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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes County Board of Education extended the contract for School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd by one year Thursday, Aug. 11, and were introduced to the school system’s new Director of Curriculum Darryl Washington.

The board also hired new Chief School Financial Officer Yolanda Williams-Reid, reinstated five students who had been indefinitely suspended and approved the bid of S & G Waldrop Electric Inc. for the lighting of the football field at Central High school.

School Board President Ben Davis noted that in the past, the board has extended the superintendent’s contract by one-year to bring it back up to a total of four years and asked for a motion to do that, which was approved.

Boyd thanked the board saying he appreciated “the faith and trust” the board has in him and thanked his staff for their work.

Boyd introduced Washington of Montgomery as the new director of curriculum.

Washington said he received his bachelor’s degree in communications and his mater’s in English from Alabama State University and received his mater’s in Educational Leadership from Auburn University Montgomery.

He said he taught in the Lowndes County School System in the early 2000’s, worked as an administrator with Montgomery Public Schools, worked for  the state Department of Public Education for seven years  in the area of federal programs and worked as an educational consultant.

Washington is the husband of Shanthia Washington, a former Lowndes County Public Schools Title I director. And Boyd said of Washington, “We feel fortunately to have him. And we know he is going to be a great contributor.”

Boyd told the Signal that new Chief School Financial Officer Williams-Reid is also from Montgomery. He said she previously worked for the state Department of Education as a Child Nutrition Program auditor.

Boyd reported that last year several students violated the school system’s code of conduct and were indefinitely suspended. However, he said, they have completed all the requirements to get back into school.

He said letters were received from their parents stating that the students had learned from their mistakes, letters were received from the students stating that they want to return to school, letters from a counselor saying the students completed counseling programs, and the students performed community service.

Following the report, upon Boyd’s recommendation, the board reinstated three students from Calhoun School, who were indefinitely suspended for drugs, effective Aug. 4, and two from Central High, who were indefinitely suspended for a bomb threats, effective Aug. 4 and Aug. 5.

Boyd reported that new lighting for the Central High football field has arrived and plans were approved. Also during the course of the board meeting, the board approved the bid of S & G Waldrop Electric Inc. for the project.

Boyd said Central’s first home football game will be against Calhoun High School on Sept. 9. And he said,  “We feel pretty strong that the lights will be installed before the first home game.” He thanked the board for approving the project as an emergency situation to get the football field lighted before the first home game.

Boyd announced the school system’s back to school really will be held Saturday, Aug. 20 from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Russell Baseball Complex in Hayneville. He said there will be a parade,  about $3,000 worth of prizes, as well as about 500 bags and school supplies given away.

Boyd announced the Head Start Gala will be held at the Jackson-Steele Community Center in White Hall on Friday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

He reported that the school system received a Community Service Grant from State Sen. Hank Sanders in the amount of $2,500.

Boyd  also presented a five-year capital improvement plan to the board for its review.

Under the heading of action items the board  approved contracts, bid extensions to Suburban Propane, Davison Oil, Ellis Oil and Alabama Dumpster Service, June 2016 financial statement, profit and loss detail report and check detail report for the Lowndes County Head Start Program, the revenues and expenditures report, financial statement and payroll register for June 2016 based on reconciled bank statements and the personnel report.

The board also approved the minutes of the July 14 and July 19 meetings. And the board went into executive session for general reputation and character, but made no decisions.

The next board meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at Central High.