L-R seated at front table are former board members Clarence Outland, Robert Hines, Bernice Burton, Linette Williams, and Carol Zippert. Standing is State Senator Bobby Singleton. Seated at Board table are Bobbie Morgan, Board President Leo Branch, Superintendent Dr. Emma Louie, Lester Brown and Frank Smith.

State Senator Bobby Singleton presents Superintendent Dr. Emma Louie with a $5,000 check in support of the reactivation of the Greene County School Foundation.

A prelude to the Greene County School Board meeting held Tuesday, January 24, 2012 was a joyous recognition of past and current school members as part of School Board Member Recognition Month.

Robert Hines was given special recognition as one of the first African Americans elected to the Greene County Board of Education. Also honored as former board members were Carol P. Zippert, Clarence Outland, Linette Williams and Bernice Burton. 

The current school board members, Leo Branch, President, Bobbie Morgan, Vice-President, Lester Brown, Morris Hardy and Frank Smith were honored by the students and administration of each school; the superintendent and central office staff; the Career Center and the transportation and maintenance departments. 

Board members and board attorney were presented certificates, plaques and various mementoes from students, faculty and staff.

Various community groups including Greene County Commission, the Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce, Revenue Commissioner Brenda Goree, the Greene County Industrial Authority, City of Eutaw and the Greene County Sheriff presented certificates and letters of appreciation.

The school children honored the board with songs, poems, essays, and a three – dimensional science display that corresponded to supportive traits of the board.

A special highlight of the school board appreciation event was a presentation of a $5,000 contribution from State Senator Bobby Singleton in support of re-activation of the Greene County School Foundation.

 Official School Board Business

 Board CSFO, Shane Martin presented the financial report for period ending December 2011 as follows: Total cash was $13.9 million; amount earmarked for school construction equaled $9.7 million; total revenue – $1.6 million; total expenditure – $1 million leaving a net increase of $600,000 for the month. Local taxes collected in December amounted to  $550,000. The general fund balance was $4.2 million; total fund balance for the system – $16.9 million. Net increase overall for the year was $26,000.

The board subsequently approved the first budget amendment relative to the 2011-2012 school year. CSFO Martin explained that the purpose of the amendment was to get the beginning fund balance of the current year to agree with the ending balance of the previous year. This adjustment related to federal and state budget carry over resources  which were not released until January 2012.

Personnel items approved included:

*Employment of Mrs. Minnie Washington as Reading Consultant at Greene County High School.

*Approved  the JBHM Education Group to serve as School Improvement Specialist and Reading Coach at Greene County High School and Reading Consultant at Carver Middle School and Paramount Jr. High School.

*Approved employment of Ms. Arlesta Peterson as long-term substitute at Carver Middle School on the 6th grade level.

*Approved extension of paid administrative leave for Mrs. Betty Morrow up to 20 days to allow for completion of investigtion.

*Approved Ms. Sheanell Edwards as a Remediation Teacher at Carver Middle School and Greene County High School in the area of mathematics.

 The board adopted unanimously the following recommendations of the superintendent.

*Approved the ESL/El Plan.

*Accepted the revised contract with Teach for America.

*Adopted Budget Amendment #1.

*Approved payment of all bills, claims and payroll.

*Approved financial statement submitted by CSFO Shane Martin.

*Approved relocation of the Alternative School Program and staff  from Peter J. Kirksey campus to Paramount Jr. High School effective Feb. 1, 2012.

*Approved relocation of the Truancy Program and staff from Peter J. Kirksey campus to Greene County High School, effective Feb. 1, 2012.

*Approved fee proposal for Goodwyn Mills & Cawood Engineer’s fee not to exceed $250, 745 relative to the design of the water, sewer and road improvements to US Hwy 11 South to support new high school project.

*Adopted the reconciled new high school budget dated Jan. 4, 2012 with design alternates.

*Approved new high school phasing plan and architect Charles Williams and Associates design fees associated with Design Alternate 1 for gymnasium and parking and Design Alternate 2 for  the 9th grade Academy classrooms.

*Approved the complete Sentell Engineering Survey fee for the survey of the West Alabama Stockyard site’s 48 acres in amount of $17,565.

In her report, Superintendent Emma Louie expressed her appreciation to all who joined in honoring the Greene County School Board Members. She congratulated the Greene County High senior basketball team on their successive wins.

   Dr. Louie also encouraged parents to respond to the Schoolcast calls for they may relate to emergency situations.  The Schoolcast number is 1-866-665-4384. “This is not a telemarketing call coming in. Please memorize this number so you will know this is from the school system,” she emphasized.