The Greene County School System was recently awarded a $25,000 grant through the Alabama Arts Education Initiative (AAEI) of the Alabama State Council on the Arts. At the Board of Education’s regular monthly meeting, held Monday, February 20, 2017, Superintendent James H. Carter, Sr. announced that the Greene County High Artistic Flow and Expo Project will focus on classroom experiences in the arts with opportunities for students to study a variety of cultures and artistic expressions. The project will also increase students’ awareness of the arts through field trips to various artistic venues.
According to Dr. Carter, the major components of the arts project include Music Development and Appreciation; Integrated Academic and Artistic Enrichment; Enhancing School Culture and Community Pride; and Staff Development to Enhance Program Implementation.
“Greene County Schools understand the significance of integrating the arts into the classroom. Our goal is to continue to expose students to the arts through their course of study,” Carter said.
In his report, Superintendent also informed the board that in order to fill difficult teaching positions, especially in mathematics and science, his office is formulating a plan to explore the Troops to Teachers Program sponsored by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). This program connects retired military personnel with various school classrooms.
Dr. Carter announced that Tutor.com will be implemented in Greene County Schools to help students who are struggling in reading and mathematics. This program is also sponsored by the ALSDE.
Carter reported that Friday, February 24, he, along with members of the Greene County School Board, will attend a symposium on charter school authorizers’ roles and responsibilities in Montgomery sponsored by ALSDE.
Superintendent extended a special salute to the Greene County High Girls Basketball Team as Area Champions and progressing to the Sub-Regional competition. A special appreciation is planned for team and coaches.
On the recommendation of the superintendent, the board approved the following personnel items:
* Employment: Frances McGhee as full-time Cook at Greene County High School; Sheila Billups as 5th Grade Teacher at Robert Brown Middle School.
* Resignations: Josephus Patrick as In-School Suspension Specialist and Track & Field Coach from Greene County High School, effective January 24, 2017; Jacob Sullivan as Head Softball Coach at Greene County High (Separate Contract).
* Leave of Absence without pay for Siegfried Williams to be off every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. until May 26, 2017.
Additional Service contract(s) for the following employees at Greene County High School for the 2016 – 2017 academic year. (Separate Contract): Cordarrin Wilson as Track & Field Coach; Sukova Hicks as Softball Coach.
The board approved the following administrative service items recommended by the superintendent:
* Change order for roofing project at Peter J. Kirksey in the amount of $5,000.
School Calendar 2017 – 2018.
Field Trip Requests: Eutaw Primary School – Audubon Zoo and Aquarium in New Orleans,LA on May 12, 2017; Eutaw Primary School – Chattanooga Aquarium/Imax in Chattanooga, TN on May 11, 2017; Greene County High Debate Team – Competition at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS on March 2, 2017; Greene County High Choir – Choral Performance at Festival Disney in Orlando, FL on April 27, 2017;
Professional Leave for Makane Morrow to attend Procurement in the 21st Century-Institute of Child Nutrition in Oxford, MS on February 21 – 22, 2017; Professional Leave for Makane Morrow to attend School Nutrition Action Legislative Action Conference, in Washington, D.C. on April 2 – 4, 2017;
Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.
The board approved the followed instructional items recommended by the superintendent:
Partnership with T-Mobile, Greene County Housing Authority, and Stillman College for Connecting the Classroom with the School Community Project.
The abbreviated financial report presented at the board meeting for the month of January included the following, with the note that, in the absence of a CSFO, all accounts have not been reconciled: total revenue was $1,432,975.86; total expenditures were $1,114,137.11; payroll was $866,140.29; local taxes collected totaled $1,419,904.75; total bingo receipts were $64,351.45