By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

More than $400,000 in grants and quarterly award winners were highlights of Thursday’s regular Lowndes County Board of Education meeting held at the Central Office in Hayneville.

School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd announced two grants to benefit Lowndes County public schools students.

According to the superintendent’s office, Boyd announced an Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Workforce Development Division grant in the amount of $62,780.

The grant “provides tutoring, occupational skills training, mentoring, leadership development, work keys, job skills preparation and high school graduation or GED attainment for in-school and out-of-school youth.”

He also announced a United States Department of Education grant (to be shared with Perry County) for transforming school libraries to facilitate a culture of literacy in the amount of $374,249.

This grant “will open four school libraries on Saturdays.”

When contacted, Boyd said he will provide details on these grants at a later date.

Quarterly award winners recognized included Parent or Guardian of the Quarter – Central Elementary School Annie Hayes; “Support Personnel of the Quarter” – Hayneville Middle School paraprofessional Ebony Hunt; “Student of the Quarter” – The Calhoun School student Shanice Seawright; “Principal of the Quarter” – Central High School principal Peggy Grant; “Administrator of the Quarter” – Director of Student Services Harvey Means; “Teacher of the Quarter” – Central High School teacher Gwendolyn Cosby; and Volunteer of the Quarter” – Central High School Volunteer Kenny Latimer.

The board approved delegate Ben Davis and alternate delegate Annie C. Hunter to the Alabama Association of School Boards 2012 Convention and Delegate Assembly to be held Dec. 6-8 in Birmingham.

The board also recognized Board President Steve Foster for earning the Alabama Association of School Boards’ School Board Member Academy Master Level for the fourth year.

In other matters, the board approved the following:

•Contracts between the board and Smitherman Brothers Construction Co., Inc. (construction of a softball field and concession stand); Amy Smith (temporary transportation services, Jackson-Steele Elementary School students); Rosa Harris (temporary transportation services, Jackson-Steele Elementary students, Hayneville Middle School student and Central High School student);

Central Alabama Basketball Officials Association, Inc.for 2012-2013 Calhoun High School home basketball games, Central High School home basketball games, Hayneville Middle School home basketball games and Lowndes County Middle School home basketball games.

•Amendment One, Owner/Architect Agreement (softball field and concession stand).

•Service Call Agreement between the board and ACS Technologies (copier, Central Office).

•Title I, Part A Local Educational Agency (LEA) Plan.

•LEA Parental Involvement Plan

•Revised 2012-2013 Salary Schedules Select Bus Drivers and Shop Assistant.

•2012-2013 Salary Schedules Bus Aide, Mechanic Helper, Job Coach and Case Worker.

•August 2012 Financial Statement for the Lowndes County Head Start Program.

•Revenues and Expenditures Report, Financial Statement and Payroll Register August 2012 based on reconciled bank statements.

•Personnel Report.

The next school board meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at  Lowndes County Middle School in Fort Deposit.