Acting in regular session last Thursday evening, the Jackson County Board of Education approved a request for retirement from Kenna Elementary cook Glenna Parsons, effective July 1.

The Board accepted the resignation of Matthew Hicks as assistant boys’ track coach and assistant baseball coach at Ripley, Sandra Vidrine as extra-curricular bus aide on Rt. 51, and of Amanda Mellen from the business co-op program.

The Board hired Delores Jenkins as a bus operator on Rt. 55, Matthew Hicks as baseball coach at Ripley Middle, Joni Eddy and Kathi McCann as staff development book study facilitators, Sherry Poole as mentor for a beginning music teacher, Evan Hall as a mechanic in the transportation department, Samantha Hatcher and Derek Richardson as students in the business cooperative program, Sarah McGrew as a substitute teacher, and Paula King, Vicki Owens, Cassie Radabaugh, and Elizabeth Sirbaugh as parent trainers in the Title I program at Ravenswood Grade. Natalie Wilson will serve as an after-school homebound instructor on an as-needed basis.
Leave of absence was approved for Cottageville teacher Danielle Shockey from February 16 to April 30.

Two contracts were approved with Interiors Plus, LLC. The first is in the amount of $9,520 for replacement of roofs on the dugouts, concession stand, bathrooms, and pressbox at the Ripley High softball field. Funding will be from a Community Participation grant. The second, in the amount of $102,600, is for the replacement of doors at Cottageville Elementary, Gilmore Elementary, and two double doors at Henry J. Kaiser Elementary. Funding is being provided by the SBA.

A contract was approved with ZMM Architects and Engineers to provide architectural services for work on the Dodge property in Ripley.

A contract was approved with CAS Communications, LLC, for a high-speed data line for Cottageville, Evans, Fairplain, and Kenna elementary schools.

Up to $3,000 was approved for Gilmore Elementary for Phases I and II of the nature and fitness trail construction.

Funding in the amount of $12,048 was approved for the continuation of the PRO program at Ripley Middle.

The next Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, at the Ravenswood Middle School library for an LSIC special session.

The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16 at the Board office in Ripley.