The Crenshaw County Public Schools held their regular board meeting Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m. All board members were present. After the meeting was called to order, the board approved the agenda before them as well as last month’s minutes.

Kenneth Wesley, Chief School Finance Officer, gave the financial report for November and December. He stated that things are looking good for January and that the pace seems to be on target. The financial report was approved.

Sherri Claybrook read a proclamation declaring Feb. 1- Feb. 28 as career and technical education month (CTE). The proclamation recognized the career and technical program as being a vital part of the county’s educational system by providing opportunities for students to gain valuable career and life skills.

Superintendent Dodd Hawthorne expressed pride for the Career Tech Program.

“Certainly, we are proud of our Career Tech programs, not only here at Career Academy but in our schools. The program provides opportunities for students to grow and learn and to compete not only at the state level but at the national level and I couldn’t be prouder of what we are doing here,” Hawthorne said. “Thank you Mrs. Catrett and thanks to the career tech director and all teachers with career tech. I am excited about all we have going on and hope the growth continues.”

Ashley Catrett, director of Career Technical Education, said that the intent for the night was to provide a look into some of the newer student organizations that have come about because of the expansion of Career Tech.

Meg White, from Highland Home, was introduced to the board by David Lowery as the future first graduate of the educational program.

“I am very proud of Meg. She is on track to be the first education training program graduate. She has completed three semesters in the classroom with me and is now with Mrs. Marcy Norman with the Highland Home pre-K program,” he said “It has been good for her to be in an actual classroom, being hands on and learning what it is really like in a school setting. Students get the opportunity to see if this is really what they want to do, if it is the path they want to take before investing so much time, effort and money into college and we are very proud of Meg and what she is doing at Highland Home.”

Ashley Catrett spoke about Southeast Worlds of Work (WOW), a program that delivers a highly immersive hands-on career experience that connects eighth grade students with over 85 local businesses and corporations. The event was held March 1-2 in Andalusia. All Crenshaw County eighth graders attended.

Distributive education clubs of America (DECA), is another new program and is sponsored by Cody Nichols. Nichols, along with Ashley Catrett, recently escorted five DECA members to a competition which according to Nichols, was an eye-opening experience.

“Going in, I told the students I was still learning and that we would just go see what the competition was about and get a better understanding. Although DECA is typically seen in larger schools, this was a great opportunity for us. Many schools had 50 or 75 children. These kids were so excited, and I am so pleased with all of them. I am sure we will do even better next year now that we know what is needed to prepare,” Nichols said.

Eli Nichols, Kendall Nichols and Nolleigh Reaves of Brantley, Shelby Malone of Luverne, and Charlie McVay of Highland Home attended the competition. Reaves and McVay competed together as a team in event marketing management and won first place. They will travel to Atlanta in April to participate in the national competition.

The board then approved the 2022/2023 calendar with very little changes from this year’s calendar, according to Dodd Hawthorne.

“Governor Ivey has proposed adding two additional professional development days for teachers and those days will have to be designated for technology,” Hawthorne said. “We may have to amend the calendar or there’s a possibility that we can flex those days during the summer. We will have to wait and see as it works its way through the legislature.”

The personnel recommendations were approved with three resignations, one hire and one medical leave before the meeting adjourned