By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes County Board of Education has indefinitely suspended a Lowndes County Middle School student for possession of a pellet pistol.

Friday’s meeting was held at Central High School after the meeting of April 11 was postponed due to severe weather.

According to Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd, a student “had possession of a pellet gun pistol at a school,” which he said violated school system policy. As a result, he said, policy called for the board to indefinitely suspend the student.

His recommendation, which was approved, was to indefinitely suspend the Lowndes County Middle School student retroactively to April 12.

In other business, Boyd informed the board as the result of a year end inspection, the board will need to provide a wheel-chair lift for the Central High Field House Press Box a cost between $30,000 and $50,000.

He said bids would be taken to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act.

Boyd also reported that six students at Central and eight at Calhoun did not pass the high school exit exam.

He said the six from Central have been moved to a private school to get their diplomas and Kenneth Fair, principal of Calhoun School, is working on that as well.

Boyd said if the students are enrolled in a private school it does not affect the system’s graduation rate.

On a lighter note, the board recognized quarterly award winners.

They are Administrator of the Quarter Jason Burroughs from the Central Office, Student of the Quarter Destiny Ellis from Hayneville Middle School, Principal of the Quarter Antonio Williams of Hayneville Middle School, Support Personnel of the Quarter Vanessa Logan of Lowndes County Middle School, Parent of the Quarter Rosa McCall of Lowndes County Middle School, Volunteer of the Quarter Antoinette Gary of Jackson-Steele Elementary and Teacher of the Quarter Breeon Fayson of Jackson-Steele Elementary.

The board also approved a resolution in memory of Jannie Searight.