Elam-Washington photo 7-19-2022

(Photo cutline: Brad Elam, the new assistant principal at Thomasville Middle School and Melisa Marshall-Washington, the new assistant principal at Thomasville Elementary School, were officially introduced July 19 at the school board meeting in the Thomasville High School Library.)

The Thomasville City Schools District has had a long tradition in promoting “life-long learning.”
Administrators and teachers in the district were recognized by school superintendent Vickie Morris on July 19 for carrying on that tradition.
Randall Fullington, who serves as both Technology Coordinator and Career Tech Coordinator in the district, applied for and was chosen for the CLAS Leaders CIL (Certified Instructional Leader) Program. CLAS (Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools) established this program in 2013 to promote the highest standards of instructional leadership through the credentialing of school or district administrators.
In addition, Morris recognized administrators and teachers who have received training through the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) program.
Chelsea Doggett, principal at Thomasville Elementary School, is currently involved in administration training.
Doggett, Bethany Elam (ARI Reading Coach), and TES teachers Kimberly Clardy and Natalie Hutto have completed LETRS elementary training.
TES teachers Kimberlee Harrell, Lisa Nordan and Jennifer Smith have completed LETRS training for early childhood.
TES teachers Whitney Westbrook, Charlotte Cox, Tracey Downey, Kimberlee Harrell, Hailey O’Bryant, Emily Drinkard, Linda Anderson, Wendy Martin, Judy Jenkins, Amy Carlisle and Lynzi White are currently enrolled in LETRS elementary training.
New teacher hires at TES, Chloe Rush Mason and Sarah Chelsea Morgan, are also enrolled in LETRS elementary training.
In other action from the July 19 meeting, the board approved membership in the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) for the 2022-2023 school year ($3,628.76).
• The board approved the 2022-2023 Parent-Student Handbook for the school system.
• Admission passes were approved for various individuals or organizations to attend school athletic or other extracurricular events.
• Child nutrition meal prices were approved for the 2022-2023 school year.
• The school district will offer “universal” free breakfast in the coming school year, Morris said. However, the district cannot provide free lunch. “We do not qualify under the current state and federal regulations and guidelines for free lunch,” she said. “…We are at a 40 percent range in the regulations (students qualifying for free or reduced lunch), and you have to be at 80 percent.”
• A bid with Four Seasons Produce, Incorporation, was approved to purchase fresh produce and precut prepackaged fresh fruit and vegetable products for the Child Nutrition Program (CNP).
• A change to board policy was approved regarding graduation math requirements.
• The board held an executive session for a student hearing at the end of the regular meeting. No action was taken after the session.
• The board will hold a special called meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 25 in the Thomasville Elementary School Library (note the change in venue). The meeting is open to the public and will be live streamed on the “Thomasville Tiger Nation” Facebook page.