The Newton County Board of Education unanimously approved Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey’s recommendation from the April 15 work session to renew its contract with Ombudsman Educational Services, Newton’s alternative and special education and behavioral therapy program, during the April 22 meeting.

The contract is for the 2014-2015 school year and will automatically renew for the following two years unless the board gives notification otherwise. The contract costs $1,222,120 for 200 slots for each other the first two years and $1,234,300 for the third year.

New buses
The Newton County School System will buy four new 72-passenger school buses. Funds for the purchase will be used from a bond program provided by the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission, as well as SPLOST funds for remaining costs.

While the total cost of the buses is $379,636, the school system will only have to pay $70,756, which is the amount leftover after the bond program reimbursements.

Newton High gets new greenhouse
Newton High School will soon see construction begin on a greenhouse, scheduled for completion by June 30. This project is funded partly by an agricultural grant issued by the GADOE, with the remaining costs to be paid with capital outlay funds.