Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Pike county Board of Education approved a new policy on cellphone use. 

Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell said the school system had worked with parents, students and faculty to develop a plan that would allow students to access phones when necessary, but also prevent phones from becoming a distraction. 

Bazzell said about half of the conflicts among students resulted from social media. Bazzell said the policy addressed that issue as well as cyber bullying. Bazzell said the program would be implemented and there would be an educational period to allow students to become accustomed to the new policy. Bazzell said after students return to school after the Christmas break the policy will be fully enforced. 

In other business the board: 

• Approved a request for TaMika Hurt to travel to and attend the ALA-Case Fall Conference, October 6-9, 2024, in Perdido Beach, AL. Funding – IDEA RETROACTIVE
• Approved a request for Kim Sellers and Amy Garrett to travel to and attend the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering event, October 24-25, 2024, in Huntsville, AL. Funding – General Funds.
• Approved a  request for Brooke Terry to travel to and attend the Child Nutrition Director’s Fall Conference, November 20-22, 2024, in Point Clear, AL. Funding – Child Nutrition.
• Approved a  request for Daniel Reeves to travel to and attend the CTO trainings October 21-22, 2024, and November 20-21, 2024. Both trainings are in Alabaster, AL. Funding – General Funds.
• Approved a  request for Amanda Hinton to travel to and attend the CLAS Secretaries Conference, December 3-5, 2024, in Perdido Beach, AL. Funding – IDEA.
• Approved a  request for Tracey Arnold to travel to and attend Secondary PLC Series Part 1: Instruction, November 11-12, 2024, in Mobile, AL. Funding – Title IV.
• Approved a  request for Andrea Baxter to travel to and attend the National Conference on Science Education, November 6-9, 2024, in New Orleans. Funding – no cost to the Board.

Personnel

• Accepted the resignation of Abbey McClure, ACE Teacher.
• Accepted the  resignation of Jeffrey Myhand, Bus Driver.Accept resignation of Amanda Johnson, Pre-K Teacher, PCES. Effective October 18, 2024.
• Accepted the  resignation of Kaitlyn Swanson, Math Teacher, GHS. Effective October 18, 2024.
• Accepted the  resignation of Natalie Mims, Principal, GES. Effective October 25, 2024.
• Accepted the  resignation of Syreeda Lampley, CNP Manager, GES. Effective October 4, 2024.
• Approved request to update inaccurate years of experience for Shane Chance, Maintenance Worker for payroll purposes.
• Approved request to employ Aerol Leverett, Secretary, GHS.
• Approved request to employ Hunter Oswald, Maintenance Team Leader.
• Approved request to employ Jennifer Washington, CNP Worker, PCHS. RETROACTIVE
• Approved request to employ Kimberly Green, Transition Coach, PCHS and GHS.
• Approved request to assign Sarah Toney to Interim Child Nutrition Manager, GES.
• Approved Volunteer Status for Derwin Carter, Football and Basketball, PCHS. RETROACTIVE
• Approved Volunteer Status for Marcus Bryant, Football, PCHS. RETROACTIVE
• Approved Volunteer Status for Cornelius Griffin, Football, PCHS. RETROACTIVE
• Approved Volunteer Status for Dekota Leon, Soccer, PCHS. RETROACTIVE
• Approved Volunteer Status for Tony Anderson, Softball, PCHS.
• Approved Major Lane, Acting Principal, GES, starting November 4, 2024.
• Approved a request to reinstate 10 sick leave days to Martha Hughes, Bus Driver, for an on-the-job injury.
• Accepted the  resignation of Magnolia Mancilla, ELL Aide, CO.