March 21, 2018 Page 7A
orter
Continued from Front
Bill Linnenkohl, whose
wife was Monroe County
Teacher of the Year, did not
address the issue, saying there
had been negative talk and
he wanted to give a positive
perspective. He talked of how
his grandfather had dropped
out of school to help support
his siblings and had passed on
to his father and subsequently
to him the importance of
education. He said that in
his 57 years he has been
very involved in promot-
ing, funding and otherwise
helping educational institu-
tions at various levels and
that Monroe County Schools
has the finest group of people
he has ever worked with. He
said he told his daughter that
she needs to move to Monroe
County so that his grand-
children can attend Monroe
County Schools
Kerri Swearingen, a Monroe
County realtor whose daugh-
ter is a graduate of Monroe
County Schools, said that
the reputation of the school
system has a huge impact on
the prosperity of the county.
"The system isn't per- '
fect. I'm sure much will be
learned;' said Swearingen.
"We should focus on positive
circumstances and the desire
for the best for all:'
Diane Glidewell of The
Reporter, who has covered
school board meetings for
over six years, asked the
board to consider some ques-
tions that have been unan-
swered, such as:
why the school system
had the substitute teacher's
background check for over a
year before hiring hin},
what part the school sys-
tem's attorney and his advice
played in the hiring,
what type of policy
changes, if any, the board is
considering as a result of the
information that surfaced,
and
what contact Monroe
County schools made with
other school systems where
the applicant claimed em-
ployment?
She asked that the board.
share its insights into how the
applicant slipped through its
screening process and any
changes it plans to m.@e with
the public as soon as possible.
To date, the board has not ad-
dressed those questions.
But the board didn't answer
any questions, instead as-
sistant Superintendent Alicia
Elder recognized the seven
school board members and
their years of service. She said
they manage the $38 million
budget, 4,000 students and
600 employees. She presented
them with a certificate and
said a seat in the new Monroe
County Fine Arts Center will
be dedicated to each one of
them, with each's name plate
on the seat. By making a $250
donation, citizens can have a
name placed on a seat in the
facility, also, Assistant Super-
intendent Jackson Daniel told
board members of upcom-
ing'performances at the Fine
Arts Center, including the
"Soiree" on Sunday, M.arch
25 at 3 p.m which includes
members of board member
J.R Evans' family.
School board attorney Cory
Kirby of Harbin, Hartley &
Hawkins in Gainesville was
present to ask board members
to adopt resolutions certifying
the results of the November
2017 ESPLOST vote and to
issue bonds in the future on
the money to be collected.
Kirby said the board had
received the information on
the ESPLOST previously and
it was mostly a formality to
ratify it at the meeting. He
said he has not priced interest
rates on bonds, yet, but would
word the resoluUon not to
exceed 6 percent" so that the
process of issuing bonds on
future ESPLOST collection
could move forward.
After a dosed door session,
the board approved the resig-
nations of nine teachers and
the school psychologist and
the retirement of three teach-
ers and one administrative as-
sistant. It hired five teachers, a
paraprofessional and a school
nurse and approved changes
in position for six school
employees. Approval of the
new hires was 6-1, with board
member Stuart Pippin voting
against hiring until questions
about background investiga-
tions are resolved.
The teachers from Mary
Persons who resigned are
Elizabeth Pirovano and
Carlos Sanchez, from Monroe
County Middle School are
Teresa Ford, Bob Meacham
and Stephana Miller, from
K.B. Sutton is Loren Maddux
and from Hubbard Elemen-
tary is Kelsey Brown. The
retiring teachers are at T.G.
Scott Elementary: Cindy Col-
vin, Mary C. McArthur and
Wendy Thackston. Patricia
Watson is the psychologist,
and Sandra Walker is the
administrative assistant.
The new teachers hired
are Katelyn Chancey (MP),
Jennifer Doolittle (HES),
Lisa Fennell (MP), Rashanda
Goode (KBS), Alison Gro-
eper (MCMS), Brittany Kop-
pen (MCMS), and Lizamar
Nieves (MP).
and
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2,3, & 4Year Old Program
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8AM-Noon
FBC After School Offers:
*Transportation
* Nutritious Snack
*HomeworkTime
*Outdoor Activities and
Indoor Activities: Musid, Art,
Drama and more!
*Library Visits and Story time
After School Hours
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After school-6:00 PM
Pre K-5th Grade
Train up a child in the
way he should go, and
when is old he will not
depart from it.
~Proverbs 22:6
Both programs coincide with the
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Please contact Carla Niblett, Preschool Director
or Debbie McMichael, After School Director at
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