[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6272489,"mediaKeyId","3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47","parentId",3027790,"title","Audit flags payroll control lapses in school nutrition; district projects corrective steps","audioSeconds",73,"startMs",4464000,"endMs",4537000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47&start=4464&end=4537","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47/thumbnail_4464000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6272489/Georgia/Audit-flags-payroll-control-lapses-in-school-nutrition-district-projects-corrective-steps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272489-a16e96543356ed9cccf343c7232b4e62/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611457&Signature=XLvxGnczQl9nNzJqP~Wri6mY~iU6omA~5y4ksS7povb8DDA3ArIT9VUaszTqoPIcl8h3GHm9qyDFyl33Y~q661dLwrszA6XlGzN7F7~bfTTOC9cpff4aEcHd0eRys78Xw8XNGo4WzZuLaLEAe-Vd8Kc~DJlPkiEJQCO2RRRkaY5q6imr7aq8twBBMya3uXxQ2T7fzuH8mF4eaTUnGmpaxwl95th13xUJi~nqcw6xPnEfHw5eY2snHbV3twG7zGGtrWGoFC0jQejgdlcg8dTiyr0rQvD1~gBRsTZ~sxYLXzlGwC0NHyZ9VicsmiIm7W5zm6hZbe0ZjqtjpnfevqDuig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T00:13:11.07Z","article","External auditors reviewing Forsyth County Schools’ 2024 financials identified payroll documentation issues in the School Nutrition program, district finance staff told the board April 15.

Larry Hammel, presenting the March financials, said auditors from Mauldin & Jenkins tested federal programs and selected School Nutrition as a large Type A program for single‑audit testing. The audit identified two exceptions in payroll documentation during sampling — one payroll payment to an employee who was no longer employed and one timesheet missing a supervisor signature — that together totaled $3,293. District staff advised the board that the auditors used statistical projection from that sample and estimated a projected (extrapolated) potential unallowable cost of about $40,000 when scaled to the full population tested. That extrapolation placed the district on the state’s \"moderate risk\" list for a year.

During the meeting, Derek Hershey clarified the district’s view of the finding: \"The actual finding was about $3,200. It wasn't 40,000. That's just what their extrapolated amount potentially could be.\" Hammel and Hershey said the district must notify the state and that the board must be informed within one month of the audit finding.

Hershey and Todd McClellan (Finance/Audit staff) described corrective actions already in progress: principals (or a designated designee) will be the sole responsible party at each school for submitting personnel action documents for food‑service hires and separations; food‑service employees will be added to principals' staff‑allotment reports so positions are visible in position control; managers and assistant managers will be required to verify employee timesheet signatures and the School Nutrition department will add a secondary verification layer. Hershey said those steps are intended to close the two control gaps that led to the sampled exceptions.

Hammel said the district will present the formal response letter to the state and to the auditors and pursue corrective action; if the finding is resolved in next year’s audit, the district will be removed from the moderate‑risk list.

Board members asked procedural questions; one member summarized the situation as an uncommon but manageable lapse in internal control for an enterprise of the district’s size.

No disciplinary or other personnel actions were announced publicly at the meeting. The board received the audit presentation and the district reported that it will send required documentation and corrective steps to the state audit authorities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Forsyth County Schools | Board of Education Regular Meeting | April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","External auditors identified payroll documentation exceptions in the district’s School Nutrition program; district staff described the tested errors as $3,293 in sample exceptions and outlined corrective steps to restore controls and notify state authorities.","taxTitle","Forsyth County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15379,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6272493,"Forsyth County board signals unanimous support to draft bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone limits for K–8, study high‑school approach",385,2999000,3384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47&start=2999&end=3384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47/thumbnail_2999000.jpg","/articles/6272493/Georgia/Forsyth-County-board-signals-unanimous-support-to-draft-belltobell-cellphone-limits-for-K8-study-highschool-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272493-ac25c8642bd91fa6f8aa29bc92746b06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611457&Signature=R0B1U~oY1VFgqRMBW6rZQjR~tYZ7cJEtPz95X~Zd00tImgjM-DJ5rO2VyeTr9mxEakAISv1kNd7bNGD1PHPEbDEJNJisf2OHbOU-rNL6dgOOCMMbOlRZVwbRNcHL8BatCgEvpVn9IWoEkaPSDbZC0m9e56FXHSDWtqxaGjk52mG~rIcHQSNiN7y3YWw2hz11fjhT62vURrN6iFSngHqq84BMCRcmpFcDmrgXcGHVBl4MUrUBzhjhjjetaK16tQUzR8nxh9euxsA-e0jtkK4VeUNY0j7~e~vJNn-9c3kRBC3ItoXHSXTv7kGLR~HGgqAsLLmRx3FkRdDq4kTieibVFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forsyth County Board of Education on April 15 heard a presentation on district work to limit student cell‑phone use during the school day and gave unanimous direction to district staff to develop policy and procedures for board consideration.

