Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools, said Monday that he wanted to serve notice to parents and students that there will be changes in the 2012-13 school year calendar.

“We will modify the school calendar,” Bazzell told the members of the school board at the board’s regular meeting. “It will change; it’s just a matter of how it will change.”

Bazzell was reacting to the Legislature Flexible School Calendar Act, a bill that sets a school start date no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day. The bill allows school increased flexibility in scheduling the required instructional hours.

Bazzell praised the school system’s transportation department for its outstanding record of no deficiencies as rated by the state.

“Of 136 school systems, 123 had deficiencies under 10 percent,” he said. “The average was 3 percent,” he said. “Our transportation department works extremely hard to make sure our buses are safe and in good condition. The transportation department is to be commended.”

To head personnel action, the board approved four hires including that of Shantell Rouse as assistant principal at Pike County Elementary School. The board also approved the hiring of Pebley Williams as secretary at Goshen High School.

Eric Wells was approved as the hire as maintenance team leader and Justin Baker was approved at maintenance assistance.

The board approved the resignation of Desa Corridori as Spanish teacher at Goshen High School, effective at the end of the school year and the resignation of Richard Berry, bus mechanic, effective June 1.

The board approved catastrophic leave for Brianne Kent, Melissa Grant and Mary Adams.

The board gave permission for selected subject area personnel to be employed as Alabama High School Graduation Examination tutors for 35 Goshen High School and 55 Pike County High School students eligible to take the AHSGE on July 9-13. Expenses will be paid from the At-Risk funding source.

The board awarded several bids for the 2012-2013 school year. The lawn-mowing bid was awarded to Pullom Lawn Service.

Three bids were awarded for the Child Nutrition Program. The bid for bread was awarded to Bimbo Bakers and the bid for milk to Borden Dairy. The bid for pest control for the Child Nutrition Program went to Meeks Termite and Pest Control.

The bid for the replacement windows at Pike County Elementary School was awarded to Pemberton Inc. of Montgomery in the amount of $237,000.

Approval was granted for a request to take students to the State FFA Convention in Montgomery, June 5-7. Expenses will be covered by Goshen FFA.