Goldberg to be recommended as MCSD chief operations and facilities officer

Superintendent David Lewis is recommending David Goldberg to serve as chief operations and facilities officer for the Muscogee County School District.

Goldberg has been serving in the role on an interim basis since March 2015.

The recommendation will be made at a called meeting and school board work session today at 5 p.m. in the Muscogee County Public Education Center on Macon Road.

Before coming to Columbus, Goldberg served as assistant superintendent for administrative and support services in Carroll County, Ga.

He replaced Myles Caggins, who retired after leading the division for 15 years.

When Goldberg was first recommended for the job, Lewis was asked why he was doing so on an interim basis.

“In speaking with Mr. Goldberg, we are both in agreement that we want an objective, new person to come in and take a look at the division across the board. After an interim period of approximately 18 months or so, we will make the assessment going forward, once, he has made his recommendations and assessment, if he’s the one to lead it going forward,” Lewis told the board.

In other business:

▪ A third public hearing will be held, as required, and a vote will be taken on whether to adopt a tentative Fiscal Year 2017 General Fund Budget.

Among the proposed expenditures totaling $274,660,024, the administration seeks some form of salary increase for about 85 percent of the district’s staff, including a 2 percent raise for certified educators. According to Lewis, this would be the first significant increase in the local pay supplement since at least the early 1990s.

▪ The board will discuss projects to replace the roofing at Hardaway High School, Dimon Elementary Magnet Academy and Shaw High School. The roofing at all three is in poor condition, especially at Shaw, which has experienced excessive roof leaks over the last few years.

▪ The board will hear an update on the Columbus Aquatic Center’s Learn to Swim Program, a collaborative effort between Columbus Parks and Recreation and the school district.

▪ On March 14, the board approved the purchase of property at 1906 Cherokee Avenue to be used for the construction of a parking lot for Columbus High students. The total estimated cost of the project, including the purchase of the land, is $735,000. The board is being asked to approve the preliminary budget and approve Moon, Meeks, Mason & Vinson to survey and design the parking lot.

▪ The board will receive reports from the Muscogee County Library Board and the Columbus Museum.

▪ The board is being asked to approve a budget of approximately $8.2 million for Chattahoochee Valley Libraries.

▪ The board will hear a recommendation from Lewis on the job of principal at St. Mary’s Road Magnet Academy. It will also hear his recommendation for assistant principal at Jordan High School. No names were given in the board meeting agenda.

▪ The board will be asked to approve an increase in student lunches for the 2016-2017 school year. Elementary school lunches will go from $2.10 to $2.25 and secondary school lunches will go from $2.35 to $2.50.

The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 has a clause requiring school systems to have equity in pricing. School systems are required to use a formula to calculate the minimum it must increase meal prices until the price charged is equivalent to the federal reimbursement for lunch.

▪ The board will address athletic contest admission prices proposed by the district’s athletic department. High school football tickets will be $5 in advance and $8 at the gate. High school baseball and basketball tickets will be $5.

This story was originally published June 12, 2016 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Goldberg to be recommended as MCSD chief operations and facilities officer."