By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

A seventh grader from Hayneville Middle School was surprised with the presentation of a computer at the Lowndes County Board of Education’s regular meeting held at the Central Office on Thursday night.

The board honored Recognition Program Recipients for the April Quarter.

“This young lady has made everybody proud,” said Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd. He said Myaira Coleman, student of the quarter, finished in the top 20 of 60 students at the state spelling bee. Boyd surprised Coleman with a computer donated by Information Transport Solutions of Wetumpka.

Also recognized were Dr. Benitha Mathews, administrator for the quarter; coach Toriano Baker, teacher for the quarter; Annie Hayes, volunteer of the quarter; Natasha Cottrell, parent of the quarter; Tara Green, instructional assistant for the quarter; and both James Bibb and John Patterson, support personnel for the quarter.

“One of the things we pride ourselves with is the fact that we have technology that is second to none…,” said Boyd. “We are really proud about what Head Start is doing and the technology that they have in their classroom. Every classroom will have a smart board and technology that can be used to integrate activities with the students.”

He said all that was assisted by Mathews, who works in the central office.

Seeing a student graduate was more important than winning a game, Boyd said of Coach Baker. Baker is a teacher and coach at Central High, who worked with Antjuan Ball, who recently won the National High School Slam Dunk competition.

Boyd said Hayes volunteers her time at Central Elementary; Cottrell is available at Central Elementary and is president of the PTSA; Green works as an instruction assistant at Jackson-Steele Elementary; and Bibb and Patterson work in the maintenance department and worked on the new baseball field at the old Russell School site.

Boyd announced that Antjuan Ball Day was set for Saturday, April 16.

He also announced that the Relay for Life that was set for Friday night, April 15, was rescheduled for April 29 at the Russell baseball field in Hayneville.

Harvey Means thanked the board for rehiring him at Principal at Central Elementary.

The board went into executive session to discuss good name and character but took no action.

In addition to approving the agenda for the meeting and the minutes from the March 10 meeting, the board rescheduled its May 12 meeting for 5 p.m. at Fort Deposit Elementary in order to attend a production of “The Church Fight” at Lowndes Elementary.

Action items approved by the board included:

•Contracts between the board and the Dallas County Umpires Association for Central High and Calhoun High home games; Tameika James and Gary White (Business Industry Certification, Career Technical Program); Myrtle K. Evans, Jacqueline C. McNeal, Betty Smith and Laura J. Stringer (State Assessment Monitoring, Teacher Incentive Grant); and Fairfield Inn & Suites (Head Start Program Staff Retreat).

•Contracts/Invoices between the board and Darryl Woods and Alan Smith (officials, track and field meet, Central High), April 6, 13 and 20, 2011.

•Bids with Wide Area Network for Internet access with fire walls and Web Hosting for school in sites.

•The board as vendor for the 2011 Summer Food Service Program sponsored by the Lowndes County Commission.

•The February 2011 Financial Statement for the Head Start Program; the revenues and expenditures report, financial statement and payroll register for February 2011; and the personnel report.

In the absence of School Board President Steve Foster, the meeting was presided over by Board member Ben Davis.