TIMES staff writer

Macon County Elementary and Middle Schools achieved a significant accomplishment recently as all the schools eligible for accreditation by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Elementary and Middle Schools for 2003 received accreditation.

"Westside, Red Boiling Springs Elementary, and Lafayette Elementary recently returned from San Antonio where they received their accreditation," Director of Schools Mike Prock reported. "This means that all of our schools are accredited."

The issue concerning the dismissal of RBSHS football coach was briefly addressed when school board member Gene Carter reported that he had received a letter related to the matter.

"I received a letter addressed to the school board," school board member Gene Carter stated. "The letter is from John Cook, who lives in my district, and pertains to Mike Prock (Director of Schools). We will take the letter into advisement and read it. If it is necessary, we will handle it from this end."

Fairlane Elementary School Principal Linda Smith appeared before the school board to request purchasing a copier with funds the school already has. Mrs. Smith presented two bids for the copier to the school board and asked for permission to spend the money. The board notified Mrs. Smith that she needed three bids on the item. The board voted that when she gets the third bid, the Executive Committee will handle review of the bids and she will be given permission to purchase the copier.

RBSHS Principal Don Jones appeared before the school board to discuss additional improvements in the RBS cafeteria. Mr. Jones requested permission to purchase a point of sale computer system for use in the lunchroom identical to the ones already used in other school cafeterias in the county. The board approved the purchase.

Three bids were received on a double modular classroom building. Bidding on the project were Acton Mobile Industry bid $48, 276; Modular Building Systems bid $46,597; and Clayton bid $57, 322. This building would be located at Central Elementary School and the price was to allow for the school system to take care of site preparation, electricity to the meter and water. The school board elected to accept the bid from Modular Building Systems.

Director of Schools Mike Prock reported to the board that the cafeterias were audited during the previous week and that he had been informed that the system would be written up on the milk bids.

County policy and Tennessee Codes Annotated (state policy) both indicate that the governing body can pick the "best and lowest" bid.

"Sarah White from the State Department of Education told me that the federal regulations overruled this," Prock reported.

"I thought as the local governing body we could reject bids if they didn't meet our specifications and these (the lowest bidder) didn't address four of our five specifications, including delivery schedule," School Board Chairman Charles Cowan stated.

Since the last Board meeting the following personnel have been employed for the 2002 - 2003 school year (contingent upon completion of all reemployment requirements and satisfactory background report):

Troy Brawner, Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach at MCJHS

Dustin Marr, Volunteer Assistant Basketball Coach at MCHS

Tanisha Rhoads, Interim Librarian MCJHS

Connie Keene - custodian at MCJHS retroactive to 11/18/02

Myra Meador - RBSJHS Cheerleader Coach

Leveda Murphy - RBSJHS Volunteer Cheerleader Coach

Jessica Smet - RBSHS Volunteer Assistant Cheerleader Coach

Substitute bus driver - Troy Brawner

County wide substitutes - Amanda Birdwell, Christopher Brooks, Tara Linville, Tina Richardson, Julie Robinson, Andrea Scruggs, Melanie Tuck and Jamie Withem

Resignations tendered - Christina Grenead, RBS cook effective 12/2/02 and Sonia Wix - custodian at MCHS effective 1/3/03.

Other actions taken during the December 12 School Board meeting included the following:

approved minutes of November session

approved leave requests from Suzanne Smith - Lafayette Elementary School teacher from April 7 - May 9

approved leave request of Kristen Hix - Lafayette Elementary School teacher from February 10 - May 23

approved leave request of Kimberly Hale - Lafayette Elementary School teacher from March 3 - May 9

approved school trip request of MCHS Football Cheerleaders to national competition in Orlando February 7 - 11

approved school trip request of MCHS softball team to tournament in Waverly March 28 & March 29

approved school trip request of MCHS softball team to tournament in Crossville April 4 & 5

ratified the minutes of Tri County Vocational School Board meeting

authorized the posting of the new position of Alternative Learning Center at Central Office in lafayette

approved TSBA recommended board policy 1.704 on second reading. This policy concerns charter schools

bids received on the 1987 handicap bus were tabled at this point, with the bids to be addressed at an upcoming meeting

two bids were received on the Ford Station wagon sold as surplus. Board voted to sell the vehicle to the highest bidder - Carl Harrington - for $200

approved general purpose budget amendment No. 1 for Fiscal year 2002 - 203. This amendment concerned support raises

Debby Prock appeared before the board to inform that the School System had submitted a grant proposal in the amount of $20, 000 that would help fund in service training for teachers

Board of Education member Mike Marshall mentioned the possibility of printing a book, pamphlet ot other means to tell everybody what the school system is doing. "I think it is something we need to look out," Marshall stated. "If our public relations not that good, we need to work on it."

School board member Ronald Birdwell stated that local citizens, including businesspeople, have asked who they would ned to see about the adult education program offering a Spanish fee. Interested parties were suggested to call Brenda Eller at the board of Education and ask about the possibility of a class.

The School Board was reminded that on January 13, Macon, Jackson and Clay county representatives were requested to attend the Tri County Vocational School board meeting to discuss the school calendar for the upcoming school year. The Tri-County Vocational School Board meeting will be held at the school in Red Boiling Springs on January 13, beginning at 6 p.m.

The next scheduled Macon County School board meeting will be held on Thursday, January 9, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Macon County Junior High School auditorium.

The building committee will meet on Thursday, January 23, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Macon County courthouse.