Pike County County Board of Education members Linda Steed and Wyman Botts were sworn in for another term on the board Monday.

Pike County Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell expressed appreciation to Steed and Botts for their continuing service to the Pike County School System and offered congratulations on their being elected to another term. Steed has served on the county schools board of education for 32 years and Botts for 18 years. Both were unopposed in the November general election. Steed was elected to serve the board as its president during the 2016-2017 year. Dr. Greg Price was elected vice-president to serve during the same term. Bazzell recognized the Pike County High School Bulldogs and Goshen High School Eagles on their success on the gridiron this season. Both bowed out of the state playoffs Friday night but were outstanding representatives of their schools and the Pike County School System throughout the season, Bazzell said.

Presentations by Dr. Donnell Carter and sixth grade math teachers Kristy Reaves, Banks School, and Jessica Walker, Goshen Elementary, provided updated information about the school system’s Standards Based Grading system. Carter said there is a lot of excitement about the new grading system and good things are happening. Walker said that, in the past, students have been leaving the classroom with the perception of what they knew not being in line with test scores.

“The students didn’t know what we thought they knew,” she said. “With Standards Based Grading, we are able to track the students so we know what they know.”

She said the biggest fear about the program was how the parents would react. However, the parents have been supportive of the program that allows students to take ownership of their learning.

“The parents are better informed about how their children are doing,” Bazzell said. “There will be bumps down the road but we feel good about the grading system and what it will do for our students.”

In new business, the board:

• Approved part-time adjunct instructor for ninth grade transitional STEM class.

• Approved permission for the Pre-K to third grade students to come offer versus serve during both breakfast and lunch.

• Approved permission to enter into a lease purchase agreement for up to four copiers for Pike County Elementary School.

• Approved permission for Tammy Jackson, Rebecca Lester, Haylee Hodge and Kim Faulkner to attend the Alabama Autism Conference February 24, 2017 in Tuscaloosa.

• Approved permission for Pebley Williams to attend the CLAS Secretaries’ Conference, November 29 and 30 in Birmingham.

• Approved permission for Michelle Taylor to attend the Alabama Counseling Association Annual Conference, November 16-18 in Birmingham.

• Approved permission for Holley Davis to attend the Alabama Counseling Association Annual Conference, November 16018 in Birmingham.

• Approved permission for Mark Head and Jeff McClure to attend and present at the Alabama Association of School Boards Conference, December 9 in Birmingham.

• Approved permission for Daniel Walden to attend the 2017 Alabama Music Educators Conference, January 18-21, 2017 in Montgomery.

• Approved permission for Hannah Clifford to attend the National Council of Teachers of English National Conference, November 17-20 in Atlanta.

• Approved permission for James Oliver to attend the 2017 Alabama Music Educators Conference, January 18-21, 2017 in Montgomery.

• Approved permission for Emily Caple and Zylon Guilford, Pike County High School students, and James Oliver, PCHS band director, to attend the 2016 Tri-State Band Festival and Conducting Conference, December 1-4 at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

• Approved permission for Blake Savage, Goshen High School student, and Daniel Walden, GHS band director, to attend the 2016 Tri-State Band Festival and Conducting Conference, December 1-4 at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

In personnel action, the board:

• Approved catastrophic leave for Kristine Growden, November 14- December 16.

• Accepted the resignation of Keith Price, bus driver, effective January 1, 2017.

• Approved employment of Alex Suell, SPED aide, Goshen Elementary School.

• Approved volunteer status for Shantell Green, Pike County High School girls’ basketball.