New Albany schools glad to be back to four-day in-person schedule

New Albany School Superintendent Dr. Lance Evans told trustees Thursday that the transition from a hybrid schedule to four out of five days a week in the classroom is working well. “I’ve had a lot of positive emails and phone calls,” he said.

Students are attending classes in person Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with virtual classes Wednesday.

Although he did not quote numbers, he said school officials are pleased – although he added that may be a strange way to phrase it – with the low number of students or teachers quarantined. He particularly credited education efforts and work by the school nurses to help keep students safe.

Part of the approximately 20-minute board meeting was devoted to approving change orders to wrap up the school renovation project. Adding more new windows to the high school and the cost of having to temporarily move HCAC/Electrical equipment at the high school and middle school accounted for about $55,000 but general work at the three main campuses had cost less than anticipated, returning about $55,000 from that contingency fund to the schools.

The school board members approved the last dual credit memorandum of understanding with area colleges and universities, Northeast Mississippi Junior College completing the list.

Annual safety and other plans were approved along with a list of school bus turnarounds and transfer students coming into the city district.

As usual, trustees acted on several personnel matters. They included:

• Approving the resignation of Kami Derrick, teacher, New Albany Elementary School effective Sept. 17.
• Approving the resignation of Hope Bradley, yearbook sponsor, New Albany High School
• Approving the resignation of Brad Harris, assistant football coach, New Albany High School
• Approving the resignation of Lisa Turner, teacher assistant, New Albany Elementary School due to retirement
• Approving Anita Alef, Kimberly Langley and Latrina Walker to be paid for after school programming during September, to be paid with funds from the Career and Technical Education Nontraditional Participation Grant
• Approving Anita Hill, teacher assistant, New Albany Elementary School
• Approving Keri McDonough, teacher assistant, New Albany Elementary School
• Approving Asleesha Keely, yearbook sponsor, New Albany High School
• Approving Jay Cotton, bus driver, central office
• Approving Dixie Tutor and Karen Johnson, interventionist, New Albany Middle School to be paid with federal funds

The next scheduled meeting of the city school board will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, tentatively scheduled to be at the central office.