TALLADEGA COUNTY — An overflow crowd was on hand for the Talladega County Board of Education meeting on Thursday evening.Board Chairman Mike Turner announced the names of three finalists for the superintendent position being vacated by Dr. Cindy Elsberry.
“For the superintendent’s search, attorney Charles Gaines along with retired superintendent Dr. Lance Grissett and Dr. Lee Messer have screened five applicants and ended up with three finalists for interview, and they are Dr. Charles Ledbetter, Dr. Suzanne Lacey and Dr. Rita Fields Wright,” Turner said.
The board tentatively set a date for the interviews as May 28 at 5 p.m. A back-up date was set for May 29 at 5 p.m., in case a candidate cannot make the original date.
The board heard from Randy Jinks, of the Plank Road Station Inc., who asked the board to reinstate the agreement between the two entities for Plank Road Station to be given permission to assume control of Winterboro High School’s home economics and vocational agriculture building when the school will no longer use the building.
Jinks said Plank Road Station plans to use the building for a farmer’s market day in Winterboro on the last Saturday of every month. Jinks said Plank Road Station has been approved for a $7,500 grant by the Alabama Extension Service to set up the market at that location.
“We are fearful that your rescinding our agreement is going to jeopardize our $7,500 grant,” Jinks said.
The board agreed to rescind the agreement between the school board and Plank Road Station at last month’s meeting. Elsberry said at last month’s meeting the agreement had led to confusion that had been distracting for both sides.
The board agreed to research the issue and bring it up again at its May 20 meeting.
In other business, Ross Kelly from Energy Education Inc. commended the board for supporting energy-saving policies.
“Less than 4 percent of school systems, nationwide, have achieved energy savings like Talladega County Schools,” Kelly said.
Mary Thomas, coordinator of the school system’s child nutrition program, presented framed certificates to all of the school system’s lunchroom managers for their work and dedication.
“These ladies do nutrition lessons, prepare healthy meals and offer friendly greetings to all who come in the cafeteria,” Thomas said.
The board approved the Alabama Department of Education’s recommendation of allowing students to graduate with a credit-based diploma if they have passed the reading, math and one other section of the state graduation examination.
Elsberry said this will allow many students in the school system to graduate this year that were not going to be able to.
The low bid from Southland International Trucks for seven new 72-passenger school buses was approved. Five of the buses will cost $69,061 and two of the buses will cost $68,698.
Winterboro High will add a psychology course for its high school students starting next year.
Childersburg students in grades 7-12 who are athletes or cheerleaders will have to submit to random drug testing next year to participate in sports or cheerleading.
Elsberry announced Adam Fossett would be Winterboro’s head football coach next year.
The Lincoln High School boys’ track team was recognized for winning the 3A State Championship.
Randy Nelson, a Childersburg High School student, was recognized for receiving a U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship. Nelson will receive $6,000 over four years from the scholarship.
Cayla Whitehead, from Fayetteville High School, was recognized for being elected District 5 vice president in Future Business Leaders of America.
Numerous students were recognized for placing in competitions in the FBLA, the Alabama Council for Technology Education Technology Fair, National History Day, the American Free Enterprise Essay Contest sponsored by the Alabama Council for Economic Education and the Stock Market Online Game also sponsored by the ACEE.
