Seated L-R are board member Bobbie Morgan, Board Attorney Hank Sanders, Interim Superintendent Emma Louie and board members Lester Brown and Frank Smith. Standing is Kayla Dixon with TCU Consulting Services, LLC. The group is viewing a presentation of the new high school.

At the regular meeting of the Greene County Board  of Education on October 13, Kayla Dixon with TCU Consulting Services gave board members a brief run-down on when construction would start and end on the new high school on U. S. 11 South.

The tentative schedule is to begin construction in January of 2012 and construction completion is expected to be in March of 2013.

She said that there would be no Career Tech building at this time at the new site. Career Tech students will all go to Peter J. Kirksey.

The board owns 44 acres on the new site, but TCU expects to use only about 12 acres at this time. There will be a parking lot with 170 parking spaces. The building will be low maintenance with room for everything the board has requested. The parking lot and the two drop-off areas will be separate from the building.

The board unanimously approved the design and development phases of design; the environmental testing Phase 1 by Birmingham Engineering & Consultants at a cost of $2,500 and the food service proposal  for food service design at a cost of $10,800. Both are already in the budget.

In his financial report, CSFO Shane Martin said that the board’s revenues for September were $1.2 million and expenditures were $1.5 million.This includes funds to be used for the construction of the new school, leaving a net balance of $100,000. “October, November and December are when the property taxes come in and that will give us some additional funds,” said Martin.

He also explained that there was a cash and cash equivalency of $2.2 million plus $13.3 million with $9.9 already earmarked for construction.

Board begins process for

selection of superintendent

The October 13 meeting began the process of hiring a superintendent. Mrs. Emma Louie is Interim Superintendent until that process is completed.

Notices were posted on Friday, October 14 in all schools; deadline for applications is November 14; the review of the applications process begins on November 16 and ends on November 22.

The board will select the candidate on Monday, December 19.

Superintendent’s Report

In her report, Interim Superintendent Louie discussed a number of items.

She announced that there were currently 1,292 students enrolled in the Greene County School System. This included Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten. “Two-thirds of Alabamians don’t have a child in K-12,” she said  “With this in mind, we encourage all parents and community members to visit the schools in their local communities.”

Other highlights of her report included:

*Avised the board that October had been designated as National Bullying Prevention Month and each school is concentrating on activities designed to “stamp out bullying.”

*Announced a parent/student orientation for a tutoring program for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam will be held on October 24 to discuss the details of the tutoring process and the expected outcomes.

*Announced that remedial services will be provided at Greene County High School on the first week of November.

*Announced that the coronation of the Homecoming Queen and Court would be at 7 p.m. on October 20.

*Announced that the Homecoming Parade  would be in downtown Eutaw at 4 p.m. and the game would start at 7 p.m. on October 21.

*Announced that the results of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam that was given in September would be given later this month and that an update would be be given later as soon as the data is in.

*Announced that state-wide parenting day was held October 7th with over 430 parents participating.

*Announced that Carver Middle School received a resolution from the State Board of Education commending them as a recipient of the Southern Regional Education Board National Making Middle Grades Work Silver Award for  Algebra Completion.

*Announced the Paramount Jr. High Robotics team would compete October 28 & 29 at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

*Announced that organizations were being developed at Eutaw Primary School  to cater to the social and leaderships skills of students including Student Council, Safety Patrol, Honors Club and Girl and Boy Scouts.

*Announced that there would be an open meeting for parents and community members on the first week of November at Greene County High School.

Other Business

The board approved allowing Interim Superintendent Louie to contract with five Language Arts/Reading and four Mathematics teachers for tutoring during and after school for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.

*Awarded mini-grants from At Risk Funds to The Greene County Childrens Policy Council, New Generation After School Tutorial Program, SCORE and Harambe.

*Approved an emergency equipment rental agreement between the board and Leslie Carlisle providing the Board’s attorney finds no legal problems with it.

Personnel

Following an executive session, the board approved the following personnel items.

*Catastrophic sick leave for Mrs. Gloria Lyons, cook at Eutaw Primary.

*Amelia Taylor as Safe Serve representative for Pre-Game meals @ $400 per season (football only).

*Additional service contracts for the following employees at Carver Middle School (separate contract).

a. Mr. Fentress Means, Head Basketball Coach (Boys)

b. Mrs. Johnnie Hunter, Head Basketball Coach (girls).

*Additional Service Contracts for the following employees at Paramount Jr. High (separate contract)

a. Mr. Jeffrey Wesley, Head Basketball Coach (boys)

b. Mr. Charles Carter, Assistant Basketball Coach (girls).

c. Mr. James Kennedy, Head Basketball Coach (girls).

*Payment of settlement agreement to Ms. Gilda Jowers.

*Family and Medical Leave for Ms. Jacqueline White, Elementary teacher at Carver Middle School.

*Catastrophic Sick Leave for Ms. Jacqueline White, Elementary teacher at Carver Middle School.