The vast majority of Decatur County parents are happy with the county’s school system, according to a recently completed parent perception survey.

The survey was sent home with each student last month and each parent could complete the written survey or complete an electronic version available via the system’s Web site.

School superintendent Fred Rayfield presented the results of the survey to the Decatur County Board of Education during the regular monthly meeting Thursday night.

Just under 2,600 responses were received to 34 broad questions ranging from instruction, parental involvement, school nutrition, technology, maintenance and transportation.

On average, 41.7 percent of the respondents strongly agreed with each statement on the survey, 48.1 percent agreed, 7.8 percent disagreed, and 2.4 percent strongly disagreed.

Rayfield pointed out that Susan Johnson, assistant superintendent for Elementary Curriculum, and Vonda Hubbard, business teacher at Bainbridge High School, led the efforts to develop and conduct the survey.

The complete system summary, by question, can be downloaded here.

In other business, the board voted unanimously to accept the high bid of $181,934 from Dr. Jon McRae, a local dentist, for a 1.69-acre lot located on Wheat Street, adjacent to Bainbridge Pharmacy. During last month’s meeting, the board voted to declare the property surplus and the property was offered via advertisement to the high bidder. McRae’s bid was one of two received by the board.

Board chairman Dr. Sydney Cochran abstained from the discussion and the vote to accept the high bid due to a potential conflict of interest.

The board also approved the 2011-2012 school calendar, which is very similar, relative to holidays, to the current school calendar. The first day of school of the 2011-2012 will be Aug. 5, while the last day of the school year will be May 25, 2012.