Leo Branch is new chair of Board of Education

Pictured L-R are Board members Lester Brown and Morris Hardy being sworn in by District Judge Lillie Jones-Osborne.
At their regular meeting on November 15, the Greene County Board of Education unanimously elected Board Member Leo Branch as their chairman. Board Member Bobbie Morgan was elected Vice Chair.
Before the beginning of the meeting, District Judge Lillie Jones-Osborne swore in Lester Brown and Morris Hardy, the two members who were re-elected in November.
Coach Bruce Jackson presented the senior members of the Greene County High School football team and told board members how well the team had performed during the last season and how much he expected of the team in the 2011 season.
In her financial statement, CFO Evelyn James told the board that for the month of September the board had cash and cash equivalency of $3.1 million. This includes money for capital improvements. They had revenue of $1.6 million and expenses of $1.4 million. The last income from bingo at Greenetrack was in July for the month of June. Lester Brown told the board that already the school system had not received at least $225,000 from bingo. This was an estimate of what they would have received had Governor Bob Riley left the bingo machines in place and operating.
James said the revenue for October was $1.2 million and the expenses were $1.5 million.
In action items, the Board approved:
*At Risk Funds for Greene County Children’s Policy Council, New Generation After-School Tutorial  Program, SCORE, and the Center for Rural Development;
*An Anti-Harassment Policy;
*Payment of all bills and claims;
*The financial statement submitted by Evelyn James;
*Resolution authorizing the issuing of the Capital Outlay Pool Warrant.
Following an executive session, the Board approved catastrophic sick leave for Ms. Sandra Harris, Transportation/CNP Secretary for the system.During her report, Superintendent Isaac Atkins said that the students at Eutaw Primary all had computers now and by going on Skype were able to visit one of their teachers online who was serving in Iraq. She said that soon they would be able to communicate with other students in other schools.
She announced that November 14-20 was American Education Week. This year’s theme is Great Public Schools – A Basic Right and Our Responsibility. Each school is having programs each day during this week.
During public comments two people from District 3 said they were interested in filling the vacancy left by Elzora Fluker. They were told by Attorney Sanders that the qualifications were to be a registered voter, live in the district and be an adult.
The board recessed the current meeting and announced the meeting would continue on November 29.Attorney Senator Hank Sanders advised the board that he had done some research on how to legally fill the vacancy created when Board Member Elzora Fluker was sworn in as a Greene County Commissioner.
According to Sanders, the position must be filled within 30 days following Fluker being sworn in as a commissioner. This leaves them 23 days from the date of the November 15 meeting to fill the vacancy. If they do not, the State Superintendent gets to fill the vacancy.
It was decided that, to make things fair, the board would accept applications from each person who wants the position. They will accept applications until November 23 and then make a decision.
Branch said that all applicants are to address their resumes to the Greene County Board of Education, c/o President Leo Branch.