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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal
The Lowndes County Board of Education said good-bye to Board member Annie C. Hunter, who was attending her last meeting as a member of the board, after 22 years, and recognized October Quarterlty Award Winners Thursday night at the Central Office in Hayneville.

Dr. Renata Hollins, president of the Lowndes County Education Association, paid tribute to Hunter, who as attending what is expected to be her last board meeting and wished her well in retirement. Following the meeting, board members individually expressed their thanks to Hunter for her service.

Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd said, “Over the past 22 years, Mrs. Annie C. Hunter has dedicated herself to the
Lowndes County Board of Education and her compassion, commitment and wisdom has enabled us to make great strides in our school system. We will never forget her contributions and warm spirit. We hope that her retirement will bring wonderful things. She will be missed, but never forgotten.”

The board recognized October Quarterly Award winners including: Teacher of the Quarter, Nickles Rankins (Lowndes County Middle School); Principal of the Quarter, Toriano Baker (Central High School); Student of the Quarter, Jahkena Ray (The Calhoun School); Administrator of the Quarter, Samita Jeter (Central Office).Support Personnel of the Quarter, Shelia Brown (The Calhoun School); Parent of the Quarter, Nikki Smith (Central High School); and Volunteer of the Quarter, Gary White (Central High School).

The board also recognized board members for their 2015-2016 Alabama Association of School Boards’ (AASB) School Board Member Academy Achievement.

The AASB’s “school” for school board members provides ongoing training on important education, legal and governance issues. School board members are automatically enrolled in the School Board Member Academy and notified of face-to-face and online leadership development opportunities.

Academy participants can strive for four achievement levels: Level 1 (25 hours), Level 2 (50 hours), Level 3 (75 hours) and Level 4 (100 hours).  Special recognitions include the Master Level (Level 4 plus 15 hours) and Master’s Honor Roll (Master Level for five consecutive years).

Thursday night Boyd presented Board member Travis Rogers a Level 2 certificate. And Board President Ben Davis, it was pointed out, has achieved Level 4 and will receive a plaque during AASB’ Convention in December.

Previously Hunter and Board member Steve Foster earned Master’s Honor Roll honors.

In other action:
The board approved:
•Minutes of its Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 meeting.
•Contracts between Board and: Analie Carr (Tutoring Services, Select Personnel); Care Ambulance (Stand-by Ambulance Service for Calhoun High School’s 2016-2017 Home Football Games); Gary Palmore (Mechanic Services, Transportation Department); Between Board and Jacqueline C. McNeal (Technical Support and Professional Development, Special Education Department); Warcheta Bedgood (Technical Support and Professional Development, Fiscal Department); Central Alabama Basketball Officials Association, Inc. (Officials, 2016-2017 Home
Basketball Games, Lowndes County Middle School); and Central Alabama Basketball Officials Association, Inc. (Officials, 2016-2017 Home Basketball Games, Calhoun High School).
•Professional Engagement Between Board and: Bishop, Colvin, Johnson & Kent, LLC (Technical Support for Fiscal Department by Marie Plowman) for FY 2016 and FY 2017.
•A Code of Conduct for Child Nutrition Program Employees.
•Budget Modification One to FY 2017 Budget for Head Start Program.
•A 2016-2017 Salary Schedules for Head Start Program Employees.
•August 2016 Financial Statement, Profit & Loss Detail Report and Check Detail Report for the Lowndes County Head Start Program.
•Revenues and Expenditures Report, Financial Statement and Payroll Register August 2016 Based on Reconciled Bank Statements.
•Personnel Report .
•Board member Robert Grant as delegate and Foster as alternate to  the AASB 2016 Convention and Delegate Assembly,  Dec. 8-10, 2016 in Birmingham.

The board will next meet Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Calhoun High School.