The Pike County Schools will invest more than $1.5 million in the construction of a new facility to house its STEM and academy programs.

The Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved a resolution to purchase 14.7 acres of land on U.S. 231 to house the new facility.

“It is the intent of the Pike County Board of Education to provide high quality and challenging educational opportunities for students,” said Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools. “The board is actively seeking to increase opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering related fields and mathematics (STEM) in grades five through 12.”

Bazzell said the board is also actively seeking to increase dual enrollment opportunities and academy program participation for students in grades nine through 12.

The property is located at the end of Mockingbird Lane, which is located between the Huddle House and the Pike County Economic Development complex on U.S. 231. The land is being purchased being purchased from Troy Bank and Trust Co. for $490,000.

Bazzell said the new Center for Advanced Academics and Accelerated Learing will cost an estimated $1.2 million to build and will be financed through bonds, which will be sold by Frazier Lanier Inc. McKee & Associates will provide architectural services.

The board has been working on the project for several months. Bazzell said the center will house the districts STEM initiative, which provides enriches science and math curriculum activities for students from elementary through high school.

The center also will house administrative staff for the district’s academies, which include aviation; leadership; business and finance; global studies; and agriculture as well as provide classroom space for dual-enrollment programs and the virtual high school.

Some 100 and 150 students will be in and out of the Center for Advanced Academics and Accelerated Learning each day.

“The board is fully committed to providing students with an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and associate degree concurrently through academy participation and through cooperation with its post-secondary partners at no cost when possible,” he said. “The board is committed to implementing programs designed to ensure that students graduate with their cohort group using both traditional and virtual instruction.”

Bazzell said the board appreciates and recognizes that its business and industry partners and post-secondary partners are critical to accomplishing the goals that have been set forth.

“The board expresses its appreciation to First National Bank of Brundidge Trojan Aviation, Troy University, Enterprise State Community College and Wallace College-Hanceville for their support and in the furtherance of the board’s desire to develop and operate a Center for Advanced Academics and Accelerated Learning.”

In other news business, the board on Monday:

• Approved permission to award bid for CNP Serving Line & Awning to Mobile Fixture at GHS.  This was the low bid.

• Approved permission to extend the bid for milk for the Child Nutrition Program with Borden Dairy for one year, 2016-2017.

• Approved permission for Banks Second Grade to attend the Gulf World in Panama City, April 28, 2016.

• Approved permission for George Stringer and two students to attend the 2016 Alabama SkillsUSA Leadership Competition Conference, April 19-21, 2016 in Birmingham.  Board will provide bus and bus driver.  All other expenses paid for through SkillsUSA.

• Approved permission for sophomore First in Flight and Leadership Academy Students, Alexander Galloway, Matthew McDermoth, Cassidi McKinney and Taylor Lane to participate in the Ambition Program, July 17-22, 2016, Naval Air Base, Pensacola.  Students will be responsible for transportation.  All other expenses paid by Board.

• Approved permission for the GHS Varsity Cheerleaders to attend Cheer Camp, June 25-28, 2016, Auburn University.  No cost to the board.

• Approved permission for the GHS JROTC to travel to NAS, May 2, 2016, Pensacola.  Will visit the Aviation Museum and attend the Blue Angel practice session.

• Approved permission for GHS Junior Varsity Cheerleaders to attend Cheer Camp, July 6-9, 2016, Troy University. No cost to the board.

• Approved permission for Rochelle McKinney and Voncile Flowers to attend the Glenwood Summer Teaching Training Program, June 27-July 1, 2016, Birmingham. Expenses will be paid with IDEA Funds

• Approved permission for Kim Faulkner and Pam Gardner to attend the Mega Conference, July 11-15, 2016, Mobile.  Expenses will be paid with IDEA funds.

• Approved permission for Cristin Dillard, to attend the ASLA Conference, June 4-6, 2016, Corner at no cost to the board.

• Approved permission for Cristin Dillard, Banks and Kimberly Dunn, PCHS to attend and present at the AETC Conference, June 7-9, 2016, Birmingham.  Expenses will be paid with Title I funding.

• Approved permission for Julie Simmons to attend the Career Tech Director’s Conference, April 19-23, 2016, Perdido Beach. Expenses will be paid with Perkins Funding.

• Approved permission for Julie Simmons to attend the 2016 CLAS Summer Conference, June 12-15, 2016, Montgomery.  Expenses will be paid with Perkins Funding.

• Approved permission for Amy Garret to attend the following Project Lead the Way Gateway core training courses:  Design and Modeling June 5-10, Automation and Robotics, June 12-17 and Medical Detectives, June 19-24 all at Auburn University;  Flight and Space, July 25-27, at University of South Carolina.  Tuition, lodging, travel and meals to be paid for by general fund.

• Approved permission for CNP to provide breakfast and lunch as part of the Seamless Feeding Program at PCES.  The program will run June 6-30, 2016 and July 11-28, 2016. Asking permission for Lucille Taylor and Helen Siler to work June and Lucille Taylor and Virginia Rodgers to work July.

• Approved permission to hold Camp Brundidge summer school at PCES June 6-July 22, 2016.  Recommending the following staff members:  Rosalyn Pollard, first and second grades, Christopher Saffold, third and fourth grades, Kathryn Dennis fifth and sixth grades, Latonyia Foster, PE; Loretta Reynolds, art; and Kristina Anderson, OCAP Instructor.

• Approved permission to hold “Kids Care Summer Camp Program” at GES, June 6-30, 2016.  Alethia House will incur all expenses for this program including the teachers, transportation, meals, and materials.   Asked to use PCBOE buses, however, Alethia House to reimburse PCBOE for use of the buses and drivers.

• Approved permission to hold summer school, grades 9-12, June 6-30, 2016 and July 11-28, 2016 at the ALC.

• Approved permission for a 10-day contract extension for David Godwin and Jodi Jefcoat to staff summer school and develop 2016-17 Virtual High School plans.

• Approved permission for a 20-day contract extension for Amy Garrett, STEM teacher as she will be training for the Project Lead the Way Gateway.

• Approved permission for a 20-day contract extension for the high school counselors, Ana Belle Lee, GHS and Sharon Sullivan, PCHS.

In personnel action, the board:

• Approved catastrophic leave for Wendy Pittman, GES.

• Approved catastrophic leave for Sheila Floyd, GES.

• Accepted retirement/resignation of Susan Renfroe, librarian, GES.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Accepted retirement/resignation of Sharon Denison, Business & Finance, PCHS.  Effective June 1, 2016.

• Accepted retirement/resignation of Gentry Hassett, librarian, PCHS.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Accepted retirement/resignation of Sheila Floyd, Secretary, GES.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Accepted resignation of Henrietta Thomas, janitor, PCHS.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Accepted resignation of Lydia Ellis, Spanish teacher, PCHS.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Accepted resignation of Lindsay Strube, pre-K auxiliary teacher, Banks.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Accepted resignation of Valencia Stringer, aide, GES.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Accepted resignation of Tyra Graham, third grade teacher, GES.  Effective June 1, 2016

• Approved volunteer status for Dontrel Diggs, track coach, PCHS.

In additional new business, the board approved permission for the Project Lead the Way, pre-engineering students from PCHS and GHS to attend Physics Day at Six Flags over Georgia, April 22, 2016 at no cost to the board.