County And BOE To Workshop Future Of School System Monday Night

The Putnam County Commission and the County School Board will gather for its yearly joint session Monday night.

Mayor Randy Porter said capital improvements and enrollment will be reviewed as always. But, the state’s new education funding formula will be a new aspect to discuss.

“I think this one is going to be even more of a special meeting, because of the new law the legislature passed about the funding, extra funding coming to school not this upcoming fiscal year, the one after that,” Porter said. “I think it’s going to be a good meeting.”

Director of Schools Corby King has said an additional $14 million will be coming to the school under the new formula. Porter said the school board will be presenting its five year plan for the district.

“We have been doing this for the last few years,” Porter said. “(…) School board started this a few years ago and coming and meeting with the county commission giving them an update.”

Porter said the relationship between the two bodies is strong but that was not always the case. Porter said this group has the same goals in mind and communicate well.

“I think communication is always where it’s at,” Porter said. “If we’re working together for the same goal, we are always going to do better than if we are not communicating and working. I saw a lot of years in county government where the school board and commission was fighting and always disagreed. That’s just not the case with this group.”