The Choctaw Plaindealer

The Choctaw County School Board held a special meeting, Jan. 31, to discuss the T.A.C. energy proposal and the five district goals for the 2008-2009 school year.

Quinn Tolbert, consultant with T.A.C. Energy Solutions, was present at the meeting, waiting to see if the board will approve to move to the next step in reducing the district's energy costs and answer questions.

T.A.C. is in their second phase of their evaluation of all Choctaw County schools to see if and how the energy costs can be reduced.

Previously, they evaluated 24 months of energy bills from all schools and performed walk-through of all schools to determine what changes should be made.

Tolbert previously told the board that T.A.C. could save them approximately $50,000 per year in energy costs.

The next step, for the school board, is to advertise for construction companies and for each company to fill out a RFQ, or detailed resume.

After that T.A.C. will perform a detailed energy audit, where they look at each school and find what exact changes need to be made and a total cost of the entire project.

Donna Nail, superintendent, said she spoke with eight different schools that have had projects done by T.A.C.

"Everyone that I talked to had only good things to say," said Nail.

After Pennie Brasher, board president, asked Nail opinion of the project, she said at first she was leery of the project.

"At first I was leery of it, it sounded to good to be true. I have a better feeling after the last board meeting and talking to the other schools. I feel better and think it's a good idea," said Nail.

She recommended proceeding with the project.

With two board members present, the board decided to table the matter until all members are present.

The board also discussed what the five district goals should be for the next school year.

Nail had each school principal to come up with district goals and how to solve them.

Many of the schools had the same ideas and they were to:

€ Reduce the dropout rate.

€ Form literacy and math goals.

€ Increase parental involvement.

€ Provide more professional development opportunities for staff.

€ Increase all schools to a Level 5.

€ Ensure that all schools are safe and orderly.

€ Increase students' enjoyment of learning.

€ Provide more inclusion teachers.

€ Increase the rigor and relevance of academic for students.

€ Provide character education for Pre-K - 12 grade/.

€ Promote countywide unity and improve communication among schools.

Nail said the next step is to narrow the goals down to the top five and how to achieve the goals for an evaluation process.

In other business the board approved an E-Rate presentation, approved a letter for E2Te competitive grant and hired Ted Taylor as an assistant teacher at AHS to replace Michael Montgomery who resigned.