The Pike County Board of Education met Monday afternoon and presented certificates of academic achievement to four members of the board.

Board members Dr. Clint Foster and Chris Wilkes received Level III certificates. Board member Wyman Botts received a Master 3rd Year Certificate and Board Member Linda Steed was certified as a member of the Master Honor Roll, the highest level of certification.

Dr. Mark Bazzell, Pike County Superintendent of Schools congratulated the board members on their certifications.

In new business, the State of Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts gave a report of the findings of the FY 2014 audited financial statements. The audit was without findings.

The board voted to approve the system’s budget for FY2015-2016 and also approved the Capital Plan for 2015-2016.

The board approved permission to renew the ATBE General Liability/Errors and Omissions Liability Fund participation.

The board also:

*Approved permission for the Pike County Board of Education Textbook Committee to purchase the recommended instructional readiness materials. The materials are to be funded by state textbook funds.

*Approved permission for four FFA officers, parents and Agriscience teachers to attend the 88th National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky October 27-31. Students and chaperones are responsible for the cost of the trip.

*Approved permission for the FFA members, parents and Agriscience teachers to attend the 38th annual Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia on October 21. Students and chaperones are responsible for the cost of the trip.

*Approved permission for the Goshen High School band to attend and compete at the 2015 Seminole County Band Jam in Donaldsonville, Georgia October 24.

*Approved permission for Pebley Williams to attend the CLAS Secretaries’ Conference in Birmingham December 2 and 3.

*Approved permission for Jennifer Hornsby to attend the Association of School Business Officials International annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas Oct. 22-26.

*Approved permission for the Goshen Elementary School Junior Beta Club, sponsor and chaperones to travel to Boston, Massachusetts for an educational trip. The trip will take place the first week of the summer vacation.

*Approved permission to offer the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention program through Abby McClure.

*Approved compensation of $5,000 each for LaToya Gay, system’s secondary literacy coach, and Cheryl Watson, system’s secondary math coach, to meet the requirements of the SREB contract.

*Approved permission for the Pike County Elementary School to be included in the school accounting system, pending vote of the PCES PTO, Sept. 15.

In personnel matters, the board:

*Accepted the resignation of Jeff Hilburn, science teacher at Goshen High School.

*Accepted the resignation of Kelvin Larkin, bus driver.

*Approved the employment of Jalesha L. Merritt as special education aide at PCES.

*Approved employment of Valencia Stringer as instructional aide at GES.

*Approved employment of Tonikia Perry as special education aide at GES.

*Approved employment of Reggie Griffin as science teacher at GHS.

*Approved employment of Mallory Rhodes as instructional aide at Banks.

*Approved employment of Annie Reynolds, Child Nutrition Program floater for Brundidge and Banks.

*Approved employment of Jo Alice Middleton, bus driver.

*Approved permission to increase hours of Kristine Growden, special education aide from seven to eight hours per day.

*Approved maternity leave for Lydia Ellis.

*Approved maternity leave for Kathryn Dennis.

*Approved volunteer status for Darius McClain, GHS football.

The board also approved the Brundidge Recreation Program Budget.