HHS virtual learning lab in operation
Monday night’s Roanoke Board of Education meeting was primarily a good news meeting, with Superintendent Chuck Marcum announcing the virtual learning lab at Handley High School is complete.
The lab with more than $80,000 of equipment purchased through a state grant looks like something you would see on a college campus, he said.
Those who have been trained on how to use it are Dr. David Crouse, Lynn Robinson, Steve Murphy, Amy Robertson, Charlotte Ogle, Chandice Potts, Richard Head and Donna Evans.
Eventually HHS students will take classes from across the state and some HHS teachers will be teaching students from throughout the state. One of the first projects will be students talking directly to a holocaust survivor at the New York City Holocaust Museum.
Marcum provided board members with new State Department of Education guidelines that all schools will have to follow regarding school-related organizations. All money will have to either come through the school or meet certain criteria, such as the treasurer being bonded, or requiring two signatures on a check or purchase orders to ensure the money is spent properly.
He said he has talked to the Quarterback Club and members did not seem to have a problem, he said. He asked board members to study the guidelines and they will be considered at the January meeting.
The HHS and new Handley Middle School bands presented the annual Christmas concert to a great turnout. Marcum said while he enjoyed all the students’ performances, he especially enjoyed hearing the HMS Band. HMS having its own band director satisfies a long-term goal, he said.
It is obvious HMS Band director Sanford Watson is doing a great job with his students and Marcum said he only expects it to get better as the students move into the new bandroom next year.
The Roanoke School Association made a $9,000 contribution Thursday to be split evenly among all three schools. Some of the money is earmarked for specific projects and some can be spent at the principal’s discretion, he said.
“As a board we all need to let this group know how much we appreciate their efforts. This work of this organization is providing opportunities to our students that would not be possible if not for their efforts,” Marcum said.
Another item of good news is the Crape Myrtle Garden Club at HMS has been awarded an $800 grant by Alabama Power for Crape Myrtles, straw and other plants to beautify the campus.
He commended the garden club and Dr. Katie Horn, the fifth-grade reading teacher, who wrote the grant on behalf of the garden club, for their efforts in working to beautify the campus.
He also recognized the HMS Honor Society, Student Government and the Fellowship of Christian Students for providing 300 stockings for needy children for Christmas. These clubs worked with the Pilot Club of Roanoke on this project and is a “great example of making good things happen” and of the school system giving back to the community, he said.
He congratulated Charlotte Ogle (calculus), Chandice Potts (English), Richard Head (psychology) and Steve Murphy (Spanish) on each being awarded a $2,500 grant for new advance placement teacher scholarships. The grants will allow these teachers to become advance placement certified and then offer AP classes to HHS students.
He congratulated Nathan Brown, a first-grade student in Donna Kinsey’s room, for being one of 59 finalists out of 1,623 submissions throughout the state in the poster contest: “I want to Be a College Kid. Here is My Dream.”
Marcum commended Murphy and all the students who participated on their own time in the hilarious play, “Christmas Tuna.” They spent many afternoons and weekends preparing for what was a first-class production and the funniest high school production he said he has ever seen.
Cast members were Alison Breed, Amy Cash, Lauren Dean, Russ Harper, Chase Ramsey and Jared Tucker. Technical crew was B.J. Hill, T.J. Ferguson, Justin Guizar and Rob Harper.
Marcum thanked Murphy and his wife, Kathy Murphy, for their work on this production “and instilling the love of drama of these students.”
He asked that Board Chairman Calvin Trammell and third-grade teacher Catherine Staples be remembered due to the death of his brother and her brother-in-law.
Personnel actions
The board approved personnel actions as follows:
Linda Lathinghouse was hired as special education aide effective Dec. 18.
Theresa Velazquez and Tonya Fenstermacher were added to the substitute teacher list. Cathy Windsor and Tonya Fenstermacher were added to the substitute cafeteria list.
The board agreed to an annual contract not to exceed $21,000 with Cathy McKinney from Jan. 1, through Dec. 31, 2008 to work part-time as her usual daily rate of pay on assigned tasks and duties as determined by the superintendent. Money will come from the General Fund.
The board agreed to contract with certified teachers as needed for the “Twilight School” program at Handley High School beyond their daily work schedule. They will be paid $17.50 per hour on an as-needed basis. The total contract amount will not exceed $20,000 and will be funded from a PASS grant. This contract will be retroactive to Nov. 14, 2007 and will continue through May 23, 2008.
The following teachers will be involved on a rotating basis: Melanie Toolsie, Debbie Cash, Sandy Daniel, Jane Anthony, Charlotte Ogle, Merredith Sears, Christy Fordham, Richard Head, Matthew Robinson, Kelly Seymour, Sherry Roberts, Amy Robertson, Chandice Potts, Tom Landers, Jamie O’Rear, Melissa Lewis and Linda Awbrey.
The board approved a contract with A. C. Consultant and Counseling Service (Anthony Chapman) to provide counseling and consultation services to students in the system from Jan. 3 through July 31, 2008. Contract amount will not exceed $3,500 and funding will come from Title IV, Part A (Safe and Drug Free Schools.)
