Meeting Notes for 4/13/2026

MEETING CALLED BY

Dr. Carrie O’Bryant

TYPE OF MEETING

Regular Meeting

PRINCIPAL

Dr. Carrie O’Bryant

NOTE TAKER

Kinsley Welch

MEMBERS PRESENT

Dr, Carrie O’Bryant, Sarah Bowen, Alle Byeseda, Kaitlyn Fox, Kim Peterson, Alexandra Fann, Kinsley Welch 

GUESTS PRESENT

Ken Owen, CCSD Chief Financial Officer

Topic

Discussion

Topics (from the agenda)

·       Financial Facts

-       52% local taxes go to the school district

-       Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis requested that CCSD budget is created earlier in the year to allow teachers to be informed of salary

-       Operational expenditures FY 2027 have the largest amount in instructional services at $10,729 per student

-       6^th lowest in the state for general administration

-       1.5 mils is dedicated to debt paid off

-       goal is by 2034 all current debt will be paid off

-       general fund is for instructional purposes only

-       92% of budget is spent on staff salaries and benefits

-       Health insurance for individuals has risen to approximately $2000 a month

-       Canton Elementary will be sold for at least $26 million

-       goal for maintenance upgrades is to replace existing floor tiles to LVT flooring that lasts 15-20 years

-       the SPLOST (penny tax) takes care of maintaining 20 year + buildings such as roofs, HVAC on rotation for each school

-       CCSD budget is available on website under financial information

-       CCSD is the 8^th in the state, increasing from the 21^st

-       Cherokee County is the 1^st statewide in digest eligible exemption which is 30% including seniors’ exemption

-       CCSD credit rating from Moody’s is top 3% of school districts nationwide

·       Instructional Wins

-       Department of Education award for the high growth and high achievement in math

-       Instructional Walks with the Instructional Lead Teachers to collaborate in teaching and learning

-       Responsibilities within teacher leaders in an instructional team and building team

·       Enrollment has decreased to approximately 693 students

·       Staffing updates include three retirements

·       Yearly Events and Celebrations

-       Upcoming next year in our student competitions; encourage parent involvement

-       Lego team placed third in competitions

-       Benchmark testing is continuing this week and Milestones testing begins next week

·       Ideas to “get our story out…”

-       Academic accomplishments in a yearly recap video

-       Welcoming committee/event for new families

·       Next year’s council

-       2 parents and 1 teacher at the end of their term and will be replaced

Additional Topics of Discussion

·       Turning lane from both directions into the main entrance of MES will be completed this summer

Upcoming Dates

·       To be announced  

NEXT MEETING DATE

·       To be announced