The Baldwin Board of Education met Tuesday evening to discuss a light agenda. Oak Hill seventh grade teacher Chuck Claxton and his Green ExStream Team were recognized as state winners for community improvement. Claxton gives thanks to Linda Chandler and Beth Joiner and said he could not be more enthusiastic with the 10 students involved.

“From an adviser’s point of view, I just want to say how proud I am of them [the team],” Claxton said. “I just hope that they don’t quit what they started and that they continue.”

Keep Milledgeville Baldwin County Beautiful Committee member and Georgia Military College Prep School Principal Col. John Thornton said he is proud of Claxton, the team and Oak Hill in what they have done in their efforts to keep America clean.

“I couldn't be more delighted with the work Mr. Claxton and his group has done,” Thornton said.

Milledgeville Baldwin County Economic Development Director and committee member Angie Gheesling not only agrees with Thornton, but also believes the kids can motivate their fellow students.

“Thank you all [the board] for any way that you can to support this. It inspires us and definitely inspires their peers,” Gheesling said.

Since the Board of Education’s responsibility is to manage and control the public schools of the district, the county school board adopted a resolution Tuesday night in support of retaining local control when approving charter schools in the county. Baldwin County Superintendent of Schools Geneva Braziel said the burden to align with federal education laws still exists for charter schools and the system is best suited to navigate those requirements.

“You cannot bypass any federal laws. You still have to meet No Child Left Behind, even for charter schools,” Braziel said.

For the state to take local school tax dollars for the purpose of funding a commission to approve charter schools is believed unconstitutional by the BOE, as evidenced by Tuesday’s resolution adoption. The Georgia Charter School Commission has 34 petitions from other proposed commission charter schools throughout the state currently pending for approval. The system approved the resolution supported by the Georgia School Boards Association.

In other business, the board:

— approved Campus Club’s request of a year-round program in which students are able to participate academically and artistically free of charge;

— heard a state of the school presentation from Creekside Elementary Principal Diane Becker;

— approved minutes from the Oct. 5, 6 and 15 meetings;

— approved personnel recommendations presented by Braziel;

— approved on financial reports for both the system and the Early Learning Center;