Doctor Amy Bartlett, who led the presentation on the district’s \"disconnect to reconnect\" work, summarized nine months of stakeholder engagement including school council meetings, superintendent advisory groups, student focus groups and a public town hall. Bartlett said the district received more than 3,700 stakeholder survey responses and that the results show \"there is strong support for restricting or limiting cell phone usage during the academic school day.\" She also noted the need to balance access for emergency contact and to educate parents and students about expectations.

Several board members urged a clear, enforceable approach and school‑to‑school consistency. Chairman Michael Valdez said K–8 implementation was \"essentially decided for us\" by recent state action and recommended moving toward bell‑to‑bell limits at those grades while seeking a more nuanced approach for high school. Valdez said a possible option for older students could be a privilege model tied to behavior or academic expectations. Other board members emphasized parent education, digital‑citizenship lessons and consistent enforcement by principals across schools.

Superintendent Bernard Young (identified in district remarks) and staff told the board their team will draft policy language and proposed procedures, return to the board in May and, if policy is changed, open the draft to a 30‑day public comment period. Staff also said they would host community outreach sessions during any comment period.

No formal board vote was required at the April 15 meeting. Board members said there was unanimous consent among members present to direct staff to develop policy and administrative procedures and bring them back for review.

The presentation referenced House Bill 982 (2024), a state legislative definition of high‑demand career areas; board members and staff cited the bill in broader discussion of classroom time but did not propose any legislative action in the meeting.

District leaders said the cell‑phone review is part of a wider focus on student social‑emotional health, screen‑time reduction and life‑skills instruction.

The board requested district staff prepare recommended policy language and an implementation plan for return to the board in May, including recommended enforcement, exception/waiver language and parent‑education materials.","After a year of surveys, focus groups and a town hall, district leaders told the board April 15 there is strong community support to restrict student cell‑phone use during the school day. The board gave unanimous consent to draft policy language and return in May for review and public comment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6272498,"DeSantis Middle rolls out year‑one life skills course; teachers, students and parents cite early gains",1338,1155000,2493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47&start=1155&end=2493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47/thumbnail_1155000.jpg","/articles/6272498/Georgia/DeSantis-Middle-rolls-out-yearone-life-skills-course-teachers-students-and-parents-cite-early-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272498-da0f3181d51024296e94956dc540a5d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611457&Signature=CEikuEmgUUaTtUGjen0cv4D86cKB10qPV0-2xPiaGpMUDXoKEJ5fY85Q4Z~ZMfVn5UhPdxBt~WdG7~JmWSDcbGodXjzwvtgFeHoH84CqA7mHVqiNicxMgn9Z43Y8hew2CnZS6ezK7uCXitmWPzo2I7QHMpnxcyHXGel7GBEOtWnpZid~yUDsEU07VMazTRsONf1nPP7IKZ3fhXjMhTWdShvlPPiF7jFRTvk4VsCu9U7O~AToiGRP-5h5QOuOwFiaXf0rMDnYAoCTTK5l8iQOufkW1p-shIR5MWUj6oY45xe4yn4swBjiweWGLMn8ttZQ2mZebzxDVOGlIjxRD1pSqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 15 meeting, the Forsyth County Board of Education heard a detailed presentation on a year‑one life skills course launched at DeSantis Middle School, presented by principal Keith Sargent and teacher Jen Shuster.

The course, offered as part of the middle school \"Connections\" rotation, exposes every sixth, seventh and eighth grader in the school to a life skills unit every nine weeks. \"I taught 32 years of physical education, health and PE,\" Jen Shuster told the board, \"and the why of this class is that it's a need, not a want.\" Shuster said she has taught the course to “a total of over 720 students” this year as classes rotate.

