By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

Lowndes County Schools have received awards and the support of community businesses, according to School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd.

At the Lowndes County Board of Education’s Sept. 8 meeting, Boyd said six of seven schools in the school district received School Improvement Awards from the state Department of Education in the amount of $12,010 total.

He said Central Elementary, Fort Deposit Elementary, Hayneville Middle School, Jackson-Steele Elementary and Lowndes County Middle School all received $2,000 each for making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years.

He said The Calhoun High School and Fort Deposit Elementary each received $1,005 for addressing the challenge.

Boyd said the school system would share 10 percent of “address money” to provide services to students from At Rick, Children’s First and Governor’s High Hopes Funds.

He said $9.000 would be divided among various agencies. Boyd also said an organizational meeting would be held Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Career Tech Center at Central for At Rick Funds agency participations with the applications due Oct. 14.

Boyd recognized the following businesses for their support during the recent Back to School Rally, held in August:

Daehan Solutions which donated $1,000; employees of SABIC Innovative Plastics who donated additional book bags with items such as calculators for middle and high school students; the Lowndes County Commission, which provided $500 for hamburgers and hot dogs; the Lowndes County Riding Club, which provided horses at the event; the Sigma Beta Club which provided volunteer services; Pillars of Fire who provided additional book bags and a concert; and the Alabama National Guard, which provided bags.

Others recognized were Lowndes County Health Department, Lowndes County Juvenile Court, Max Credit Union, Reach, U.S. Army and local banks.

Boyd said the school district received Medicaid Administration Funding Program funds in the amount of $15,471.

The board approved the following action items
•Resolution in memory of Deundre Rudolph.
•Contract with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department for security for extracurricular activities.
•Contracts between the board and: Step by Step Physical Therapy and Child Development – Dr. Senobia Crawford (professional development, select employees); Care Ambulance (emergency care, Calhoun home football games); Yvette Dillard (professional development, select employees); Donna Harper (professional development, select employees); Vision Makers LLC (professional development, select employees); Loretta Scott (clerical services for Technical Incentive Grant); Excel Institute (special education, state reimbursement).
•Memorandum of agreement between the board and state Department of Education (special education and related services, Excel Institute).
•Agreement for a school to furnish food service to a child/adult care center between the board and Ark of Love Skills Training and Activity Center.
•Title I corrective action plan for restructuring (year four) for The Calhoun School.
•Order form and service agreement between the board and Management Information Technology USA Inc. dba ChildPlus Software (management and reporting software, Lowndes County Head Start Program).
•Artist in Residence agreement (Performing Arts, Lowndes County Head Start Program) between the board and Kamilah Long, Michael McDonald and Laquangela Littleton.
•Membership renewals 2011-2012 for Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools Leadership Institute Series and Alabama Risk Management for Schools (general liability and errors and omissions coverage).
•Amendment to the 2011-2012 Scholastic Calendar (changes in statewide testing program).
•The 2011-2012 salary schedules for the Lowndes County Head Start Program.
•July 2011 financial statement for the Lowndes County Head Start Program.
•Revenues and expenditures report, financial statement and payroll register July 2011.
•Fiscal Year 2012 annual budget.
•Personnel report.
The board also set a personnel matter for Sept. 16.
The next school board meeting will be Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. at the central office in Hayneville.