Morgan County School Board moved forward on the planning phase for a new Priceville High School at its regular meeting Thursday night.

It authorized investment banker Merchant Capital of Montgomery and the law firm of Maynard Cooper & Gale PC of Birmingham to pursue funding for the proposed new school in the bond market and to come with a proposal for the refunding of a 2003 bond debt.

Also approved was the formation of a sub-committee to visit six architectural firms and request design and engineering proposals from two of them for board consideration.

Ken Funderburk, representing merchant Capital as its executive vice president, told the board now is a good time to pursue a general obligation bond issue for school improvements because interest rates are at a 40-year low. Because of the low rates, he also pointed out that the refunding of the school system’s 2003 bond issue could save as much as $500,000.

He said the board could either take the money up front, use it to pay down the 2003 debt or apply it a consolidated 2012 bond issue.

A resolution to expedite the creation of a financial package for the new school was introduced by Attorney Heyward C. Hosch III, representing Maynard, Cooper and Gale.

“Approval gives us the authority to move ahead but it’s not binding,” Hosch stated. “I urge you to move quickly because we’re all over the state doing refundings. “This is a sizeable issue ($25 million) and we can get good response, possibly competing the process in 50 days.”

“When we complete our work, we’ll be back to give you concrete ideas and numbers and explain what is ahead of you,” Funderburk said.

The sub-committee tasked to begin a review of prospective architects consists of board members Jimmy Dobbs, Jeff McLemore and Tom Earwood.

Superintendent Bill Hopkins said  the sub-committee will talk to six architects and designate two for interviews with the board. He said he would like for the interviews to be conducted this month.

Out-of-state field trips were approved as follows:

• Authorized 50 West Morgan High School students to travel to the Bodies Exhibit in Atlanta, Ga. March 12, 2012. Students attending are members the school’s

National Honor Society and FCCLA organization.

• Authorized 55 Spanish Club students at West Morgan High School to travel to the Aquarium in Atlanta, Ga. on May 4, 2012. The trip is the culmination of a unit of study on vocabulary dealing with fish.

• Authorized 55 11th and 12th grade students at West Morgan High School to travel to Six Flags Over Georgia to participate in Math and Science Day.

• Approved six revised school board policies following a second reading at a work session, which preceded the regular meeting.

• Approved the submission of a request to the Decatur Planning Commission to rezone the central school office property on Highway 67 in Decatur from R-1 Residential to B-2 General Business.

The followed personnel changes were approved on the recommendation of the superintendent:

• Accepted the resignation of Randy Robinson, countywide bus driver effective Jan. 25, 2012.

•Approved Vicki Shedd as a countywide bus aide, effective Feb. 10, 2012, She is replacing Michelle Hogan who transferred.

• Approved Carolyn Matthews as a Title I and/or Title III tutor for Danvillle-Neel Elementary School, effective Oct. 1, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2012. Tutors are paid $20 per hour from federal funds.

• Approved homebound contract with Sandra Trotter, effective Jan. 9, 2012. She will serve as homebound instructor for an eligible student.

• Approved homebound contract with Cathy Thompson, effective Feb. 6, 2012. She will serve as a homebound instructor for an eligible student.

• Approved homebound contract extension with Brooke Thedford, effective Dec. 6, 2011.  He will serve as the homebound instructor for an eligible student.

• Approved supplement contract for Dawn Hawkins as middle school softball coach at Brewer High School, effective for the 2011-2012 season. The supplement will be paid by local school funds.

• Approved Dan Styles as head football coach at Brewer High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season. He is replacing Daniel Gullion who resigned. As a non-staff coach, he will be accompanied by certified personnel when interacting with students.

• Approved supplement contract for Brandon Ozbolt as assistant baseball coach at Danville High School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year.

• Approved family medical leave of absence without pay and maternity leave of absence without pay for Rebecca Oden, computer lab aide at Eva School, effective Feb. 22, 2012, through May 24, 2012.

• Approved Joel Schrenk as head football coach at Falkville High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season. He is replacing Brent Vest who resigned. He is a non-staff coach and will be accompanied by certified personnel while interacting with students.

• Approved catastrophic leave of absence for Gloria Brooks, custodian at Falkville High School, effective Jan. 11, 2012, through Feb. 17, 2012.

• Approved supplement contract for Julie Thompson as assistant softball coach at Falkville High School, effective for the 2011-2012 season.

Approved supplement contract for Hollie Miller as middle school baseball coach at Priceville Junior High School, effective for the 2011-2012 season, Her salary will be paid from local school funds.

• Approved supplement contract for April Isom as assistant soccer coach at Priceville Junior High School, effective for the 2011-2012 season.

• Accepted resignation from Alan Kirschbaum as boy’s varsity soccer coach at Priceville High School, effective Dec. 8, 2011.

• Approved contracts to provide AHSGE remediation tutoring for Priceville High School teachers, Ashley Boyd, Stacey Lovett, Kim Holmes and Cathy Thompson, effective for the 2011-2012 school year.

•Approved supplement contract with Laura Hensley as drama sponsor at Priceville High School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year.

• Approved the transfer of Tammy Beason from part-time to full-time CNP worker at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Feb. 10, 2012. She is replacing Tammy Lewis who transferred.

• Approved a catastrophic leave of absence request from Carrie Johnson, kindergarten teacher at West Morgan High School, effective Jan. 13, 2012, through May 25, 2012.

• Approved family medical leave of absence without pay from Melissa Brown, a teacher at West Morgan Middle School, effective Jan. 13, 2012, through Feb. 24, 2012.

• Approved supplement contract for Curt Smith as boy’s varsity soccer coach at West Morgan High School, effective for the 2011-2012 season.

• Approved Heath Saint as head football coach at West Morgan High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season. He is replacing Shannon Shaw who resigned. He is a non-staff coach and will be accompanied by certified personnel when interacting with students.

• Approved the transfer of Linda Bice from assistant manager to CNP manager at West Morgan High School, effective Feb. 10, 2012. She is replacing Beverly Moore who resigned.

• Approved supplement contracts for Diane King, Melanie Dickerson and Brandi Ashby, certified personnel at West Morgan High School, to serve as h High Hopes tutors during the 2011-2012 school year, The contracts are limited to 17 hours per week.

• Accepted notice of retirement from Janice Turner, Central Office secretary, effective Dec. 1, 2011.