Greene County Democrat

Tag: Board of Education

  • Greene County BOE makes moves to develop family partnerships for increased student success

    Greene County BOE makes moves to develop family partnerships for increased student success

    by Maya Quinn
    Managing Editor

    The Greene County Board of Education (BOE) met to discuss the progress of newly implemented programs and proposed contracts. Superintendent Dr. Timothy Thurman, President Leo Branch, Vice President Robert Davis, Veronica Richardson, Carrie Dancy, and Brandon Meriwether were present for the meeting.

    The Greene County school system is responsible for educating the next generation of adults to live and prosper in Greene County. However, the school cannot accomplish the imperative task alone. Successful school systems maintain optimal structure through a “three-legged stool” model: dedicated teachers, involved parents, and resilient students. Without positive guidance and partnerships with parents, the stool cannot stand.

    Meeting Summary

    In a unanimous vote, all action items (detailed after this summary) proposed by Superintendent Dr. Thurman received approval at the meeting. All payments, bills, claims, and payroll were reconciled by Chief Financial Officer Marquita Lennon, leaving the school board’s account with $157,105.76 from local revenue. The board allocated a considerable amount of funds to procure new buses for the school system.

    Dr. Thurman, Superintendent, gave a formal report of ongoing activities. He began by detailing the importance of PTA meetings at Robert Brown Middle School and Eutaw High School, noting that increased parent involvement is “critical for the school system to move forward.” He then eagerly updated attendees on the parent volunteering initiative’s training progress with parent involvement facilitator, Deborah Waiters. Any parents interested in receiving training are encouraged to call the board.

    He also announced programs for rising kindergarteners and a scholarship with Huntington College. The fully funded Judge Jumpstart Program will host 4-K students over the summer to prepare them for the upcoming school year. The “Grow Your Own” Scholarship and partnership with Huntington is to help students earn degrees to teach in rural areas. These programs are game-changers, providing resources upon entering and exiting the school system. “We’re trying to be as transparent as possible,” Dr. Thurman reminded, “we need parent participation to move forward.”

    At the conclusion of the superintendent’s report, board member and parent Veronica Richardson wanted to ensure that parents receive letters about upcoming Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) and ACT testing. After spring break, testing will resume the week of April 6th.

    Approved Action Items

    •  Garry Rice will attend the Southern Regional Education Board Conference in Nashville, TN, July 14 – 17, 2026
    • Tomora Hill and two students will attend the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, GA, April 25-29, 2026
    • Shamyra Jones and four students will attend the Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 30 – May 2, 2026
    • The Greene County Board of Education will contract Marshanda Daniels to serve as technical support for the district for one year.
    • An E-Rate Mini Bid with Uniti Fiber for internet access points licenses, equipment, and installation in the amount of $111,816.82 (district pays 15% of the total quote).

    Following the approval of the action items, the board members entered an executive session to discuss the personnel action report. Board members did not disclose approved items in the report during the meeting. However, the local school accountant, LaTanya Cockrell-Fowler, informed The Democrat via email of Sarah Crawford’s resignation as the 2nd-grade teacher at Eutaw Primary School.

     

    Public Comments

    Understanding family relationships is a critical factor in student success. Whether it be test scores or mental health, having a sustained partnership between educators and families is essential for the school system to learn what is best for the children of Greene County. Knowledge of a student’s culture provides important information for the school system to secure the resources necessary to support students at any stage of their learning.

    Brandi Jones was the only parent not on staff or the board present. She politely introduced herself and asked a series of questions about the superintendent selection process and the need to consult external sources on strategic planning within the district. Jones considers herself a parent advocate, religiously showing up for PTA and board meetings.

    “Parents don’t realize the power that they have.” Jones commented, “There is no perfect school system. We have to work together to solve issues.” Jones is passionate about creating a parent alliance to “meet parents where they are” and ensure Greene County schools can retain their students.


    The next board meeting will be on Monday, April 20th, at 4:30 pm.

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  • Greene County Commission approves $10 million budget; approves $150,000 for purchase of new ambulance

    At its regular October meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the Greene County Commission approved a $10 million dollar operating budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.

    This budget includes $3.4 million dollar General Fund, which covers most expenses of the county. It also includes a $2.5 million Gasoline Fund and other special funds which support the Highway Department and maintenance of roads and bridges in the county. It also includes funds to satisfy bond issues for the courthouse and jail construction.

    The Commission also approved a supplementary budget for additional positions in the Sheriff’s Department including School Resource Officers and additional deputies and jail positions. This budget also includes payment of a vehicle lease for new cars and vans.

    Agreements have been worked out between the Commission and the Board of Education for the payment for the resource officers. A separate agreement has been worked out with Sheriff Jonathan Benison for payment
    of the other additional personnel and an addition $75,000 a month ($900,000) a year for the Commission in funding from electronic bingo, for the general use of the county and to help with new capital expenditures or matching Federal funds for special projects.

    Under these agreements, the Board of Education and Sheriff’s Department must advance three months payment for staffing and the Sheriff must provide the $75,000 payment by the fifth of the month. The Sheriff provided a check for $163,000, which included the $88,000 advance and $75,000 for the month of September, however, the Sheriff still owes the $75,000 for October.

    Commissioners Lester Brown and Tennyson Smith pointed out that the Sheriff also has not returned vehicles he promised to return to the county, after the Commission agreed to lease new ones. Brown also said the Sheriff receives funds from the jail telephone and commissary which he does not report or give to the county General Fund. The Commission agreed to write the Sheriff to return the cars by Friday Noon and pay the $75,000 in bingo funds for October.

    The County Attorney pointed out that if the Sheriff or the Board of Education does not honor its payments under the agreements that the County Commission will not be obligated to pay the supplementary staff on these budgets.

    Macaroy Underwood, County CFO reported that $381,781 in bills had been paid for September and an additional $76,012 in electronic payments had been made. He also asked the Commission to approve two budget amendments for payments made to staff for extra service during the pandemic.

    The Commission approved an allocation of $150,000 for a new ambulance for the Greene County EMS, from the county’s $787,0000 allocation from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. This will be a truck mounted ambulance that can be used for wrecks on the Interstate and other tasks in rural areas of the county. The Commission had previously approved $90,000 in ARP funds for an ambulance but this will only support a van type ambulance, which is not suitable for all tasks. The new ambulance will not be available until July 2022, but the Greene County EMS may be able to get a loaner model until the new ambulance is delivered.

    In other actions, The Greene County Commission:

    • Approved a resolution for Workmen’s Compensation for employees.

    • Approved a Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday for February 25-27, 2022.

    • Approved advertising for a full-time worker for the Solid Waste Department.

    • Approved continuation of the CIMS contract, for computer maintenance; and purchased an ice machine for the Highway Department.

    • Approved an incentive payment of $3,000 for full time employees and $1,500 for part time employees of the county, for pandemic service, to be paid out of ARP funds.