Bryan County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Brooksher told the school board at its November 21 meeting that the aquatic center feasibility study is one step closer to being completed and the proposals received had been narrowed to one recommendation.

 "We received and ranked the proposals from two great firms," Jason Rogers, assistant superintendent of operations, told the board. "Our top-ranked firm is Sports Facility Advisory. We are in contract negotiations with them right now. We really liked the way they did their proposal. The first phase being a market analysis to determine what and if we need an aquatic center."

Rogers said, "The cost of that first phase is $40,000 to be shared with the city of Richmond Hill and Bryan County. Then after that is brought back to us we would be able to decide if we want to go to phase two, which would be a financial analysis. That would include what the revenues would look like; how the fees would be structured, who would be responsible for what and how the facility should operate," 

Rogers also told the board he hoped to hear from the company by early next week.

The school superintendent also announced that the Bryan County School System is now a partner in the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program.

"The Reach Scholarship Program identifies students in eighth grade who maintain certain levels of academic and behavioral performance. By the time they graduate from high school and go to a Georgia Hope University, it could be worth a full ride, up to $70,000.in scholarship money," Brooksher said.

Dr. Denise Scott, director of student services told the board that two students in Bryan County Middle School and three students in Richmond Hill Middle School had been identified to participate.

South Bryan County Transportation Director Dr. Allen Cox told the school board that the annual school bus poster contest had produced a third place winner at the state level.

This year's poster theme was "Red Lights Mean Stop."

Richmond Hill Elementary School second-grader Emily Michealson was awarded a $50 bond for her third place state finish. Local district winners were Shala Pham, McAllister Elementary School in division two, Jessica Mitchell, Richmond Hill Middle School division three winner, Beckett Sevigny, McAllister Elementary School for division four and Michaelson in division one.

    Other board business focused on school field trips and donation approvals.

Field Trip approvals included:

    * RHHS Animal Awareness Club to Jacksonville Zoo on Jan. 24.

    * RHHS Student Astronaut Challenge Club to Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Fla. Feb. 6-8.

    * RHHS Girls Lacrosse to Augusta, Bluffton and Hilton Head for various games.

    * RHHS Boys Lacrosse to Hilton Head, Jacksonville and Beaufort for various games.

    * RHHS FBLA members to FBLA State Conference in Atlanta March 19-22.

    * RHHS Marching Band to perform in parade in Orlando April 24-26

Funding requests included:

    * RHHS National Art Honor Society to sell chocolate bars to help fund activities and chapter fees.

Donations included:

    * To Windi Holmes and Carver Elementary School - $1,522.09 from Donor's Choose.

    * To Dawn Houck and Carver Elementary School - $1,947.41 from Bright Ideas.

    * To Shelby Grizzard and Carver Elementary School - $212.46 from Donor's Choose.

    * To Rebecca Doty and Richmond Hill High School - $1,941.98 from Bright Ideas.

    * To Levi Sybert and Richmond Hill High School - $1,931.94 from Bright Ideas.

    * To Emma Fettes and Richmond Hill High School - $1,993.25 from Bright Ideas.

    * To James Flanagan and Richmond Hill High School - $1,455.96 from Bright Ideas.

    * To the Richmond Hill High School football coaches - Rain jackets valued at $1,390.

    * To Melissa McPhillips and McAllister Elementary School - $1,263.94 from Coastal Electric.

    * To Vivian Huntoon and McAllister Elementary School - $1,831 from Coastal Electric.

    * To Sarah Taylor and McAllister Elementary School - $1,649.19 from Coastal Electric.

    * To Morgan Purvis and McAllister Elementary School - $452.20 from Donor's Choose.

    * To Bryan County High School Cheerleading Team - $500 MG's Self Storage. 

    * To Bryan County High School - $1,000 from Georgia Power.

    * To Bryan County Middle School - $750 from Georgia Power.

    * To Bryan County Elementary School - picnic tables, pine straw, shade trees and cash donation valued at $3,450.