School board meeting a night of honors

With a record-breaking turnout, the Thursday, April 21 Board of Education meeting mostly recognized and honored school employees and students.

The meeting started off by recognizing all students who competed in Destination Imagination, organization that provides educational programs for students to learn and experience creativity, teamwork and problem solving. The board also recognized winners of the State Science Fair winners and the Bob Jones High School girls’ basketball team.

Christy Bryant from the Red Cross presented the American Red Cross Lifesavers Award to Bob Jones High School nurses Bonnie Davis and Nancy Bocchino.

“This is not something that’s given everyday,” Bryant said.

The two teachers performed CPR on a Bob Jones student who had collapsed at school. The nurses were the first to respond, helping to save the student’s life.

Gay Barnes, a first-grade teacher at Horizon Elementary School was recognized by the board for being selected as a top four finalist for the Alabama Teacher of the Year Award.

School Transportation Director Bobby Jackson gave an update on the new transportation facility.

“Right now we met every week and we’re scheduled to be able to get the facility completely finished by June 10,” he said.

Mary Long, director of elementary instruction, presented Renaissance Place, a technology-based school improvement and student assessment programs for K12 schools.

“Our teachers work very hard to help our students to understand and to give them that practice they need for reading,” Long said. “Ren Place enables powerful practice for these kids.”

With Renaissance Place, parents can go online and monitor their child’s test scores and which books they’ve read for the program.

-The board approved a resolution stating its approval of the Students First Act of 2011.

“We’re not trying to send out any type of messages that say we’re out to get teachers,” said Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler. “All we’re saying is there seems to be room for improvement with the tenure laws in the state of Alabama. “

School Board Attorney Woody Sanderson expressed a similar opinion.

“I think it’ a substantial improvement over where we are today. There were some comprises made, but I still think it’s a better bill than the current stature.”