Enrollment up in county schools

SPLOST funds were also up in October. Revenues were $12,000 above the same month last year, but Knight said overall revenues for this year are $78,000 under last year’s revenues at this point.

“Even with the lower revenues we are still projecting enough revenues to make our required debt service payments,” Knight said.

In other news, the addition and renovation to Comer Elementary School was let out for bids last week, while progress continues to be made on the high school’s addition and renovations. Knight said school officials and architects are beginning to discuss plans for the kitchen, including a food court setup that will be more inviting for students and easier to serve large groups.

The annual Bus Rodeo was completed recently where all bus drivers take a driving test through an obstacle course. Knight said 14 drivers finished in the top ten, with four drivers finishing with a tie score.

In a related matter, the board agreed to purchase two new Bluebird school buses with monies allocated from the state for such purchases. The cost of the buses is $76,219.50 each.

The board agreed to enter into an intergovernmental agreement to sell the old Colbert school to the City of Colbert.

The board approved a contract with Linc Mechanical to provide upgrades to Comer, Colbert, Ila and Danielsville elementary schools through a Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract and Grant Capital Management for financing the project.

The board approved the following personnel recommendations this month:

•Colbert Elementary – the board approved maternity leave for teacher Candace Bradley and approved Melanie Ernst as her long-term substitute. They also hired Lorraine Barnett as an after school worker.

•Comer Elementary – Parapro Sandra Ash was approved for an unpaid leave for three days and the board accepted the resignation of parapro Tina Hart.

•Danielsville Elementary – the board approved maternity leave for teacher Susan Childers.

•Hull-Sanford Elementary – the board approved a two-day unpaid leave for parapro Dawn Feagan.

•Ila Elementary – Colton Chandler was hired as an afterschool worker.

•Madison County Middle School – the board approved the resignation of teacher Nathan Myers. They also approved maternity leave for counselor Ashley Beard. They also approved Lindsay Thompson as a long-term substitute to replace Nathan Myers.

•Madison County High School – the board accepted the resignation of custodian Marie Sims and secretary Shelia Wofford.

•Transportation – the board approved the transfer of Diane Cochran from substitute driver to regular driver replacing Roy Lewis. They also approved the hiring of Johnothan Scarborough as a substitute/trip bus driver.

Contract services were approved for Laura Morena, a school psychologist practicum student, who replaces Meghan Scheick, school psychologist at Danielsville Elementary, at $25 per hour. Contract services were also approved for Mary Brubaker, speech/language pathologist, substituting for Susan Childers, speech/language pathologist at Danielsville Elementary, at $65 per hour.