The Paulding County Board of Education voted on Tuesday night to make an exception to a new board policy for the Paulding Panthers homeschool football team.

On June 12, the board approved a policy to charge groups a $150 fee per use to utilize school facilities for non-school sponsored athletic events, including practices. However, the school system agreed to let the homeschool group use the athletic field at Dobbins Middle School before the new policy was adopted.

"No team can pay that price," said Donna Perren, who introduced the item to the board.

The Paulding Panthers have been using the field at Dobbins for several years and have maintained the field while they've used it, including seeding and fertilizing it. That's something that school system officials said likely would not have happened had this group not used the field.

"I don't see why we should turn (the money) from their program to our coffers," board Chairman Michael Skelton said.

The new policy was adopted to ensure that school system facilities are taken care of, Superintendent Cliff Cole said.

In other business, the board to spend $1,270 to send board members to the Georgia School Boards Association/Georgia School Superintendents Association Annual Conference and approved a slew of personnel recommendations, including the retirement of Allgood Elementary School Principal Sheral Threadgill.

You can keep up with all the news in Dallas and Hiram by subscribing to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. We also have apps for your Android or iPhone that can bring you news, our business listings, weather forecasts and more.