Board approves Greenhouse space, 2020-2021 calendar

The Greenhouse was granted a space in the old home economics room at Bagley Middle School at Monday’s Board of Education meeting. The Greenhouse is the child-advocacy center

which provides services for children and their parents when abuse is suspected in Murray and Whitfield counties. Services include forensic interviews, therapy, and medical exams.

“Many of our clients don’t have transportation to and from the Greenhouse in Whitfield County,” said Christina Howell, school social worker for Murray County Schools, who presented the proposal to the board. She added that main location is located in downtown Dalton.

Two therapists will be on hand at the Bagley Middle School one Saturday a month to provide services for children and their parents.

SPLOST update

Steve Loughridge, Superintendent of Murray County Schools, also updated FYN.com on the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

“We’ve collected more than our projected amounts,” he said. So far, Murray County has collected $11,050,670.75 through December 2019, which is $1,625,670.75 more than the originally projected $9,425,000.

SPLOST money was used to build a new Spring Place Elementary School, renovate Murray County High School’s football and baseball fields, and renovations at Gladden Middle are starting, said

In other Board of Education news:

The board approved the calendar for the 2020-2021 school year which was discussed in Thursday’s work session.

The board approved a two-year contract for Georgia Natural Gas. Bids were open in December and Georgia Natural Gas was the lowest at a cost of $0.277 perm therm.