City schools honor middle school students for perfect scores

The New Albany School Board honored middle school students Monday who achieved more than 40 perfect scores on fifth through eighth grade state testing in English and Math.

Principal Paul Henry said he thought this was the largest number ever of students with perfect scores and some students achieved perfect scores in more than one testing area.

Commended were:

Fifth grade English language arts – Danica Baker, Annsley Coleman, Landon Hall, William Henson, Elizabeth Moore, Candace Ordaz, Madison Rodgers, Asia Rooker

Fifth grad math – William Henson, Madison Rodgers, Jackson Waldon

Sixth grade English language arts – Mae Blackburn

Sixth grade math – Mac Blackburn, William Chism, Anderson Crews, Thomas Duncan, Katie Favela, Lucy King, Benjamin Reed

Seventh grade math – Hannah Brown, Kierra Carter, Sylvia Chen, Samuel Derrick, Leah Harrell, Kevin Hernandez, Dylan Jackson, Brayden Langley, Breannah Lawal, Brendan Littlejohn, Maya McColly, Ingrid Ojeda, Julianna Scott, Will Speck, Carson Taylor, William Thomas, Maria Vega, Sarah Vega, Zoie White

Eighth grade math – Landon York, Elijah Chapman, Steven Coltharp, James Cotton, Joseph Everett

Algebra I – Joseph Everett

Also at the November board meeting, construction manager Kelly Howard reported that renovation on the three schools continues  with most major work done other than roofing at the high school and some mechanical replacement. Although much of the remaining work is more like trim and detail, some of the necessary material will not be here and installed until December. Howard added that they are finding some equipment slated for replacement can still be used and some material is less expensive than anticipated so some money is being saved in the $7.3 million project.

Director of accounting services Suzanne Coffey continues to report that revenue and expenses are generally falling in accepted budget limits for the part of the school year that has passed. She said the revenue balance is about $1.7 million, more than the desired minimum, but that some of this will be used for bond payment.

Trustees update and approve policies throughout the year on a continuing basis. Among policies updated this month included those on vendor access to teachers, school bus turnarounds, facility expansion bond sales and grievance procedures.

In personnel, board members approved:

• Lawanda Johnson, cafeteria, New Albany Middle School replacing Haylee Crotts
• Kristi Barkstrom, cafeteria, New Albany Middle School replacing Callie Roaten
• Brock White, bus driver, central office replacing James Bailey
• Hattie McKenzie, SPED bus monitor, central office, replacing Ellen Frazier
• The resignation of Nicholas McGuirk, head custodian, New Albany Middle School effective Nov. 11

Among consent agenda items, trustees approved allowing the New Albany Pilot Club to use the New Albany Elementary Cafeteria and Gym on Feb. 29 for their Snowflake Ball.

Also approved was use of the New Albany Middle School Cafeteria by Mary Margarett King Saturday, Dec. 14, for the annual community Christmas meal.

And finally, the board will allow The Tallahatchie Hot Shots to use the New Albany High School Auditorium Nov. 17 for the Miss North Mississippi Christmas Pageant.

Before adjourning, the school board went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter but no action had been reported by the time this story was posted.

The next meeting of the city school board is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in the conference room at New Albany Elementary School.

Several students were recognized at the November 4 School Board Meeting for their perfect scores on the 2018-2019 MAAP state assessments. Pictured in no particular order.
5th Grade English Language Arts – Danica Baker (not pictured); Annsley Coleman; Landon Hall; Hunter Henson; Lizzie Moore; Candace Ordaz; Madison Rodgers; Asia Rooker.
5th Grade Math – Hunter Henson; Madison Rodgers; Jackson Waldon.
6th Grade English Language Arts – Mac Blackburn.
6th Grade Math – Mac Blackburn; William Chism; Anderson Crews; Thomas Duncan; Katie Favela (not pictured); Lucy King (not pictured); Benjamin Reed (not pictured).
7th Grade Math – Hannah Brown; Kierra Carter (not pictured); Sylvia Chen (not pictured); Samuel Derrick (not pictured); Leah Harrell (not pictured); Kevin Hernandez; Dylan Jackson; Brayden Langley; Breannah Lawal (not pictured); Brendan Littlejohn; Maya McColly; Ingrid Ojeda; Julianna Scott; Will Speck (not pictured); Carson Taylor (not pictured); William Thomas; Maria Vega; Sarah Vega; Zoie White (not pictured).
8th Grade Math – Landon York; Elijah Chapman; Steven Coltharp; James Cotten (not pictured); Owen Everett (not pictured).
Algebra I – Owen Everett (not pictured).