At the regular monthly Greene County Board of Education meeting on September 16, 2024, the board heard a report from Donny Jones, Director of Alabama Works on ways the school system could restore the Modern Manufacturing program. This program prepares high school students to enter technical job fields, related to the automobile industry in the state.
Donny Jones indicated that this program was now operating in 34 school systems in the state and as coordinated with the needs of industry, such as Mercedes Benz, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota around the state. Students get the basics of manufacturing including safety, work ethics, hand-tools, fixtures and gauges, basic measurement, critical thinking and leadership. They can also take electives in specific technical areas, like welding, robotics and industrial maintenance, as a dual degree student at a two-year community college, like Wallace Community College in Selma.
The dual enrollment provisions allow local student to finish high school and a two-year community college program at no tuition cost to them. Donny Jones said,” We do not want our rural students to leave their home communities. We encourage them to live in their home communities. We help them to get the training needed to take high paying jobs with local industries.”
Superintendent Corey Jones said he was working closely with Alabama Works to bring the program, which builds on past program to Greene County by next school year.
Superintendent Jones continued with his report on progress in the three
branches of the Greene County school system. He noted that the Eutaw Primary School had received a $1,050 grant from Blue Cross-Blue Shield to teach children shapes. Robert Brown Middle School received $4,500 from Representative Curtis Travis for match coaches. The school also had a successful grand-parents day in September. The Greene County High School received a grant of $ 8,021.20 from Representative Curtis Travis or a September 8th ‘college fair and help on the career tech programs.
Superintendent Jones went on to discuss academic proficiency in the school system. In Eutaw Primary, the grade 1 to 3 increased reading proficiency from 17% to 32% and math proficiency from 15% to 18%. For Robert Brown Middle School, reading proficiency went to 3.3% and math proficiency to 3.8%, leaving room for continued growth. For Greene County High School, reading proficiency was at 5.8% and math at 2.7%, as measured by the ACT test, a college admissions test. Jones commented that “many school system were trying to get a different test, than the ACT, to measure proficiency in the high school populations.
The Board went into Executive Session to discuss employment, policy and legal matters. After the session, the Board approved the following recommendations from the Superintendent.
On Personnel Service recommendations, the Board approved:
Employment for the 2024 – 2025 school year
Samon K. Sanders – Mental Health Coordinator – GCSS
Zaddrick Smith – Physical Education Teacher – EPS (RECALL)
Vernon Strode – Lead Maintenance – GCSS
Lorissa Holder – Biology Teacher – GCHS
On Administrative Service items, the following were approved:
Five Year Capital Plan for the Greene County School System
Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Corey Morton to serve as technology assistant and provide technical support for the district
Proposal from Vector Security to replace door station units at RBMS in the amount of $8,940
Estimate from Darden Communications Consultants INC for transportation communication system and monthly subscription for school buses in the amount of $10,613.60
Proposal from Criterion Consulting LLC for Administrator Evaluation Support Services for the 2024 – 2025 school year
Quote from Imagine Learning for purpose prep program for Alternative School curriculum
MOU between the Greene County and The Foundation for the Art and Science of Learning (FASL) for Teams Improving Practice to provide professional development and consulting services to the district for teachers
Science Textbook adoption committee 2024 – 2025
Renewal terms 12-Months @ 4.10% for CD at Synovus Bank
Quote from Divot Assets to perform Fixed Asset Physical Inventory Services District Wide in the amount of $12,710 for FY 2024
Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll
Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO
Robotics in the Black Belt Partnership Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Black Belt STEM Institute
The summary financial report from Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO indicated:
General Fund Bank Balance $5,264,125.63
*reconciles to the Summary Cash Report
* Accounts Payable Check Register $2,487,446.07
* Payroll Register $935,563.94
*Total gross pay, to include employer match items
* Combined Ending Fund Balance: $7,104,088.20
Total Local Revenues from property and sales taxes, and Amendment 743 (bingo) was $154,160.77.
After these reports and motions, the meeting was adjourned.