board members to discuss items that are to be voted on at the regular monthly meetings. They only will vote on items in the work session if they must be approved that night because of a deadline or some other issue.

During regular monthly meetings, board members will vote on items presented at the work session. Presentations to the board and other special events also may occur.

Executive session for each meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. the day of the meeting, unlike last year, when it began at

6 p.m. Executive sessions are not open to the public and are for board members to discuss potential litigation, personnel issues and future real estate acquisitions. If a vote is needed for any discussions, it will be taken during a work session or regular meeting.

For a copy of the scheduled meeting dates or for more information about board meetings, visit the BOE building, call the BOE at 770-787-1330 or visit www.newtoncountyschools.org.

Michelle Floyd can be reached at michelle.floyd@newtoncitizen.com.

SideBar: At a glance

2008 Newton County Board of Education Meeting Schedule

· February

Feb. 12 - Work session

Feb. 26 - Regular meeting

· March

March 11 - Work session

March 18 - Regular meeting

· April

April 15 - Work session

April 22 - Regular meeting

· May

May 13 - Work session

May 20 - Regular meeting

· June

June 10 - Work session

June 17 - Regular meeting

· July

July 15 - Combined work session/regular meeting

· August

Aug. 12 - Work session

Aug. 19 - Regular meeting

· September

Sept. 9 - Work session

Sept. 16 - Regular meeting

· October

Oct. 14 - Work session

Oct. 21 - Regular meeting

· November

Nov. 11 - Work session

Nov. 18 - Regular meeting

· December

Dec. 9 - Combined work session/regular meeting

· January 2009

Jan. 13 - Work session

Jan. 20 - Combined work session/regular meeting

All work sessions and regular sessions will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Board Room at the Board of Education building, located at 2109 Newton Dr. NE in Covington. For more information, visit www.newtoncountyschools.org.