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The Linden Board of Education approved the hire of a part-time assistant principal for Linden Elementary School on Oct. 28. Richard Bryant, a retired elementary school principal, will be joining LES on Nov. 4.

Superintendent Dr. Timothy Thurman also serves as principal for LES and said that Bryant will take on tasks such as evaluating teachers and meeting with students.

“I can focus on some more things concerning the district,” he said.

Bryant retired in 2014 as principal at F.S. Ervin Elementary School in Pine Hill for 11 years. In total, he was in education for over 40 years before retiring.

The board also discussed the latest Alabama school report cards. The system overall received a 77 or a ‘C’ on the 100-point rating system, and LES, George P. Austin Junior High School and Linden High School also each received a ‘C’ with a score of 73, 70 and 74 respectively.

Overall, Thurman said the schools are doing well with the resources available and he noted that the academic growth scores for each school and the system were very high, with the system and GPA scoring a 92 and a 97 respectively and LHS and LES earning an 86 and an 89.

After Boardmember Donte’ Dukes asked how the system would improve its schools, Thurman said focusing on parent involvement and absenteeism/tardiness would be the next steps for the school system.

“Overall, I’m pleased with the grade,” Thurman said, adding “I want to get a ‘B’, especially at the district level.”

GPA Principal Walter Hampton also said the school recently accepted a $1,200 donation from J.R. Reevis.

Other items discussed include:

• approving the financial statements for Sept. 2019 and all bank accounts reconciled.

• discussing damages to the LES roof that were the result of a lightning strike in June that caused a small fire. Thurman said the system would need to bid repairs out.

• Hampton told the BOE that Response to Intervention meetings with parents and student-led conferences at the GPA were both successful.

• Thurman also announced that the paperwork regarding renovations at GPA were going smoothly.

• A substitute teacher for the system approached the board with complaints of being taken off the list for substitutes at LHS. She said she was told by LHS Principal Marcus West that her name was removed by Thurman, but Thurman said her name has not been removed and that she will be called to substitute as needed.

The Linden Board of Education meets the fourth Monday of each month at the central office at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, October 30 issue of the Demopolis Times.)