VALDOSTA, Ga. — Lowndes County’s new school board chairman wants to keep the public’s business at home. 

In his first meeting as Lowndes County Board of Education chair, Eric Johnson called into question the longstanding practice of the board going out of town for annual planning retreats. 

The board came under fire last year amid reports board members strategized at an out-of-town retreat to hire one of their own as a school system facilities director before his four-year BOE term expired.

Then, Johnson, one of the newer members of the school board, told The Valdosta Daily Times that during the BOE’s out-of-town retreat in January 2016, a plan was discussed for the board to hire Philip Poole, as a facilities director. Johnson then told The Times he was uncomfortable with the discussion when it was taking place. Other board members, including then chairman Brian Browning admitted a general discussion about hiring Poole took place, but adamantly denied it was a formal plan. 

When asked last year if the discussion that took place during the out-of-town planning retreat would have been the same if the topic had been brought up in a local public meeting with the public present, Poole responded, “Probably not.”

Since then, Poole was defeated in his bid for re-election. 

The Valdosta Daily Times has consistently encouraged all local governments not to hold annual planning retreats out of town. 

An annual out of town planning retreat has been held for years, generally near Brunswick. 

Johnson said this week holding the retreat at a local facility where the public can be present would improve transparency and accountability.

The move could also save the county money and allow better-informed decision-making, especially for newly elected board members, Johnson said.

“We can make it work,” Lowndes County Schools Superintendent Wes Taylor responded.

A polling of the board indicated support for rescheduling the retreat from January to June and holding it locally. 

Board member Dave Clark was not present.

The BOE is expected to take up the measure at its next public meeting set for Jan. 23.