VALDOSTA — The Lowndes County School System discussed the transportation of Headstart students on system school buses at Monday’s board of education meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith said transporting children younger than four on a school bus is a liability to the school system.
At a previous meeting Smith had recommended that the board discontinue the service.
In November of 2008, Tonya Thomas from Coastal Plains Headstart came before the board regarding the issue. At that time, the board requested information regarding student transportation and that Headstart contact the school system’s attorney.
Information from Coastal Plains Headstart has been provided, but not what was requested, Smith said. The organization has also not made contact with the system’s attorney.
Smith requested that the board consider imposing a $3 fee per child per day for the rest of the school year and then discontinue the service for the Fall 2009-2010 school year.
The fee is federally funded and is currently paid to two other school systems by Headstart, Smith said.
Board member Fred Wetherington hesitated on the fee stipulation.
“I don’t want to hurt them financially,” Wetherington said. “We need those three year olds in Headstart.”
Smith said that from what he understands the money is allotted specifically for transportation and if not used in that capacity, it cannot be used at all.
Wetherington said he would be satisfied with ending the service at the end of the school year to give the organization enough time to find alternative means of transportation.
Board member Jason Wisenbaker suggested giving or selling Headstart recently surplused buses from the school system.
Smith suggested using the $3 fee to go toward purchasing one of the surplused buses.
In other news:
The Lowndes County School System will have a new Student Information System by August of 2009.
The board approved the purchase of Infinite Campus to replace SASI at the cost of $118,884.40.
The approval of the purchase was approved with the contingency that wording within the contract be clarified and approved by Smith and the system’s attorney.
If the contract is approved in a timely manner, the school system could convert to the program before the end of the current school year.
The Lowndes High School automotive program received its automobile technician training certificate. The certification will allow students within the program to present certification of experience to potential employers.
Smith presented Hahira Middle School eighth grader Wesley Newton and Hahira Elementary School staff member Jimmy Hodge with January’s GREAT Awards.
Local News
BOE discusses Head Start transportation
- Local News
-
-
Tropical storm brings much needed rain to drought-stricken region
Lowndes County is in for a soaking today as Tropical Storm Beryl passes through the area, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Wild Adventures unveils revamped animal show
A Chilean Rose tarantula, an albino Burmese python and American alligators headline Wild Adventures’ revamped “Creature Feature Extreme” show, as the exhibit kicked off its summer schedule last week in a newly constructed amphitheater.
Previously titled “Creature Feature,” the new variant of the show features some of the most popular animals from the previous exhibit. -
Pausing to honor those who gave all
Two Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery Monday to honor the fallen veterans of our country’s past and current wars.
-
Fallen hero memorialized
Amid cries of jubilation from the mother of a fallen local veteran, a new memorial was unveiled Saturday afternoon, at the intersection of North Valdosta Road and Inner Perimeter, in honor of the late Petty Officer First Class Joseph Adam McSween.
-
VHS Class of 2012 graduates
Valdosta High School’s Class of 2012 gathered Friday night at the Valdosta State University PE Complex to celebrate the graduation of roughly 350 seniors.
-
Qualifying ends
Citizens engaged in their local political landscape will have plenty of options this July and November as dozens of candidates qualified on Friday.
-
Resident escapes from blaze
A citizen escaped an aggressive fire with only minor cuts and bruises Friday afternoon, as wind amplified the flames from the blaze that started inside of his St. Augustine Road residence.
-
Weekend preview with Brittany McClure
Find out what's going on this weekend with Brittany McClure.
-
Popular vendor taken out of the ballparks
With a wagon-load of fresh cakes, hot boiled peanuts and ice-cold bottled water she has witnessed generations of children, or as she refers to them, her angels, grow into adults with children of their own.
-
Three candidates file for election
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries continue with the addition of a couple new candidates interested in running for elected office.
- More Local News Headlines
-
