Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Linden Board of Education was given a public presentation of the Alabama Association of School Board’s evaluation on Superintendent Timothy Thurman and Chief School Financial Officer Lakendra Raby, both of whom received overall scores that ranked above “meets expectations.”a

Thurman’s overall ranking from the school board was 3.3 on a five-point scale. School system administrative staff ranked him at a 3.6.

The school board gave Raby an overall ranking of 3.3, and the superintendent and Raby’s administrative peers ranked her at a 3.7 and 4.0 respectively.

Salter said the school board has two options to address the results of the evaluations, one of which is to have an open conversation with Thurman and Raby about their strengths, weaknesses and expectations and the other is to set formal performance goals with the assistance of the AASB.

“We can facilitate that in whatever way you want to do,” Salter said.

The school board also heard from a mother who said her child is being bullied at Linden Elementary School. The parent shared concerns about treatment received from students as well as teachers and the principal, who is Thurman. The BOE said they would hold a private meeting with the mother to address her concerns.

Other actions taken by the school board include:

• entering into an agreement with Black Belt Community Foundation Head Start to provide meals to the children and adults at the care center at a cost of $6.19 a day per student and $5.25 per adult.

The school board also approved a memorandum of understanding between the Head Start facility and the BOE detailed the responsibilities of each organization, as the facility is located in a school system building.

• employing Latonya Bruno as a special needs aide for Linden City Schools.

• employing Laporchia Mitchell as a special needs teacher for George P. Austin Junior High School.

• approving the coaching assignments for 2019-2020.

• announcing that the first budget hearing will be held on Sept. 4 and the second on Sept. 9. Both hearings will take place at 3 p.m.

• entering executive session based on good name in character.

The Linden Board of Education meets the fourth Monday of each month at 4 p.m. at the main office in Linden.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, August 28 issue of the Demopolis Times.)