The Troy City Board of Education elected new officers during their meeting Monday night.

Board members unanimously elected Ron Pierce as the new president and Roxie Kitchens as the new vice president.

The two replace Doug Patterson and John Parker, respectively.

The officers will serve for one year.

Pierce conducted the rest of the meeting, which mainly consisted of a presentation about Alabama Reading Initiative.

Troy Elementary has been an ARI school since 2000 and this year the students participated in a pilot test to assess reading capabilities.

The test could be introduced statewide next year.

TES Principal Geoffrey Spann and reading coach Marianne Gilbert presented the information to the board and answered questions.

Gilbert said the test was a good measuring stick for teachers and helped identify students who needed additional help with reading.

She also said the test, which is also administered in kindergarten, helps parents know whether or not their child is prepared for first grade.

The first time the test was given on the kindergarten level, 52 percent of the students were comparable with national averages.

After the second test, 80 percent of the students had reached the benchmark.

Gilbert said the results not only prove the test as a good indicator, but it also proves that the method used to help students improve is also a success.

&uot;There has been an improvement,&uot; Spann said.

&uot;But it's going to take a number of years before it is spread throughout the system.&uot;

Gilbert also reported that this year 52 percent of fifth graders met or exceeded the average writing assessment score.

That number is up from 46 percent last year.

The increase is significant because this year's test also included all special education students who were not taking the alternative test.

Spann said TES would re-certify for ARI and hopefully receive graduate status.

He said the school has made strides in literacy since implementing the program.

In other business, Superintendent Hank Jones reported that the cost of utilities at Charles Henderson High School and the Alternative Learning Center were down from last month while expenses at TES Early Childhood Center had increased.

He also reported that sales tax revenue had increased only slightly, but that in the month since receiving the second penny sales tax, revenue had increased $160,000.

The board also approved an amendment to the budget in order to accommodate added expenses.

They also declared a 1987 Chevrolet bus as surplus and Jones recommended they take bids over the internet.

Pierce, who is heading the search for a new superintendent, anticipated a list of candidates by next week.

The board decided to call a special session next week to review the names and decide who to interview.

After congratulations to Troy City staff and administration on a year well done, the board adjourned.