District and school leaders told the board the class was developed from local staff input after DeSantis received additional staffing allotments. Principal Keith Sargent said administrators asked the course to align with the district's learner profile and to be adaptable to fast‑changing topics — including technology and, eventually, a CPR certification component. Sargent said the school is aiming to offer Basic Life Support instruction to eighth graders next school year.

Shuster described core units by grade: sixth grade lessons include a deeper look at the Pledge of Allegiance, voicemail and email composition, and basic first aid (concussions, nosebleeds, sprains); seventh grade focuses on empathy, respect and practical topics such as tipping; eighth grade units include cursive signature, handshakes and postsecondary options. She said the curriculum includes a pool of 10–12 unit options and that classes \"throwing jello and seeing what sticks\" this pilot year.

Students and staff gave concrete examples of classroom impact. Sixth‑grader Barrett told the board the class had broken down the Pledge of Allegiance into definitions and encouraged careful note taking. Homeroom teacher Hannah O'Connor said she participates in handshake practice sessions with students and observed measurable gains in confidence between the first and second practice. Eighth‑grader Max Weber described a cursive signature unit and said the teacher provided multiple practice days until each student could sign their full name.

A parent, Jen Weber, told the board she circulated the class syllabus to relatives and hiring contacts and called it a conversation starter about missing \"soft skills\" in students. \"This is something that they can actually go out today, and practice and use,\" Weber said.

Assistant principal Peyton Maddox and other school leaders praised the course for aligning with the district's learner and leader profiles and said they plan to collect stakeholder feedback and measure outcomes as the course expands.

The presentation identified short‑term implementation details and next steps: continued refinement of unit content, piloting a CPR/first‑aid certification for eighth graders, and expanding stakeholder engagement. Teachers noted the course is scheduled as two nine‑week rotations (except for band/chorus conflicts), which allows Shuster to reach many students each year.

DeSantis officials asked the board for continued support as they refine curriculum and seek partnerships and encouraged other schools to consider similar offerings.

The board did not vote on curriculum changes at the April 15 meeting; presenters said next steps will include continued local refinement and district review.","Forsyth County Board of Education heard a presentation April 15 about a new life skills course at DeSantis Middle School. Teacher Jen Shuster and Principal Keith Sargent described rotating 9‑week units for sixth through eighth graders, plans to scale first‑aid/CPR training, and early results from students, teachers and parents.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6272479,"Votes at a glance: Forsyth County Board of Education meeting, April 15, 2025",7275,19000,7294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47&start=19&end=7294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47/thumbnail_19000.jpg","/articles/6272479/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-Forsyth-County-Board-of-Education-meeting-April-15-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272479-d66ea7c68d3daefe3c9aba0e7af93a86/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611457&Signature=DNpLn0IFQ-GUFN76gP41gR66T9eMm0gVHF8nf-WxumACuIj64XjBn8IXHM84USHY20TLagaeq0xxufL9603AGW9l4qe4-7v4wM9-uMIr4Nww9rvX5x7k2zJ7DYe4vrmIPdWjkU8-Q8Lh1z-n~69kiFoNsR3muu0MoqXvuc8~9LgR7qz9U0vw1bX-foqOh8-kxQChnWZZKRLWOKXuCeWY9bowl6GPhxQjxa3MoE0PQBjajNwGgoAjVQYug0u9vjsM~o~vJoq-i~IDQg~D4v~VHN4niwGShPEpedl-ZCK51JbXouBnhQiBMXJYVxoqS3PvWm2rCjVc0M3Y1Ged6rtylw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forsyth County Board of Education recorded the following formal actions and votes on April 15, 2025. All votes listed below were unanimous.

1) Motion to exit executive session
- Motion: Exit executive session
- Mover: Mr. Grimes
- Second: Ms. Hoyes
- Outcome: Approved (unanimous)
- Time: ~00:00:27 in transcript

2) Motion to uphold disciplinary tribunal appeal 230423
- Motion: Uphold disciplinary tribunal appeal 230423 (text of tribunal decision not specified in the transcript)
- Mover: Ms. Hoyes
- Second: Mr. Grimes
- Outcome: Approved (unanimous)

3) Motion to approve personnel section for employment contracts for fiscal year 2026
- Motion: Approve personnel a, 1–22; b, 1–3; c, 1–15; and d (personnel section for employment contracts for FY26)
- Mover: Mr. McCall
- Second: Ms. Hoyes
- Outcome: Approved (unanimous)

