School Board Honors Employees of the Year

Courtsey of WRBE, "Your Hometown Radio"
The George County Board of Education began their Feb. 6 meeting with the recognition of employees of the year to include teachers and assistant teachers of the year from all the district schools, district teacher of the year, district assistant teacher of the year, bus driver of the year, cafeteria worker and cafeteria manger of the year, and parent volunteer of the year. Teachers recieving their National board certifications were also recognized.
Awards included:
Agricola Elementary--Teacher of the Year is Bonita Groves and Assistant Teacher of the Year is Ollie Hancock; Benndale Elementary--Teacher of the Year is Debra Davis and Assistant Teacher of the Year is Michelle Dixon; Central Elementary--Teacher of the Year is Kristy Pater and Assistant Teacher of the Year is Frances Hathorn; Rocky Creek Elementary--Teacher of the Year is Phyllis Robbins and Assistant Teacher of the Year is Brenda Broderick; Lucedale Elementary Teacher of the Year is Belita King and Assistant Teacher of the Year is Sarah Walker; Lucedale Intermediate is Felicia Simpson and Assistant Teacher of the Year is Amy Tillman; George County Middle School Teacher of the Year is Debra Wilson and Assistant Teacher of the Year is Beth Caldwell; George County High School Teacher of the Year is Richard Herrington; District Teacher of the Year is Debra Wilson; Parent Volunteer of the Year is Marcelle Brown; Cafeteria Manager of the Year is Jolene Winter; Cafeteria Worker of the Year is Pat Price and Bus Driver of the Year is Vernon Roberts.
Teachers Recieving their National Board Certifications includes Teresa Eubanks from George County High School, Sherry Goff from George County Middle School, and Pam Touchard and Deborah Webb from Agricola Elementary.

As the meeting continued, the board made approvals on the recommendations of Superintendent Donnie Howell for two payments to D & D Construction, the first for $27,666.95 for work at Agricola Elementary School pending the approval of Architect Taylor Guild; the second payment is for roof work at George County High School but Howell told the board that there were several issues at the site and recommended making a payment of $29,000 and hold the remaining $80,000 until the issues in questions could be addressed.
Darrel Hurt addressed the board to request assistance and recommendations for the lighting at the baseball field. Hurt stated that it had been brought to his attention that the lighting was inadequate and unsafe. Board President Ronnie Cooley stated that Hurt had discussed the issue with him. Cooley stated that he had been advised to measure the field and tally the number of existing lights. Sending this information to GE they could determined what was needed to up grade lighting. Cooley stated that they may only have to add more lighting to the existing lights. Board took this issue under advisement and requested Hurt follow through with recommendation and come back before the board at a later date.
George County High School Head Coach Al Jones made final recommendations for the softball field, which included four lights to be moved and one to be reset and one straighten, Jones also proposed that one utility pole move. He recommended the work be contracted to Doug Welford at a total of $7,500.00. The Board approved Jones recommendations.
Before adjouring, the board also approved two other request made by Howell, which were the purchase of eight Mitsubishi Units for the sum of $13,828.00, which is the lowest of quote received and for the hiring of a secretary to be stationed at the bus barn at a yearly salary of $15,000.00 a year.