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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Jan. 12 meeting of the Lowndes County Board of Education at Lowndes County Middle School in Fort Deposit was a mixed bag of highs and lows.

The school board received news that an Auburn University Montgomery video features the AUM School of Nursing Healthy Kids outreach to Lowndes County and Learned Lowndes County has three schools on the State Department of Education’s failing schools list. See separate stories on those two items.

Then there were two in memorial resolutions, the readmission of one student and the expulsion of two others, the announcement of a Head Grant to the school district, action items, including a bond payment from the Calhoun School Charlotte Thorn Trust Fund, and there were school board appreciation gifts from the school district to the board members.

That was in addition to numerous announcements by Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd.

The board approved resolutions in memory of Lola Mae Hale and Ida Belle Poole.

Boyd said Hale provided meals to students for more than 30 years.

He said Poole served as a nutrition coordinator for the school system Head Start program since 1979 and in her 20 years of service also served the district wide child nutrition program.

Boyd said she continued to work as a volunteer for 11 more years as a Head Start volunteer and generated in kind contributions for the program totaling $18,465.16.

School Board Vice President Steve Foster said, “I remember both of those ladies since I was a teenager… They are two of the finest ladies that ever lived…They were a blessing to their families and their communities.”

Upon Boyd’s recommendation, the board approved the readmission of a student at Central High retroactive to Jan. 3.

However, also upon Boyd’s recommendation, the board approved expulsion of two Central High School students for a minimal time of the remainder of the second term retroactive to Jan. 4.

Boyd reported that a renovation project was done at The Calhoun School 13 years ago. He said an annual loan payment of $288,788.14 is due for the next three years for a total of $866,394.42.

As a result, the board voted to use the Charlotte Thorn Trust Fund to n to pay on the bond for the Calhoun School.

Boyd reported that the school district has been awarded a grant for $35,438 though the Alabama Head Act that will be used to replace the school’s existing network and increase its band width on the internet.

He thanked State Representative Kelvin Lawrence and State Senator Hank Sanders for getting the Head Act passes.

Boyd announced CLASS evaluation of the teacher child interaction used by Head Start programs will begin Jan. 30.

He said the school district will move forward with the construction of a maintenance shop.

He said the Central High School gym roof leaks would be addressed as well a new built up roof will be placed over the flat roof part of the gym where lockers are located.

Boyd also said leaks will be addressed at the Hayneville Middle School gym where shingles are missing.

Boyd said a systemwide professional development event will be held at Central High on Feb. 20^th.

He said the systemwide spelling bee will be held at Lowndes County Middle School on Feb. 7 in the children’s theater.

He said the science fair will be held for the high school and middle school on Feb. 8 at the Central High gym.

Boyd announced that Antjuan “Clutch” Ball will be a dunking super star for the Harlem Globe Trotters this season. He is a native of Collirene who played basketball for Central High and won the 2011 National High School Slam Dunk Contest.

Boyd said Ball won ESPN’s City Slam over the summer and finished his college career at West Texas A & M. He also spent two seasons at Shelton State Community College where he helped lead his team to the ACCC Championship.

Lowndes County Middle School Principal Archie Curtis announced that in recognition of School Board Appreciation Month the district was giving each school board members a basket containing five gifts. The gifs included a plaque of appreciation, a name tag, 20 personalized business cards, a thermal cup with their name on it and T-shirts with Lowndes County Public School seal and their name on it

Curtis the plaque and shirts were done in Career Tech classes.

The board went into executive session for good name and character but took no votes and made no decisions.

The board approved action items including:

• Contracts between the board and : Morris Grant for maintenance services at LCMS; Auburn University for evaluation services, 21^st Century Community Learning Center, HMS; LCMS and Fort Deposit Elementary; Professional Development Services for evaluation of the superintendent; JFK Consultant for professional development for select employees; Warcheta Bedgood for technical support and professional development for the fiscal department; Spencer Searight for professional development for select employees; and Cindy Belcher for professional development for select employees.
• Policy Revisions including job descriptions for maintenance Worker II and Mechanic Helper II.
• Salary Schedules for Maintenance Supervisor and Shop Forman; Entrance Age and School Admission.
• Policy Development for Scholastic Calendar 2017-2018, Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention, job description for maintenance worker I, job description for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) Technician, job description for career coach, salary schedule for Maintenance Worker I, Maintenance Worker II, HVAC Technician, 242 days, HVAC Technician 227 days, HVAC Technician 207 days.
• The November 2016 Financial Statement, Profit & Loss Detail Report and Check Detail Report for Lowndes County Head Start.
• Revenues and Exp3enditures Report, Financial Statement and Payroll Register for November 2016 based on reconciled bank statements.
• Approval of the personnel report.

The next meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Central Office.