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3ht Sutler 3tfrral& “Your Newspaper Since 1876” (Publication Number USPS 534-720) 144th YEAR, NO. 29 THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2021 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY Local Schools Plan For In-Person Instruction For 2021-22 School Year By VALORI MOORE Editor The Taylor County Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting last Monday night, July 12th, with Vice Chair Dr, Glenda Latimore pre side ng, in the ahscnce of Chair man Greg Brown. The Invoca tion was given by Rev. Brian Litch, pastor of Butler United Methodist Church. Superintendent Jennifer Albritton announced that the reopening guidelines will be updated for the upcoming school year, after a meeting is held with parents and stake holders for input. The plan is to return to a more traditional environment, with in-person instruction only, fol lowing a nontradltional school year for 2020-21, which in cluded distance learning dur ing the COVTD-19 pandemic. Plans include: no mask man date, no screening at the begin ning of each school day, no spac ing requirements, and no vac cine mandate. However, the schools will follow social dis tancing, as much as possible, and will continue clean ingregi ments. There is some concern about the school buses. The Centers for Disease Control issued an order that requires masks on public buses, and school buses fall under this order. Final guidelines will be issued after the meeting with stake holders. As part of the Corona vims Aid, Relief, and Economic Se curity (CARES) Act, schools received Elementary and Sec ondary School Emergency Re lief (ESSER) funds. Taylor County Schools will receive $2,838,326 in ESSER III funds, to be spent between now and Sept. 30,2024. These funds are being budgeted, along with ESSER 11 funds. The funds are to be used to get kids back in school, and 20'# has to go to ward addressing learning loss during the pandemic. These funds will also be used on fa cilities, upgrading w ater foun tains, etc, Parent/Student Handbooks for the 2021-22 school year were presented. The handbook for the primary and upper el ementary schools was ap proved, with no changes. Administrators recommended the following changes to the middle/high school handbook: allowing earrings and a single nose stud, but no other visible body piercings; making the valedictorian and salutatorian announcements at the end of the 3rd nine weeks grading pe riod, effective with the Class of 2023, and revoking parking privileges for students with eight or more tardies in nine weeks. The motion was made to adopt the middle/high school hand book, and discussion followed. Board Member Wes Summers said ho is not in favor of nose piercings and other body piercings (other than earrings) being allowed, noting that the students will be out in the workforce soon, and this is not acceptable in many work envi ronments. He also noted that he is a proponent of, “To win the race, you’ve got to cross the fin ish line,” and does not favor determining the valedictorian and salutatorian prior to the end of the school year. Mr, Summers agrees with punish ing tardies, but is concerned about revoking parking privi leges. He said this could cause dangerous driving, and stu dents will park somew here off campus. The vote to adopt the middle/ high school handbook was 1:3, with Dr. Latimore voting yes, and Board Members Mary Bentley, Summers, and Wayne Mclnvale voting no. The mo tion failed. Superintendent Albritton rec ommended approving the handbook, removing the three changes, and the handbook was unanimously adopted, with no changes, A rendering of the new 3-12 school is expected soon, and construction is expected to be gin in December or January, with site work beginning in September. Two policies were tabled at last month’s meeting for the required 30 day review’ period. This month. Policies GARH and IDE(3) were adopted. Policy GARII adds a provision for paid parental leave, up to 120 hours, with a qualifying event. This policy is required bylaw r . Policy I DEf 3) refers to the Dexter-Moseley Act and al lows home-schooled students to participate in extracurricular activities. Students must take at least one qualifying course and notify the school district 30 days prior to the start of a se mester, to participate. This is also required by law. Director of Technology Denton Wainwright was reap pointed to serve on the Taylor County Li brary Board through June 30, 2024, After the regular meeting, an executive session was held. Taylor County 10U Allstars Are Dixie Youth State Champions The Taylor County 10U Allstars were undefeated in the Dixie Youth District and State Tournaments and are now the Dixie Youth State Champions. The Dixie Youth State Tour nament was held July 9-11 and July 16-18 in Cochran, GA. The State Champions will represent Georgia in the Dixie Youth World Series, beginning July 30 th, in Laurel, MS. The State Champions (l-r) are: kneeling, Lane Allen and Dawson Adams; front row, Jackson Cosey, Chandler Stokes, and Bryson Parks; middle row, Coach Frank Acree, Jentzen Hunter, Maddox Acree, Flint Cross, Tyson Hinton, and Coach Justin Allen; and back row, Bryson Cobb, Coach Bobby Hinton, Edward u Kyng” Brown, Jr., and Easton Bartow. Priman School 1:30 pm 5:30 pm Kli’inenlan School 3:1)0 pm 7:00 pm Middle SHinol 5:00 pm 7:00 pm High Srhmd 5:00 pm 7:30 pin Taylor County Participates In Statewide Bible Reading Marathon Wednesday, July 14th, a group represented Taylor County in a Statewide Bible Reading Marathon, wherein all 159 counties in the state of Georgia simultaneously read assigned chapters from the Bible. Thanks to all who participated and attended. Danny Perkins (right) is pic tured reading. Joining the pastors and Pei'kins in read ing were Wes and Lilia Beth Summers. Pastors who par ticipated (above, lower, l-r) are: Rev. Tommy Bee land, The Church; Rev. Bobby Bentley, Bethel Congrega tional Methodist Church; Rev. Mike Brandenburg, First Baptist Church of But ler; Rev. Fitz Brown, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church; Rev. Jeff Cummings, First Baptist Church of Reynolds; Rev. Brian Litch, Butler United Meth odist Church, and Rev. Morris Smith, St. Phillip AME Church. Viking Hunter Moore Signs With South Georgia College Hunter Moore has signed a baseball scholarship with South Georgia College in Douglas, GA. Hunter is a 2021 Honor Graduate of Taylor County High School, where he was a member of the Viking Baseball Team for four years. Pictured (l-r) are: front row, Hunter’s grandmother, PatisuePerkins; his mother.; Monica Moore; Hunter; his father, Walker Moore; and his grandfather, Danny Perkins; and back row, TCHS Principal Brian Barnhill; Viking Baseball Head Coach Mark Wilson; his sister, Harleigh Moore; and Viking Base ball Assistant Coach Bob Yeuak.