Greene County Democrat

Tag: Greene County Board of Education and Corey Morton

  • School board approves multiple personnel and administrative items

    Greene County Career Center demonstrates unlimited career opportunities for scholars

    The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session, Monday, July 21, 2025, with all board members in attendance. As part of his report to the board, Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones invited Ms. LaMonica Little, Career Coach at the Greene County Career Center for a presentation. She gave an overview of the various activities, including trips, students were engaged in during the previous school year. She noted that Greene County High School scholars are prepared for college, work force or military. The areas of workforce training include welding, heavy equipment operations, HVAC, various medical assistants programs and more. Once students compete training and are certified in the field, they are readily offered positions of employment.
    Students are also provided all assistance available to earn scores for college entrance. Ms. Little demonstrated multiple trips students are afforded to universities, industries, state and national competitions as part of their preparation. She said that there are unlimited career opportunities for students if they will do the work. “ If a student is still at home after graduation, then that student wants to just be at home,” she said.
    Superintendent Jones also presented his 11 Goals for administrating the school system during the upcoming school term.
    Then board approved the following personnel items recommended by the superintendent.
    * Rescind recall of Shana Lucy, Third grade teacher at Eutaw Primary School
    * Rescind TEAMS Contract 2025-2026 – Lorissa Holder – GCHS, Science (1 Year Contract)
    Resignations: Jennifer Miller-Reeves, SPED para-professional – Robert Brown Middle School, effective July 1, 2025; Samon Sanders – Truancy Officer Duties, effective May 30, 2025;
    Roshonda Clark, Second grade teacher – EPS.
    Employment: Devin Woods – ISS Instructor – RBMS; Dequandra Lyles – Elementary teacher – RBMS; Victoria Moore – TEAMS Science teacher – GCHS; Akeem Tyree – ISS Instructor – GCHS; Laquita Hunter – Long-term sub – Learning Academy; Kavalyn Bryant – First grade – EPS; Angela Pruitt – Third grade – EPS; Denetria Ruffin – Second grade – EPS; Zarquashia Taylor – Health Science teacher – GCCC; Glenda Hodges – Long-term sub (Special Services) – EPS;
    TEAMS Contract 2025-2026 – Victoria Moore – GCHS, Science (1Year Contract);
    * Voluntary transfer of Demetris Lyles from 4th grade teacher at Robert Brown Middle School to 6th grade teacher at Robert Brown Middle School, effective 2025 – 2025 school year.
    * Personnel for Summer Learning for the 2025-2026 school year: Brenda Lawrence – Nurse
    Salary for Mental Health Coordinator of $40,000 to be paid in accordance with the FY 2026 Mental Health Services Coordinator Grant.
    Additional Service Contracts 2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Greene County High School: (Separate Contract): Head Girls Basketball – Torethia Mitchell; Assistant Girls Basketball – Lorissa Holder; Head Boys Basketball (Varsity) – Howard Crawford; Head Girls Track – Tracey Hunter; Head Boys Track – Howard Crawford; Asst. Flag Football – Howard Crawford;
    The following to perform after hours CCR related activities during the 2025-2026 school year, to include weekend and after school activities: Paula Calligan; Tomora Morris-Hill; Shamyra Jones; Patricia Rhone; LaMonica Little; Tweila Morris; Tamika Thompson; Lorissa Holder; Janice Askew; Drenda Morton; Tura Edwards.
    Update to additional service contract to include Flag Football.
    Additional Service Contracts 2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Robert Brown Middle School: (Separate Contract): Tavaris Lacy –Head Basketball (Girls/Boys) – Rescind (approved at June 13, 2025 meeting); Tavaris Lacy – Head Basketball (Boys); Dequandra Lyles – Head Basketball (Girls.
    The board approved the following administrative items.
    * Partnership between the University of Alabama Health Resources and Service Administration Implementation IV Project and the Greene County School District to target 5th grade students at Robert Brown Middle on helping to build positive character skills.
    * Memorandum of Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and The University of Alabama for the district’s participation in BAMA-STOP School Violence Program.
    * Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Governors Local Workforce Areas and Sirius Workforce LLC to provide summer personnel for summer 2025 work-based learning program.
    * Agreement between the Greene County Board of Education and Greene County Ambulance Service to provide ambulance services during home football games for the 2025 – 2026 season.
    * Quote from Divot Assets in the amount of $8,500 to perform on site inventory for FY 2025.
    * Travel for Juniors, Seniors and chaperons to tour Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University on July 31, 2025.
    * Adjustment of the summer rate for teachers to $50 per hour for the CTE Summer Camp, CTE Preparation and New Year Planning in relation to the CCR Grant. 
    * Adjustment of the all-day/weekend after hours rate for CCR related activities to $250 per day.
    * Agreement between the Greene County Board of Education and H&H Educational Services, LLC to provide psychometric services for the 2025-2026 school year.
    * Contractual Agreement for Greene County Board of Education and Denise Horton to serve as Instructional & Behavioral Aide for the system FY 2025-2026.
    * Agreement between the Greene County Board of Education and West Alabama Therapy, LLC to provide physical and occupational therapy to IDEA eligible students for the 2025-2026 school year.
    * Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Kim Herren to provide developmental delay services for pre-school children during the 2025- 2026 school year. *Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Tammy W. Lewis MSCCC-SLP to provide speech therapy services for the 2025-2026 school year.
    * Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Behavioral Solutions of Mississippi for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Consultative Services (behavior services) for the 2025-2026 school yea.r
    * Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Demisha Stough to provide gifted services for the 2025-2026 school year (Second grade Child Find).
    * Contract between the Greene County Board of Education and West Central Officials Association for football officials for the 2025 – 2026 school year at GCHS.
    * Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Corey Morton to serve as technology assistant and provide technical support for the district for the 2025 – 2026 school year.
    * Memorandum of Agreement for Special Education Services between Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc. Head Start/Early Head Start and Greene County Board of Education for 2025 – 2026 school year.
    * Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll.
    * Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO.
    Contract between the Greene County Board of Education and West Central Officials Association for football officials for the 2025 – 2026 school year at RBMS.
    CNP Department rate increase for meal prices and salad prices beginning FY 2025-26.
    Service Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Zachary Rutledge to develop and provide a Dual Enrichment (Welding Level I Lab) program for students at Greene County Career Center for the 2025 – 2026 school year.
    CSFO Ms. Marquita Lennon presented the financial snapshots for the period ending June, 30, 2025. Points of Interest included: Operating Reserve – 8.33 months combined general fund; 8.34 months cash reserve. All bank accounts have been reconciled. General fund balance totaled $8,832,479.71 (reconciles to the summary cash report). Accounts payable check register totaled $229,188.01; Payroll register totaled $920,638.24 (total gross pay to include employer match items). Combined ending fun d balance totaled $8,815,832.25. In local revenue, property taxes totaled $21,049.69; sales taxes totaled $145,119.39; other taxes totaled $5,831.36. Local Revenue totaled $172,000.44.
    Ms Lennon noted that all the funds are in place for the Track & Field Project (Phase I of the Sports Complex at Greene County High School). The expected cost of Phase I will be approximately $1.9 million. The State Department of Education is providing a portion of the cost.

     

     

     

  • Greene County School Board looks to restore Modern Manufacturing curriculum; Superintendent reports on academic progress

    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.