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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

Lowndes County Public Schools have beat the state graduation’s average for the first time and Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd has been given another excellent evaluation.

Boyd announced the good news regarding the school system’s graduation rate. And Dr. James Wright, of Professional Development Services LLC, announced the results of Boyd’s evaluation at the Thursday, July 13 meeting of the Lowndes County Board of Education held at the central office in Hayneville.

Boyd reported that the school system a three percent increase from the previous year in reading and mathematics. And he said the school system has a graduation rate of 89.3 percent.

He said the state graduation rate is 87.1 percent. And he said, “That is official. Since the state has utilized a four-year core plan, this is the highest graduation rate we’ve ever had. And this is the first time we have surpassed the state average.”

Boyd said he appreciated the students, the parents, the teacher, principals and the central office staff.

Wright called Boyd’s evaluation very “positive.” He said Boyd scored 49 of a possible 52 points and in 13 knowledge and skill areas, he had 10 “demonstrated excellences” and three demonstrated “strengths.”

Wright said there were “really no weaknesses” in terms of Boyd’s evaluation.

According to Wright Boyd scored a 3.5 out of a best of 4 evaluation from the Board of Education with a range of 3.2 to 3.9. He said the supervisors, central office and principals’ evaluation was 3.6 out of a possible 4 with range of 3.1 to 4.0.

But he said areas highlighted for professional development include problem solving and technology.

Wright said Lowndes County should pat itself on the back for its graduation rate.

Boyd said thanked his staff. And School Board President Ben Davis called Boyd’s evaluation “excellent.”

Boyd reported that Orianna Gordon, a graduate of Central High placed 10^th in the Computer Application Division at Future Business Leaders of America national competition in Anaheim, Calif.

He announced the public schools open house schedule including Calhoun High at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, 6 p.m. at Jackson-Steele Elementary on Aug. 8, 6 p.m. at Central Elementary on Aug. 9. 6 p.m. at Fort Deposit Elementary on Aug. 14, 6 p.m. at Hayneville Middle School on Aug. 15, 5:30 p.m. at Central High on Aug. 17 and 6 p.m. at Lowndes County Middle School on Aug. 21.

Classes will begin on Aug. 7. And the System wide Back-to-School Rally will be held at the Russell Baseball Complex on Aug. 19 from 9 -11 a.m.

The board went into executive session for general reputation and character but took no action.

In actions taken, the board approve the readmission of sn expelled Calhoun Student who made a threat against the principal to be effective Aug. 1.

Board members Donald J. Carter, Ben Davis, State Foster and Travis Rogers all signed a letter thanking the Lowndes County Commission for the donation of property for a new Head Start Central Office. Board member Robert James Grant was not present for the meeting.

Boyd said the board has options of taking an old medical building in Hayneville and renovating it, build a metal building from scratch or erect a modular building for the new Central Head Start Office.

He said if the old medical building were used, the land donated by the county for a new Head Start office would be returned to the county.

However, he said, Head Start Region IV is reluctant to go the path of using an existing building.

The board approved contracts between the board and:

• Emma McCall for diabetic medic care for a Calhoun student.
• Angela Calhoun for professional development for select Head Start employ7ees.
• Reynolds Consulting Service for professional development for select employees.
• Health Services Inc. for Tuberculin testing for select employees, dental services for select Head Start Program students, screening and assessment for select Head Start Program students.
• Glenwood Inc. for mental head services for the Head Start Program, the keynote address for the 2017-18 Institute Program and professional development for select employees.
• Naugher Consulting for professional development for select employees.
• Bailey Education Group LLC for professional development for selected employees.
• Time to Sign Inc. for professional development for select Head Start employees.
• ChildPlus Software for professional development for select Head start employees.
• Jovann Lawson for adult, child and infant CPR training for Head Start Program employees.
• Juenesse Walton-Holman Consulting for grant development for the Head Start Program.
• Lowndes County Commission for resource officers for Calhoun and Central High for the 2017-18 school year.
• Lowndes County Commission for officers for 2017-18 extracurricular activities.

The board also approved other action items including:

The 2017-18 Partnership Agreement with the Lowndes County Head Start Program for services for children with disabilities.

• A 2017-18 Cost of Living Adjustment application for the Lowndes County Head Start Program.
• A proposal for external audit services from BAS Partners for the Head Start Program.
• The May 2017 financial statement, profit and loss detail report and check detail report for the Lowndes County Head Start Program.
• Revenue and expenditures report, financial statement and payroll resister for May 2017 based on reconciled bank statements.
• The personal report.

The next meeting will be Thursday, Aug. 10 at the central office in Hayneville.