LINDEN &8212; During the executive session of the Linden Board of Education meeting Thursday, the board officially accepted a contract to hire Scott Collier as interim superintendent. Collier will secede Dr. Walter Davis, who will begin his retirement effective June 30.

The Board also discussed the finances for the upcoming year. According to Davis, Linden City Schools will receive approximately $800,000 in bonds for the upcoming year. They will receive $618,908 from regular bond issue funds and $203,922 from the Black Belt bond issue funds.

In other financial matters, the board accepted two bids to provide Linden City Schools with new equipment.

The first bid was for five new school buses. The Board received a bid of $64,595.76 per bus from Transportation South. The school system will be able to purchase these buses through the tax-exempt lease program of the Daimler Chrysler Services.

Each year, the state can help fund buses if they qualify for fleet status, which is determined by several factors, including the age of the bus. If the buses do not qualify for fleet status, then money to fix them comes out of the operating budget for that year.

By purchasing these buses through the tax-exempt program with Daimler Chrysler, Linden City Schools will not have to make a payment on them until next year. That way they can use the money in next year&8217;s budget to help fund the buses.

The Board also accepted a $19,050 bid from EarthWalk Communications to purchase external batteries as a part of the Linden High School Laptop Initiative. According to Collier, Earthwalk was the only bidder that met the specifications for which they were looking.

Other action items for the meeting included:

Accepting re-employment of Lisa Martin, pre-kindergarten teacher at Linden Elementary School.

Accepting the employment of John Terrell as general social science teacher at Linden High School. He will also be assisting the coaching staff.

Accepting the employment of Mizti Gates as English language arts teacher at Linden High School.

Accepting the employment of Cecil Wallace as general science teacher at Linden High School.

Accepting the employment of Andro Williams as physical education teacher at Linden Elementary School and his transfer to system athletic director, system head football coach and physical education teacher at George P. Austin Junior High School.

Accepting the transfer of Luther Davis from system athletic director, system head football coach and physical education teacher at George P. Austin Junior High School to physical education teacher at Linden Elementary School and basketball coach at George P. Austin Junior High School.

Approving the coaching supplement schedule for certified personnel for the 2007-2008 school year.

Authorizing the hiring of a middle school English language arts teacher and two secondary mathematics teachers upon conducting interviews and with recommendations of the building principals.