Two elementary educators will move into assistant principal roles in Troy City Schools.

Dr. Joanna Taylor, gifted education teacher, and Carolyn Hampton, Alabama Reading Initiative reading coach, will fill assistant principal positions at Troy Elementary and Charles Henderson High School, respectively. The board approved the hires on Monday.

“We interviewed eight or nine individuals for these positions,” Superintendent Lee Hicks said during a work session. “Both of these individuals are fresh to the world of administration, but I have always believed in giving people opportunities.”

Hicks said both Taylor and Hampton bring strong skills to the positions.

“Carolyn Hampton is somebody who can truly assist with running the data and making sure students don’t fall behind in reading.” he said. “She brings a work ethic that will not falter.”

Taylor, he said. “is one of Troy’s own. She was valedictorian, drum major, and successful in everything she’s done … Both of these women are very driven.”

Both hires are for 10-month positions, funded by local dollars.

In other hires, the board approved the hiring of Geneva Rodgers as secretary at Charles Henderson Middle School.

The board also approved the new salary scale for the district, including the 2 percent raise for local units which matches the 2 percent raise earned by teachers funded through state Foundation units. The raise is expected to cost the district about $30,000 per year.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a $3.356 million Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) program application. The program allows qualified schools to borrow money from partner institutions at a nominal interest rate (or in this case, zero percent) to use in renovation or remodeling of existing buildings. The schools must met federal requirements regarding the percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunches. The private lending institutions in return receive tax credits.

Mickey Daughtry, CFO for the district, said if approved, $2.7 million of the bond funds would be used to pay for the renovation of the gymnasium and other buildings at Charles Henderson Middle School, and some $650,000 would be used to pay for the renovation of the former CHHS cafeteria into a media center. In turn, the QZAB funding will free $3.356 million from the district’s $15 million capital improvements bond project. “The board will have to decide what to do with that money,” said Dr. Judson Edwards, president of the board, adding that the board could return to the funds and lower the bond debt or choose to use the funding on additional projects or needs.

• Approved the attendance policy for 2013-2014. After seven unexcused absences, a student will be considered truant for the purposes of filing a court petition. Parents will receive notice from the school after the first unexcused absence and will be required to attend a conference with administrators after the fifth unexcused absence.