By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

A 3 percent proration of state education funds will cost Lowndes County more than  $321,000, and a student was suspended for the remainder of the school year for possession of drugs.

County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd announced that proration will cost Lowndes County Schools $321,793 in a meeting held at Jackson-Steele Elementary School on Thursday night.

Boyd said even though the school system is one of the poorest in the state, “We will have some money left over.” He also said there is a plan to recover the funds.

According to Boyd the funds cut by proration include $285,000 in foundation program funds (teacher and administrative salaries). Another $37,000 will come from transportation and the remainder from smaller state funded program.

Boyd said, “We will not be able to recover all these funds.” But he said shifting the pay of some personnel to federal grants could offset some of the loss.

The board voted to approve the indefinite suspension of a student for possession of drugs retroactive to Feb. 16 for the remainder of the school year.

Boyd said the new baseball field located in Hayneville will host a game between Calhoun (The Calhoun School) and Central High Schools on Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. He asked Board members Ben Davis and Robert James Grant to toss out the first pitches.

He also announced the winners of district science fairs for middle and high school at The Calhoun School Feb. 16-17.

Middle School winners were Grace McCann, first, and the team of Trevor Turner and Miracle McCall, second, all from Lowndes County Middle School, and Ke’Shai Kingka, third, of Hayneville Middle School.

High School winners were all from The Calhoun School. The team of Jasmine Gatewood, Monae McBride and Brionna McMeans first; the team of Jazmin Garrett, Adrienne Taylor and Michelle Scott, second, and the team of Lashannon Axel, Qunitosha Robinson, Lakendra McMeans and Demarcus Jackson third.

Contracts were approved for: M. Monte Perkins, musical performance and motivational speaking, Central Elementary School and Hayneville Middle School; and Janice Anderson-Martin, Pamela Byrd, Willease Cabble, Veronica Jackson and Linda Wilkerson-Mitchell, all business industry certification, career technical program.

The bid for a 12-gallon kettle for Jackson-Steele Elementary went to Dixie Store Fixtures and Sales Company Inc.

The board approved the Financial Statement for the Head Start Program, the revenues and expenditures report, financial statement and payroll register, all for January 2011, and a personnel report from which Davis abstained on a matter involving a relative.

In connection with special education teachers who submit information to a state website, Boyd said the system has been asked to provide professional development and a training program.

The next meeting will be held April 14 at 7 p.m. at the central office.