Anthony Cloud

Staff writer

A concerned parent addressed the Bell County School Board during the regular meeting in regards to the bus and parent situation at the end of the school day at Page School Center. Superintendent Yvonne Gilliam stated she had a plan in mind, but did not have anything written down on paper.

Gilliam said she plans to have all the employees, except cooks and those who have a handicap sticker, park in the lower parking lot. She said that would free up about 41 parking spots in visual contact with the cafeteria area.

On the first bell, students who are being picked up will be taken to the cafeteria. Once all the children are accounted for, parents will be able to enter and sign their child out from school.

Gilliam said she hopes to be able to allow parents and their children to leave while buses are still loading. Once the buses are ready to pull out, the parent traffic will be stopped to allow buses to exit. Once the buses are gone, parent traffic will resume.

Gilliam stated she plans to look at all the other schools end of the day exit plans after Page is completed. She also stated they will take their time implementing the new plan.

The board also approved the creation of a social studies curriculum specialist position. Gilliam stated she knows the district needs to be cutting back, but the schools also need to keep the test scores up.

“We need someone coordinating that curriculum,” said Gilliam.

Other business taken care of during the meeting included:

* Approval of minutes from previous meeting;

* 2012-13 district fitness and nutrition report card;

* Approve fundraising request;

* Approve out-of-state transportation request;

* New employees/resignations report;

* Out-of-state professional development requests;

* Payment of bills;

* Accept and award bids for food and supplies;

* Fiscal year 2014 draft budget;

* Bissell Copier maintenance agreement;

* Facilities requests;

* LPC revision;

* BG-1 alternative classrooms.

Anthony Cloud can be contacted via email at acloud@civitasmedia.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 208.