Daniel DeMersseman | Valdosta Daily Times Valdosta Schools Superintendent Todd Cason stands between the BOE’s new vice chair Liz Shumphard and new chair Kelly Wilson.

VALDOSTA — Rev. Floyd Rose made his final public appeal before the Valdosta school board Tuesday evening regarding the lack of minority contractors awarded bids for the construction of the new Valdosta High.

Rose said the board had not honored promises to the community to hire more minority and local contractors for the multi-million dollar construction project. 

Rose said 51 percent of the population of Valdosta is black and “Black contractors got less than 1 percent of 1 percent of the contracts.”

“Everyone got an opportunity (to bid on contracts),” said board member Warren Lee.

Lee added, “We act as a board. I’m not going to do anything underhanded or illegal.”

Rose said it would be his last time speaking before the board about the construction of the new high school at a BOE meeting.

Construction on the school is ongoing and is estimated to cost $85 million.

Contractors were allowed to participate in a public bidding process for work on the project.

Of the $85 million, only one black owned business was awarded a bid, Rose said. The bid was worth $452,333.

The board elected a new chair and vice chair.

Kelly Wilson was elected chair and Liz Shumphard was elected vice chair of the Valdosta BOE.

Both won by unanimous votes.

The board honored the 2016 Valdosta High School Wildcats Football team and coaching staff.

Head Coach Alan Rodemaker said of the team: “We truly took it one day at a time… I think that’s ultimately what made us successful.”

“Certainly, our attendance was as good as anyone ever at the (Georgia) Dome,” Rodemaker said.

Valdosta High defeated Dalton High School at the Georgia Dome to win the 2016 Division 6A state championship.

It said a lot about the community that so many Valdosta and Lowndes county residents showed up at the game, Rodemaker said.

The board also honored the staff of the CATalyst program as part of Gifted Education Month.

CATalyst is the Valdosta City Schools program for gifted students in kindergarten through 5th grade.