At the Greene County Board of Education’s virtual meeting on February 22, 2021, Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones informed the board that he has created a School Reopening Committee to explore the conditions that will be favorable for face-to face instruction again. Jones stated that there will be no recommendation to the board to reopen schools until all employees have had the opportunity for vaccinations; the county’s COVID positivity rate has declined to a safer rate; a determination is made on the number of students to bring back at a time; and a summer school plan is explored to assist students to remain on grade level.
Superintendent Jones noted that the committee will contact surrounding school districts that are currently providing face-to-face instruction, and what safety protocols are in place – what has worked well for them. “The committee will use this information to strengthen our re-opening plan, ” he said. According to the superintendent, the school facilities are already equipped with plexiglass dividers and hand sanitizers in all classrooms; foggers and other cleaning methods are employed on a regular basis, as well as a process to increase air flow throughout the building.
Board member Veronica Richardson raised the question on a timeline for students receiving COVID vaccines. Dr. Jones agreed to seek information regarding state plans for student vaccinations.
Jones noted that on Saturday, Feb. 20, over 200 citizens were vaccinated at the Greene County Health Department in Eutaw. The next scheduled dates for vaccinations are February 24 and March 3. He said that Greene County had a COVID-19 positivity rate of 11.4% for the previous 14 days. “This is a good sign, if we can just continue on this path,” he stated.
The CSFO Ms. Lavanda Blair presented the snapshot financial report for December. She noted that the system is financially strong, even with the current decrease in property and sales taxes. She provided clarity on the budget adjustments involving carryover funds to the current fiscal year.
The board approved the following recommendations presented by the superintendent.
Personnel: Arnthena Hill, Special Education Consultant, for the remainder of the school year.* Administrative Services: January 2021 Budget Amendment; Payment of all bills, claims and payroll.
Tag Archives: Greene County Health Department
Pit Bull allegedly put down after attacking two citizens on Thanksgiving Day
On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, George Roscoe and Blondie Means were both attacked in separate incidents by Pit Bulls on Greensboro St. and on Harris Avenue in Eutaw. Both victims had to seek medical attention. Reportedly, one Pit Bull, that has attacked others before, was put down and the other is in quarantine for 10 days. No determination has been made as to what will happen to the dog after the 10 days. The incident is still under investigation. According to Eutaw Police Chief Derrick Coleman, the Pit Bulls are owned by Eutaw Police Officer Lonnie Glenn who also resides on Harris Ave.
In an interview with the Democrat, Ms. Blondie Means explained that during the attack, one dog was shot and wounded on the scene which also drove the second dog away. “That gunshot by an unknown passerby in a truck stopped the attack and perhaps saved my life,” she stated.
Ms. Means apparently needed stitches on her face, head, hands and breast.
In an interview with Mr. George Roscoe, he stated that he was on his way to the store to purchase cranberry sauce when he was attached by the Pit Bulls in front of the car wash on Greensboro Street. “I didn’t hear or see them until they were on me,” he said. He explained that someone driving over the bridge saw the attack and stopped to assist him. Apparently that was the same individual who stopped the next attack on Ms. Means by the same dogs. Roscoe said that both hands were badly damaged in the attack as he tried to ward off the dogs.
At press time today, the Democrat learned that the same Pitt Bulls had threatened Ms. Means before. She stated that she filed a report with the Eutaw Police a year ago when the dogs threatened her on her property. She said she was able to escape an attack on that occasion. “Nothing was done about the danger of these dogs in my neighborhood,” she said. Means expressed that she lives two doors down from the dog owners and does not feel safe. She was told by a police officer that both dog have been euthanized. “I don’t believe them,” she said. “I want to see the dead dogs.”
Means said that she checked with the Greene County Health Department concerning this incident to find out if the dogs had been put down and was told they knew nothing about this attack. That office had not yet received an official report.