The Pike County Board of Education viewed preliminary plans for the $4 million capital projects at Goshen and Pike County high schools during a Monday meeting.

The projects include construction of a new gymnasium at Goshen High School and an art complex at Pike County High School.

Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools, said the preliminary plans are the starting point for the two projects.

“Over the next month, we will work with the administration and faculty on the local levels to get their input and finalized the plans for both projects,” Bazzell said.

The Goshen gym will include locker room facilities and restrooms.

Bazzell said future plans are to renovate the existing GHS gym for use as an art complex.

The art complex at Pike County High School will include classrooms, band and choral rooms and a 160-200 seat multipurpose room.

The completion date for both projects is July 2013, Bazzell said.

In new business, the board approved the purchase of the vacant lot next to the county’s bus shop on Montgomery Street from Leslie D. and Lillian E. Wells in the amount of $10,500.

The board approved three resignations, that of Richard Anderson as physical education teacher and assistant football coach at Pike County High School effective Feb. 10; Darrell Battles as English teacher at Goshen High School, effective Feb. 7; and Olivia Snyder as bookkeeper at GHS, effective the end of May.

Rhonda Flowers’ request for retirement as career and technical guidance counselor at Troy-Pike Center for Technology was approved, effective April 30.

The board approved the hiring of Christopher Thompson for the position of mechanic.

Ranita DeJesus was granted maternity leave starting on or around March 26.

Catastrophic leave for Amy Stubblefield and Kendra Harden was approved.

The board also approved the request for Sylvia Helms, Pike County High School art teacher, to transport about 30 students to Atlanta on March 14, to view the “Picasso to Warhol” exhibit at the High Museum. Expenses will be paid by the art club.

Approval was also given for Brook Terry to attend the Spring Directors’ Conference in Birmingham on March 20 and for Terry, Aretha Jackson, Carolyn Wilson, Deborah Sessions, Virginia Rodgers, Sara Wilson, Karen Langston, Kendra Harden, Sylvia Green and Lucille Taylor to attend the Alabama School Nutrition Association’s Conference in Birmingham March 30 through April 1. Expenses will be paid by the Child Nutrition Program.