Board considers GPS for buses
(RECORD PHOTO)
MADISON – In its last scheduled meeting for 2013, Madison Board of Education learned about student successes, bus tracking and technology issues.
Three students in Madison City Schools reached a perfect score of 36 on the American College Test (ACT). Dr. Brian Clayton, principal at James Clemens High School, congratulated junior Sunny Chennupati.
From Bob Jones High School, principal Robby Parker recognized Nathan Fox, who aced the ACT. Another Bob Jones student, senior David Gunther, also reached this honor.
The board is considering agreements for tracking software for real-time location of buses with a global positioning system (GPS) or a private network of receivers. Representatives from Spatial Net, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Networx and Rament have been in discussions with director of operations Patrick Conner and transportation specialist Bobby Jackson.
The board approved a ten-year lease purchase agreement to acquire 10 buses for $1,091,410 with SunTrust Equipment Finance & Leasing Corporation.
In personnel actions, positions are open for “coordinator of middle school instruction” and “coordinator of high school instruction.” Dr. Camille Wright, who was worked as director of instructor, is leaving in January to work as superintendent in Enterprise.
Dr. Maria Kilgore, director of special education, reported on the “Educating Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders” video conference and sessions at the Central Office with Dr. B.J. Freeman from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Kilgore also commended James Clemens drama teacher Mason Overcash for incorporating students with disabilities in theater productions.
Technology coordinator Katrina Bowling discussed recommendations in a report issued in 2010 from the November Learning group. The group said the Madison district’s past development of a web portal “gives teachers and students a seamless experience for accessing their saved documents at home and school.”
Citing recent network enhancements, Bowling said, “We’ve hit some speed bumps along the way” but are making progress. November Learning also recommended district-wide technology workshops “for a common vision.”
