The regularly scheduled Carroll County School District Board of Education meeting began Monday, March 20 with an announcement from Superintendent Joey Carpenter. Superintendent Carpenter notified the Board and attendees of the recent Susan Spezzini Rural Teacher of the Year award presented to the Carroll County School District English Language Arts (ELA) Coordinator Kizzie Edwards. According to Superintendent Carpenter, Edwards received an estimated twenty individual nominations for the award. When presenting the news, Superintendent Carpenter read from the award notice post on Facebook from the Alabama-Mississippi Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (AMTESOL) organization which encompassed words of high praise for Edwards’ work and contributions to students’ education.
The AMTESOL official Facebook post read “As an EL [English Language] teacher, mentor, BETA Club Sponsor, and cheer coach, she [Edwards] goes above and beyond to help her students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.” The post went on to say, “Her caring and supportive nature helps students feel confident, welcome, and ready to thrive.”
Following this news, Board Member Teresa Vanlandingham made an announcement as well. Board Member Vanlandingham stated that several Marshall Elementary students participated in an Art Stamp Design contest sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Of those who participated, two students from the Grade 6 Gifted Program placed at local and state levels. John Fox and Jayla Reaves of Marshall Elementary placed first and second in the local and state levels, respectively.
“John Fox won first place in the state of Mississippi in the Sixth Grade Group One category and has now received a first place in the Southeastern Division of the United States, in competition with other first place winners in other southeastern states. Now he goes on to compete in the national competition. Also we learned that Jayla Reaves came in second place in the state of Mississippi in the Art Stamp Design [contest],” Board Member Vanlandingham announced.
A round of applause followed the announcement from both attendees and board members alike.
After these announcements, the Board moved onto the business for the evening. The first major matter of business for the meeting was regarding the district purchasing new and refurbished football helmets. Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Prestridge explained that the current helmets utilized by the district would need to be replaced as the contractor whom the warranty was with has recently gone out of business. She stated that the quotes brought before the Board were provided by the coaches and athletic directors. The low quote, Riddell, agreed to a trade-in program to offset the cost of purchasing new helmets. Riddell quoted the district $5,892.45 for the complete replacement of 16 helmets and the refurbishment of 15 helmets, for a total of 31 helmets. The intention of the district is to replace half of the helmets this year and half next year. The Board approved the quote from Riddell in the amount of $5,892.45 for the purchase of 16 new helmets and 15 refurbished helmets on a motion by Board Member William Downs and seconded by Board Member Kenneth DeLoach with all in favor.
Much later in the meeting, Superintendent Carpenter updated the Board on the damages still being assessed from the March 14-15 tornado. Though the sixteenth section land is still under assessment for damages, according to Carpenter the forestry department is estimating roughly 15 acres were lost to the tornado. Aside from land damages, the only damage recorded to have happened to school property during the storm was to one of the district buses. Carpenter stated that during the storm one of the bus’ windows was shattered. For the sixteenth section land, the school district is expecting to file damages on insurance or seek disaster relief funds. As for the bus window, the damages will be covered by the district as the deductible was not met.
