Vidalia BOE Accepts District Level Staff, Principal Recommendations
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The Vidalia City School Board unanimously approved recommendations for district level staff and principal recommendations for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year at its regular monthly meeting on February 8. The Board has structured the placements as follows: Ginger Morris, Assistant Superintendent (49%); Tammy McFadden, Federal Programs Director; Denise Parson, School Nutrition Director; Gwen Warren, Social Worker/English Language Learners & Migrant Ed Coordinator (49%); Katrina Blount-Woodward, Director of Student Services; Brenda McLain, Family Services Coordinator; John Sharpe, Vidalia High School Principal; Sandy Reid, J.R. Trippe Middle School Principal; Scott Stephens, Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Principal; and Brandon Boston, J.D. Dickerson Primary School Principal.
Other accepted personnel recommendations included the hiring of Candace Nelson as a J.D. Dickerson Primary School Teacher; Joel Elden as a Vidalia High School School Nutrition Worker; and Evelyn Hall as a J.R. Trippe Middle School School Nutrition Worker.
Contract Amendment
A previously-approved construction management project contract was amended to include some initially unforeseen improvements, which are imperative to the continued productivity of the school system. This contract was originally drafted for the addition of six classrooms onto J.R. Trippe Middle School, but after the meeting, now includes the repair of some J.R. Trippe Middle School Baseball Field drainage issues, replacement of the J.R. Trippe Middle School gymnasium floor, and enclosing the Vidalia High School batting cages. These additional projects will be funded with Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds.
Crisis Alert System
Board members unanimously approved the purchase of the Centegix Crisis Alert System, which will also be funded through SPLOST. This system will serve all four schools within the school system, as well as the board office and alternative school. This new purchase is a tool for providing a safe and secure learning environment, as the system uses hardware, software, and wireless technologies to help shorten the reaction times for emergencies.
Other Business
Superintendent Garrett Wilcox announced he plans to select a media specialist from within the system to serve on the Toombs County Library Board of Trustees. The Board has requested to have a member that represents the district. This individual will be the spokesperson about the school system’s interests and will provide guidance for funding allocations to the public libraries in Vidalia and Toombs Counties. A 60-pound commercial washer from Southern Automatic Machinery will be purchased to replace the current washer at the VHS Field House. An out-of-state field trip for Southeastern Early College and Career Academy (SECCA) Automotive and JROTC students was approved by the Board. Students will travel to the Gator Nationals Race in Gainesville, Florida, on March 11.
