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Published: Jan 30, 2008 - 11:37:33 am CST
Blue selected to join board n McCord assumes school board presidency. By Mack Spencer Monitor-Herald PITTSBORO - Former state representative Jim Blue was approved to replace Grover Edington on the Calhoun County school board Monday night. Blue, a retired military man, businessman and cattle rancher, will begin serving as District 5’s board member next month. He was not present at the Monday meeting. He holds a business degree from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in business from the Florida Institute of Technology. He represented House District 23 as a Republican 1991-1995. Edington resigned in December with a year remaining in his term. Sweet potato farmer John Scott Edmondson was proposed to replace Edington at the December meeting, where Edmondson was present, but the other board members wanted to talk to District 5 residents about their choices for the seat. Edmondson withdrew from consideration, and Blue eventually accepted the nomination. Blue considered education legislation as a member of the state House of Representatives, but did not serve on the Education committee. He did serve on the Oil, Gas and Other Minerals; Public Health and Welfare, Military Affairs and Game and Fish committees. While Blue assumed Edington’s District 5 seat, District 3 member Billy McCord succeeded Edington as board president. District 2 member Danny Harrelson, who presided briefly at the start of the meeting, remained board secretary. Paul Moore Jr. was retained as the board attorney. In other business: n New superintendent Mike Moore, presiding at his first meeting, said the district is waiting to see if interest rates drop further before attempting to refund some of the district’s bonds. State law requires that the district be able to save 2 percent or more of the remaining payout on bond issues before undertaking a refunding process. Moore said a lower interest rate may be needed to meet that threshold. n A Calhoun City High School student was expelled. n The board received a report on tree planting on 16th Section land. n A contract with Shafer and Associates architecture firm was approved for work on turning the former Kellwood office building and sewing floor into a career-technical center. Board attorney Moore said the deed to the Kellwood property has been recorded for the school district. The district s now free to work on the building. n Donations to the district included $35,000 from Weyerhaeuser; $500 from Walmart to Bruce Elementary School; a $3,900 cooler from the National Dairy Council to Bruce High School; a $3,500 cooler from the National Dairy Council, a $250 dryer and a $5,000 lawnmower from the football boosters, and $500 from the New Century Club to Calhoun City High School; $4,000 for a football field sign from Cannon Motor Co. and $1,904.05 from the football boosters to Vardaman High School. n Britt Criddle transferred from Houston to Calhoun County. n Administrators hired for next year are principals Angie Weldon at Bruce Elementary, Linda White at Bruce Upper Elementary, Mark Grubbs at Bruce High, Lisa Langford at Calhoun City Elementary, Dale Hays at Calhoun City High, Deedee Lee at Vardaman Elementary and Porter Casey at Vardaman High; and Stephanie Langston, special education, curriculum and professional development coordinator. Federal programs director Becky Spencer is retiring. No recommendation was made to replace her. Other personnel actions include: recommendations - Mary Talford and Antoinette Holland as substitute teachers, Rachel Roberts as computer lab aide, Willie Thompson as substitute bus driver; resignations - Willie Thompson as bus driver and Jon Hardin as paraprofessional coach; removals - Steven Whitten and Kim Kellum as substitute teachers; payroll correction - Greg Haynes, assistant boys’ basketball coach, $2,000. n Superintendent Moore congratulated Teachers of the Year Judy Doolittle, Leah Easley Edington, Denise Wright, Judy Moore, Jody Ferguson Clark, Dana Brasher and Jeff Patton.
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