Oconee School Board Member Adam Hammond Offers Support To Parents Who Have Expressed Concerns About Possible Mold In School

***Retiring Superintendent Branch Honored***

Parents concerned about the possibility of mold in Oconee County Elementary School scored a major victory on Monday night when Board Member Adam Hammond said he was in favor of having mold testing done at the school.

Hammond made his comment following a renewal of a request for independent mold testing by Sarah Danis, who has spoken repeatedly before the Board along with other parents of children at the elementary school.

When Danis finished speaking before the Board during the public comment section near the end of the 80-minute long meeting, Hammond thanked Danis for her comments.

Hammond told Danis that he had informed Superintendent Jason Branch and other Board members that he acknowledged the concerns of the parents.

Prior to Monday, no one from the school administration or from the Board had supported publicly the parents’s request.

Terry Thompson, who followed Danis to the podium, said the concern with mold at Oconee County Elementary School came up in the listening session Community Works Oconee held on May 28 to give citizens a chance to state what they are looking for in a new superintendent of Oconee County Schools

Thompson said she had sent a copy of the report to each of the Board members in advance of her presentation, and each indicated reading it.

Monday was the final meeting of Superintendent Jason Branch, who is retiring at the end of this month, and the meeting included numerous tributes to him and his accomplishments in his 13-year tenure as superintendent.

What Danis Asked

“I come back to you again because of my continued concerns about the health and safety of OCES for its staff, and its students,” Danis said when she came to the podium during the Public Communication section of the meeting.

Danis 6/9/2025

“As far as I know, nothing has been done about the concerns that several parents have approached you with,” she said. “Parents have been signing a petition of concern, and it is up to over 250 stakeholder signers at this point.”

“I realize this is your last Board of Education meeting, Dr. Branch,” she said, “But the rest of you are going to continue to be here. And we don’t want to have to come here and talk about this any more. All we want is acknowledgment of our concern.”

“Teachers are coming to us and encouraging us and begging us to continue speaking out,” Danis said.

“All we are asking for is for a company, whose speciality is mold and mildew, to come out and inspect the school,” she said. “That includes the third grade pod, where my son was all year. That includes the gym, where I personally witnessed water bubbling up in the middle of the floor. And the rest of the school as well.”

“In an email response to me from Mr. Ransom,” Danis said. “He stated that Operations now considers this matter resolved, and no further action is necessary.” Ransom is chair of the School Board.

“We just don’t understand,” she said.”Please consider helping us to get this checked out and get this fixed.”

How Hammond Responded

“Thank you so much for your comments,” Hammond said as Danis returned to her seat.

Hammond 6/9/2025

“As you know from our conversations as Board members, and, as Dr. Branch knows from my conversations with him, I do want to acknowledge your concern.”

“I personally do think we need to have specific mold testing at the Elementary School so we can determine if there are elevated levels of mold,” he said.

“And if there is elevated levels of mold, what types of mold are present,” he continued. “I think that’s important to determine the next steps there. That is something I’ll continue to advocate for.”

“But I did want to say, in a follow up to that,” he said. “I think everybody up here, probably everybody in this room, student safety is at top of mind. That is the number one concern”

“I am hopeful, and I feel confident, that at the end of the day we will come up with a positive solution to move forward on this,” he said. “Thank you for being here this evening.”

What Thompson Reported

“I’m here to talk about the Community Works report that we submitted concerning the superintendent search,” Thompsom said after she introduced herself to the Board.

Thompson 6/9/2025

She said 23 people had attended the meeting the group held at the Civic Center in Oconee Veterans Park on May 28. Several people who had attended were at the meeting on Monday with her.

Thompson said attenders were parents, former teachers, people who don’t have children “but all of them are taxpayers in Oconee County.”

“There were quite a few comments made about what people would like to see in the next superintendent," she said.

Thompson said there were “four key issues that seem to be coming up time and time again.

“The first was the need for clear, transparent communications to the Board of Ed and the public,” she said.

“The second is the need to address the mold issue,” she said. “That was a big topic...And they were equally concerned about bullying issues that they feel aren’t always being addressed.”

“The third key issue was widespread intimidation of teachers and staff,” she said. “It was brought up time and time again that teachers and staff don’t feel comfortable coming forward...with negative comments that need to be addressed.”

“The last issue was the need to address a quality education for all students not just that are college bound but those who are falling through the cracks and have special education needs.”

Board members had been invited to the listening session, but none attended.

Tributes To Branch

“It is hard to wrap up 13 years in a short summary like this,” Board Chair Ransom said as he began a tribute to Branch.

Branch And Ransom 6/9/2025

Ransom listed accomplishments by Branch in Teaching and Learning, Special Education, Human Resources, Business Services, Operations, Athletics, Student Services, Communications, and Technology.

“We’re very proud of you,” Ransom said. “We appreciate it.”

Vice Chair Amy Parrish said “I just want to express my appreciation to Dr. Branch. It has been my privilege to serve under your leadership on this Board.”

Parrish said Branch has “had major impact on this county, but some people don’t realize how influential and respected you in this state and across the nation.”

At the end of the meeting, following the 70-minute long executive session, Ransom stood and said personally to Branch “Thank you for everything you have done. I certainly appreciate that.”

“I’d like to see you back, maybe during the comment period,” he said, pointing to the audience section of the room.

Branch will become chief operating officer/deputy executive director of the Georgia Teachers Retirement System on July 1, 2025.

Other Action

At the end of the meeting, the Board officially approved its Fiscal Year General Fund Budget as well as the Federal Fund Budget.

The Board also took the first step to change its policy on the ratio of its Fund Balance to Budget Expenditures, currently set at 15 percent, to state that it was waiving that requirement.

The Board also voted to spend $55,414 in Education Local Option Sales Tax and General Fund monies for 58 illuminated signs for the system’s buses and $55,272 for 58 fully illuminated stop arms.

As part of a pilot project, 19 buses currently are fitted with the illuminated signs and stop arms, and the spending will add these features to the remaining buses.

The Board also voted to upgrade the playground at Colham Ferry Elementary School at a cost of $75,000, with funds being provided by the school leadership and the Parent Teachers Association.

Video

I recorded the video below from the rear of the room, as is required by the Board.

Oconee County Schools does not release its video of meetings until two days after the meeting. That video does not include the part of the meeting following the executive session.

Ransom made his tribute to Branch at 9:56 in the video.

Danis began her comments at 1:07:44 in the video.

Thompson spoke at 1:12:16.