4) Approval of the consent agenda
- Motion: Approve consent agenda (items as provided in backup)
- Mover: Mr. Grimes
- Second: Ms. Hoyes
- Outcome: Approved (unanimous)

5) Adoption of resolution requesting reduction in high‑density residential development and increased commercial growth
- Motion: Adopt growth resolution as presented
- Mover: Mr. McCall
- Second: Mr. Grimes
- Outcome: Approved (unanimous)

6) Motion to adjourn
- Motion: Adjourn meeting
- Mover: Mrs. Hoyes
- Second: Mr. Grimes
- Outcome: Approved (unanimous)

Note: The transcript records additional presentations and discussion items (life skills curriculum, cell‑phone policy work, SPLOST/CTAE updates, financial statements and the audit presentation); the votes above reflect the motions with formal recorded outcomes in the meeting minutes.","Summary of formal motions and recorded outcomes at the April 15 board meeting, including executive session exit, disciplinary appeal, personnel approvals, consent agenda and adoption of a growth resolution. All listed motions passed unanimously.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6272484,"Forsyth County Board adopts resolution urging county and city to curb high‑density residential growth, boost commercial development",3100,3805000,6905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47&start=3805&end=6905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027790-3f3910371e1ae6e03f4d14e987c0cd47/thumbnail_3805000.jpg","/articles/6272484/Georgia/Forsyth-County-Board-adopts-resolution-urging-county-and-city-to-curb-highdensity-residential-growth-boost-commercial-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272484-e2ec952d3b17c49642d04000382b4bf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770611457&Signature=ViWDq5bmuKJcAsXLFk5Dp1Bwzz9GoV4ceAeZQ6K03wM99GedaTY6vfMln~rYxLhlrCbSGBH50zCO4pukL14ABx0svpWckl5JxP-lp2CKktyNN4Wt4jRHThIoEb7vuH3JLH4Ee~577sOsqGr7-GPj4nC1HEZFa8lyQj~KUT9xHvk1W5eEZub41mp7EqHnysr2iEwa4ucIdYdP-HRmO1NCfYpart8odmmIzfk~KYEkDhHk-xsejwjAJ~bfh~vrrh1ueaY-V5uEa3NN5q1Xd3nEdRsqTcz9hkf4yBWAkQdwJt9uM9~SXRRilvAO66DK1B8e2J6~BdVFcF1PPWfJJ3Lf6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forsyth County Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution on April 15 requesting local governments take measures to slow high‑density residential development and promote higher‑value commercial investment.

Ms. Hoyes read the resolution into the record, which says county residential growth — the board noted a nearly 30% enrollment increase since 2015 and cited total capital investment of more than $400 million to meet that demand — is straining school capacity and district finances. The resolution calls on Forsyth County government and the City of Cumming to \"reduce or eliminate high density residential development\" and to take steps to attract and expand \"high quality commercial development.\" It also asked the business and development community to partner on education infrastructure costs.

Chairman Michael Valdez and other board members said the board has already taken steps to help taxpayers — including voluntary reductions in millage and a voluntary 4% homestead exemption that took effect in January 2025 — but added those measures are unsustainable if residential growth continues at current rates. Valdez noted the board has no land‑use authority and said the resolution is a request for collaboration with county and city governments.

Board members also said local commissioners and city leaders have been engaged in conversations with the board and several members praised Commissioner Carrie Hill and other local officials for prior collaboration on growth issues. The board emphasized the resolution is an invitation to partner rather than a formal regulatory demand.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution. Motion: Mr. McCall. Second: Mr. Grimes. Vote: unanimous.","The board unanimously adopted a resolution April 15 urging Forsyth County government and the City of Cumming to reduce high‑density residential development and to encourage high‑quality commercial growth to preserve the district's finances and ability to build schools with cash.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Audit flags payroll control lapses in school nutrition; district projects corrective steps

Forsyth County board signals unanimous support to draft bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone limits for K–8, study high‑school approach

DeSantis Middle rolls out year‑one life skills course; teachers, students and parents cite early gains

Votes at a glance: Forsyth County Board of Education meeting, April 15, 2025

Forsyth County Board adopts resolution urging county and city to curb high‑density residential growth, boost commercial development