Board of Education Seeks Tax Relief For Paulding County Seniors
Board of Education, News October 28, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Paulding County Board of Education has approved a resolution calling for a public referendum to lower
education property taxes for Paulding County’s senior citizens.
Under current property tax law, Paulding County property owners 65 years of age and older have a 50 percent
exemption on all education ad valorem property taxes levied by the school district, including ad valorem taxation to
pay interest on or to retire school bond indebtedness. Additionally, all Paulding County property owners 70 years of
age and older are completely exempt from all ad valorem education property taxes levied by the school district.
Under the new resolution approved by the Board of Education at its regular meeting on Oct. 26, 2021, Paulding
County property owners 65 years of age and older would still have a 50 percent exemption on all education ad
valorem property taxes levied by the school district but would be completely exempt from ad valorem taxation to
pay interest on or to retire school bond indebtedness. Additionally, the resolution calls for a two-year phase-in to
lower the age at which seniors receive a 100-percent exemption from all education ad valorem property taxes to 68
years from the current 70 years. Beginning January 1, 2023, property owners 69 years of age and older would be
completely exempt from all education ad valorem property taxes, including ad valorem taxation to pay interest on or
to retire school bond indebtedness, and beginning January 1, 2024, the age for a total exemption from all education
ad valorem property taxes would lower to 68.
“The Paulding County Board of Education is committed to fiscal responsibility and providing Paulding County
students the highest quality education possible through responsible taxation of property owners,” said school board
Chairman Jeff Fuller. “Lowering education property taxes for seniors who don’t have children in our schools makes
common sense, and this measure extends those exemptions to a wider group of citizens. It also does so in a
responsible way by phasing in the age reduction over two years, which is especially important for a low-wealth
school district such as Paulding County.”
The resolution first must be considered this spring by the Georgia Legislature as local legislation. Modification of
the current exemptions would require passage of a local Referendum to be voted on by Paulding County citizens in
November 2022.
BOE Names Steve Barnette the Sole Finalist for Superintendent
Board of Education, News October 28, 2021
The Paulding County Board of Education has named Steve Barnette the sole finalist to be the next superintendent of
the Paulding County School District. Mr. Barnette was approved as the sole finalist at the
school board’s regular meeting today. Georgia law requires that 14 days pass between a
candidate being named finalist and the appointment becoming official. The school board will
vote on final approval following that period. In May, the school board had named Mr.
Barnette interim superintendent effective June 1, 2021.
The Paulding County School District is located in Dallas, Georgia. With 33 schools, more
than 30,000 students, and more than 3,800 employees across the county, the school district
strives to Engage, Inspire and Prepare students for success today and tomorrow. More
information about the school district can be found at www.paulding.k12.ga.us.
Gilmer BOE takes first steps in new Superintendent Search
News April 16, 2021
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – With official approval having come on April 15, 2021, in their monthly meeting, the Gilmer County Board of Education has begun its search for the next Superintendent with King-Cooper and Associates search firm.
With a press release, Gilmer Schools made a statement about the search saying that they would accept applications for the position until May 21, 2021. They stated, “The vacancy will be advertised by electronic postings on the school system web site, the search firm’s web site, and on the web sites of the Georgia School Superintendents Association and the Georgia School Boards Association.”
King-Cooper an d Associates was approved as the firm by a memorandum of understanding during the board’s April regular meeting. They are a small search firm based in Thomaston, Georgia. According to their release, “King-Cooper and Associates specializes in customized and affordable superintendent searches for small and medium size school systems. The firm assisted the Board in their last search in 2015 and has conducted over 65 successful superintendent searches in Georgia.”
Because they will accept application until late May, this date falls in conjunction with the previously reported final day of current Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs on May 28, 2021. In the time after, Gilmer’s Board of Education named Ms. Kim Cagle to serve as Interim Superintendent.
Steps of the search will include advertising the position, receiving and processing applications, verifying reference and background information, sorting applications based on the Board’s selection criteria, and the scheduling and facilitation of interviews. Dr. Sandy Addis will serve as the lead facilitator of the search.
“Our job is to secure a strong pool of applicants and to assist the Board to select the very best superintendent for Gilmer County,” Addis said. “We handle the details of the search and provide the best possible information for the Board to make a good choice but we don’t tell the board who to hire,” Addis stated. “There will be strong interest in the position because of the positive reputation of the school system, the community, and the Board. Gilmer County is one of Georgia’s most desirable and attractive school systems.”
According to their press release, the Board hopes to review applications and conduct interviews in late May and early June and to select the next Superintendent by July. During April, the Board will conduct surveys to determine what characteristics and qualifications the community and school system employees think are most important in the selection process. A survey for parents, students, and community members will be posted on the system web site at www.gilmerschools.com. A similar survey will be emailed to all school system employees.
They stated, “The Board will utilize survey results in the interview and selection process to employ a superintendent that meets the needs and expectations of the community.”