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The Linden Board of Education received school updates from two principals, assistant principal Richard Bryant of Linden Elementary School and Walter Hampton of George P. Austin Junior High School.

Bryant said that while he has only been at LES for a few days, he’s resolved issues with teachers using a cafeteria door as an entrance due to security reasons and with teachers using conduct grading, where a student suffers for bad behavior with points being taken off. He’s also set up protected time for reading and math from 8-10 a.m. each morning that is completely uninterrupted.

“We need to utilize that time to dedicate to instruction,” Bryant said.

Hampton said that shortly after the ribbon cutting was held for GPA’s outdoor classroom, students had already begun using the facility.

He also informed them that th intervention programs such as Edgenuity for students and faculty have better utilization tools that programs previously used and that the annual Beauty Walk will take place on Dec. 12.

Students at GPA are also requesting more books for the school library.

“If students are asking for books, I think we’re on the right track,” Hampton said.

Superintendent Timothy Thurman informed the board that the school system is able to accept the singular bid for roof repairs at LES after it was damaged by a small fire in the summer as he was granted a waive of action. Without it, the system would have to review more than one bid. According to Thurman, due to the specific type of work necessary, the system would have difficulty getting more than one bid.

Thurman also plans to purchase a vehicle for the school system, and he will consider options through auction or bids. The vehicle will be one of two used for general purposes.

The board also approved the financial statements for October 2019, all bank accounts reconciled and an item from the superintendent’s recommendation list.

The Linden Board of Education meets every fourth Monday of the month at 4 p.m. at the central office.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, December 4 issue of the Demopolis Times.)