School calendar extended for Morgan County students
Two days have been tacked on to the end of the 2010-2011 calendar for Morgan County schools thanks to last week’s winter storm that cancelled classes for five consecutive days.
The last day of school for students was moved from Friday, May 27, to Wednesday, June 1 This means students will be in class on Tuesday, May 31 and Wednesday, June 1, to make up for school closings on Thursday and Friday, January13 and 14. A teacher workday was moved from May 31 to June 2. Also wiped off the calendar were two bad weather days, March 11 and 13 and President’s Day, February 21. These days will be makeup days for school closings January 10-12.
The changes were approved by the school board at its regular meeting January 13. Another options considered to make up for closings on Jan. 13-14 was conducting classes during part of spring break.
Mary Marquart, school improvement coordinator, discussed calendar change options with Superintendent Bill Hopkins and board members.
“There’s no easy answer for the two closings not covered in the calendar,” she said. “If you don’t want to extend the school year beyond May 27, we’ll have to have classes on two days of spring break or on Saturdays.”
Hopkins said he’d prefer not to have classes during spring break (March 11-15) and several board members agreed.
Board member Carolyn Wallace took the opposite view.
“Parents and kids both hate the idea of school on Saturdays, or extending the school year, and not much gets done,’ she stated. Spring break is my choice.”
The board also approved payment of $2,076 to Rankin, Shelton, Hunters Inc for the renewal of dishonesty bonds for principals, assistant principals, secretaries, CNP cashiers, and any other employees who handle school funds.
The following out-of-state field trips were approved:
• TAG students and chaperones totaling about 50 from Danville-Neel Elementary School, Danville Middle School and Sparkman School will travel to Atlanta, Ga. on May 13 to visit CNN headquarters, the World of Coca-Cola and attend a Braves baseball game.
• Approximately 30 fifth grade students from Danville Middle School to travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. To visit the Tennessee Aquarium on Feb. 11.
• Approximately 50 fifth graders and chaperones from Danville Middle School to tour the nation’s capitol in Washington. D.C. April 28-May 1.
• Approximately 85 students and chaperones from Sparkman School to travel to Chattanooga, Tenn. on Feb. 10 to visit the Tennessee Aquarium.
• West Morgan Middle School students and parents to travel to New Orleans, La. May 9-13.
The board approved superintendent’s personnel recommendations as follows: as follows:
• Hospital/homebound services contract with Emma White to provide homebound instruction to an eligible student, effective Oct. 15, 2010.
• Hospital/homebound services contract with William Turner to provide homebound instruction to an eligible student, effective Sept. 17, 2010.
• Hospital/homebound services contract with Sue M. Mann to provide homebound instruction to an eligible student, effective Jan. 10, 2011.
• Transfer of Dianne Arrington as CNP assistant manager at Brewer High School, effective Jan. 14, 2011, She replaces Berma Jean Harris who resigned.
• Appointed Chris Creel as track and cross-country coach at Brewer High School, effective for the 2010-11 school year. He replaces Andy Trotter whose appointment to the position was rescinded at the last board meeting.
• Notice of resignation from Jenny Rose as CNP manager at Falkville High School, effective Feb. 1, 2011.
• Application for continued salary in lieu of sick leave for Renee Hardin, CNP worker at Falkville High School, effective for 12 days from Jan. 3, 2011 through Jan. 19, 2011. Ms. Hardin was injured on the job.
•Request for catastrophic leave of absence from Beckie Judkins, CNP worker at Falkville High School, effective Nov. 18. 2010, through Dec. 17, 2010.
• Request for family medical leave of absence without pay from Beckie Judkins, CNP worker at Falkville High School, effective Jan. 3, 2011, through Jan. 31, 2011.
• Notice of resignation from Kent Tucker as varsity softball coach at Falkville High School, effective Jan. 7, 2011.
• Request for catastrophic leave of absence from Terry White, counselor at Priceville Junior High School, effective Nov. 29, 2010, through Dec. 17, 2010.
•Transfer of Dennis Morris from computer teacher at Priceville Junior High School to assistant principal at Priceville High School, effective Jan. 13, 2011. He will replace William “Bo” Johnson who retired.
• Employment of Anna Hodges as an English teacher at Priceville High School, effective Jan. 1, 2011, through May 31, 2011. She will fill in for Laura Leigh Hensley who is on leave.
• Appointment of Ben Estes as golf coach at Priceville High School, effective Jan. 7, 2011. He is replacing Bill Barker who retired.
• Notice of resignation from Christen Black as girl’s basketball coach at Ryan School, effective Dec. 17, 2010.
• Notice of resignation from Cristen Black as an SPE support staff member, effective Dec. 17, 2010.
• Notice of resignation from Susan Bodkin as a bus aide at Sparkman School, effective Dec. 13, 2010.
• Appointment of Nina Jones as a first grade teacher at Sparkman School, effective Jan. 23, 2010 through May 31, 2011. She is filling in for Jana Byrd who is on leave.
• Notice of resignation from Jasen Reagin, a bus driver for Union Hill School, effective Jan. 5, 2011.
• Appointment of Tammy Beason as a part-time CNP worker at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Jan. 13, 2011. She is replacing Deanna Taylor Pace who transferred.
• Amended request for a catastrophic leave from Jennifer P. Blocker, a teacher at Union Hill School. The dates of Ms. Blocker’s leave will be amended to read Jan. 14, 2011 through Jan. 27. 2011. The request was originally approved by the board Dec. 9, 21010.
• Probationary principal contract with Keith Harris, principal of West Morgan High School, effective Jan. 3, 2011, through June 30, 2012.
• Transfer of Lee Willis from assistant principal at Brewer High School to director of computer programming, data processing and computer education for Morgan County Schools, effective Jan. 14, 2011. He is replacing Ann Hodges who retired.
• Employment of Melanie Ray Dickerson as a social studies teacher at West Morgan High School, effective Jan. Jan. 14, 2011. She is replacing Marty Chambers who transferred.
