Staff Writer

Dec. 18, 2000 10 PM

During its last meeting of 2000, the Troy Board of Education took care of several items of business.

In personnel matters, the board approved the hiring of Caroline Linton as fourth grade teacher at Troy Elementary School, Angela Barnette to be an aide at TES and transferred Debbie Headley from the Child Nutrition Program to instructional aide.

Board members also revised the personnel policy to "make it general enough" under the consent decree, Superintendent Hank Jones said.

In other business, the board:

· Chose Alltel to provide cellular, paging and land line long distance services.

According to Linda Carroll, technology coordinator for the school system, the cellular and paging service will save $140 or more per month and Alltel will provide a $30 per month savings for connectivity. Alltel, which is the system’s current provider, and AT&T were the only bidders.

· Gave authority to member Ron Pierce and Jones to make the final decision on E-rate. Bids will be opened on Jan. 9 and the deadline to file requests is Jan. 12, which is before the board meets again.

· Agreed to cash in a CD to make pay offs early. With the last day of the month being today and, in order to pay off people early, the board will cash in the CD, Jones said.

· Heard Pierce recognize sponsors for the Blue Monster ­ a $4,000 blue wall at Charles Henderson High School’s baseball field that will be used for advertising.

"It’s going to add some uniqueness to the ballfield," Pierce said of the 108-foot long wall.

He said plans are to put the names of senior baseball players on the scoreboard.

Pierce also recognized Bart Wallace, who is working to install a sprinkler system at the high school baseball field, as an Eagle Scout project.

· Members wished everyone a safe and happy holiday. Citizens are reminded the Board of Education office will be closed beginning at 2:30 p.m. today and will re-open Jan. 3.

· Was told "minor maintenance" activity will be ongoing at the system’s three schools during the holiday break.