William Tyner has picked up the school board gavel and will now serve as chairman of the county board of education.

“I ask for your prayers, and I’ll do the best I can to represent Gordon County,” Tyner said.

Former board chairwoman Wanda Davis resigned last year. Board members held an election for the position of board chair at the beginning of the board meeting, which was held at the Gordon County Central office on Jan. 11.

Superintendent Bill McCown says Tyner is committed.

“He’s demonstrated commitment and hard work for 27 years,” McCown said.

BOE operating on borrowed funds for January

The county school system is running much of its operations on Tax Anticipation Notes, which are being drawn from two loans — a $2 million loan from North Georgia National Bank with a 3.25 percent interest rate loan, and a $3.5 million loan from Regions bank, with a 2.76 percent interest rate loan.

GCS Financial Director Gail Farriba explained the two TAN allows the school board to borrow money without any collateral or a down payment, while the board awaits money from property taxes.

The board will continue operating on borrowed funds and approved a $2,000,000 Tax Anticipation Note via Regions bank for the month of January.

“We’ll be using approximately $2,000,000 of the TAN for payroll purposes and the other $1,500,000 to cover general operation expenses,” Farriba explained.

In other news, the board approved substituting AT&T cell phone service for Verizon because of a cell phone coverage issues.

“We don’t have adequate coverage in the Sonoraville and Red Bud area,” McCown said.

McCown said he anticipates a change in provider by February or March.

The cost and fees with Verizon will not exceed the cost of AT&T, McCown stated.

School board members approved a new technology service for the school. They are switching from Atnet Services, Inc. to Computer Service Industry services.

“We’re very pleased with service from CSI,” McCown said.

McCown says the termination of the present contact will provide a savings of $4,000 a month, which will translate into a yearly savings of $48,000.

“With CSI, they already support financial software McFlair and other services,” McCown said.

The next board meeting will be Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Gordon Central Office, 205 Warrior Path.