School board wants audit of technology

Columbia County school officials decided Tuesday to move forward with an audit of the system's technology.

"It's always good to get somebody from the outside to take a look at what you're doing," member Mike Sleeper said at the school board meeting.

Sleeper wrote the outline for the audit he believes the school system needs. The board accepted the outline and will send out a request for proposals to computer auditing companies to get an idea of the cost of the audit and how long it will take.

Sleeper's audit proposes creating a strategic implementation plan, a risk assessment, a monitoring system and more.

"These are the kinds of things I think an audit should look at," he said.

Considering the rapid advancements in technology, Sleeper also suggested that a tech audit should be conducted as often as every three years.

"You can fly by the seat of your pants, or you can plan for it," he said.

Board member Wayne Bridges said the board can consider regular tech audits at a later date.

"I think we need to get through this, then look at that," Bridges said.

Also at the meeting, the board revisited the issue of a proposed road to be built next to the Greenbrier schools complex that would connect Washington Road and Riverwood Parkway.

Riverwood Plantation developers, who are proposing to build the road, recently sent a letter to Columbia County Schools Associate Superintendent Charles Nagle asking that all school traffic be rerouted onto the new road when it is complete. The letter even requested that student motorists who live in Riverwood Plantation exit the school on the new road and then return to the neighborhood via Washington Road.

The board balked at the suggestion at a July 14 meeting.

"The tenor of the last letter gave us a little concern," board Chairwoman Regina Buccafusco said. Since that time, developers have sent a new letter to Nagle saying it would be their preference if buses and school motorists used the new road, which likely won't be built for some time, Nagle said.

The developing group, Riverwood Land LLC, is asking the board to donate a small portion of land from the Greenbrier High campus to build the road.

Trustees asked school board attorney Bill Fleming to draw up documents that would protect the school system if they proceed with the land donation for the new road.

"As long as they deal with us in good faith, we'll be all right," Fleming said.