The Pike County School Board passed a resolution supporting Amendment 1 at its meeting Monday night. Adam Register was the only board member absent.

"It's important for all of us in education to support the amendment," Superintendent Mark Bazzell said. "Personally, I feel it is the right thing to do in Alabama and I'm glad the board approved it."

Bazzell said he was also optimistic about allowing Pike County Elementary School to start on time.

Renovations at the campus are moving slowly and he and the board members were afraid the first day at PCES would have to be delayed. Bazzell said he would make a decision before the Friday.

Goshen High School also received a new long sought after band director.

Robert Hall will take over this fall as the overall band director. He will concentrate primarily on the fifth and sixth grade beginner bands, however. Jerry Claiborne, a paraprofessional, will direct the high school band under the supervision of Hall.

The board also approved a Pike County High School and GHS band and senior trip to Gov. Bob Riley's speech at Troy State University in August. Members also approved the deletion of the Omaha Teacher Inventory as a criterion for employment in Board Policy GAAB.

The board also approved the request from New Life Christian Academy to purchase surplus items.

In other business, the board: accepted the resignation of Jennifer Lee as Reading First Initiative Coach at PCES, for which she was approved on July 21, 2003; approved Mary Jo Price's request for a medical leave of absence for the 2003-2004 school year from her position as English teacher at PCHS; approved continuing contracted services for Tim Price to work with students one day a week in 2003-2004, with his salary coming from Title IV funds; and approved Dot Dix as a full-time substitute for Ruth Qualls while she is on maternity leave.

Board members also approved the following new hires: the emergency hire of Mabeth Gibson as a math teacher at Banks Middle School; the emergency hire of Don Key as third grade teacher at PCES; the emergency hire of Linda Sheffield as fourth grade teacher at PCES; the employment of a Reading First Initiative Coach at PCES; the emergency hire of Alice Phillips as an English teacher at PCHS; the employment of a science teacher at PCHS; the employment of Otis Flowers as a custodian at PCHS, working eight hours per day; the employment of Jennifer Hill as a fifth grader teacher at Goshen Elementary School; the employment of Marla Johnson as science teacher at GHS; the employment of Tyease Holmes as a Title I math teacher at GHS; and the employment of Denetrice Scott as a special education bus aide.