n Advanced classes could

begin at technical center in the fall.

By Mack Spencer

Monitor-Herald

CALHOUN CITY - School board member Danny Harrelson is lobbying hard for wider availability of Advanced Placement classes for county students.

There have been discussions previously about having AP classes taught at the Career-Technical Center eventually, but Harrelson upped the ante Monday night, asking that a room or rooms be ready to offer the classes at the CTC this fall.

"Calhoun City and Vardaman only have online classes," Harrelson said. "We all know that's a waste of time.

"I doubt if we'll ever be able to offer AP classes at all three schools," he said. "I'd like to see us, by fall, have a room ready to offer an AP class at the vo-tech center."

Only Bruce currently offers AP classes on site, in biology, history and English.

Superintendent Mike Moore didn't commit to Harrelson's timing, but continued to support the idea.

"I want to the Career-Technical Center to get up and running for what it's for first," Moore said.

"We probably couldn't find three AP teachers for each school, because schools like Tupelo and Biloxi gobble them up, but we can get one teacher to share," he said. "I'm 100 percent behind this."

Teachers who want to teach AP courses must attend an AP Summer Institute, which is usually held at the University of Mississippi and Millsaps College each year.

AP courses can lead to college credit for students if they pass the course exam at the end of the year.

"This should be important enough for us to offer it to all our students," Harrelson said.

In other business:

n The board accepted the Career-Technical Center building, part of the former Kellwood complex on Madison Street in Calhoun City, as substantially complete.

The board also ratified a small change order on the project, contracted with Natchez Trace Electric Power Association for electrical service and approved an interlocal agreement with the board of supervisors for paving parking lots at the CTC and the Calhoun City High School band hall.

n Moore said the district will receive no federal stimulus funds until after the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

n The Terra Nova assessment was recently given to kindergartners and first and second-graders in the district, Moore reported. The test is not required, but student performance on the test helps the district identify possible at-risk and gifted students.

n Moore congratulated recent playoff teams, including Vardaman softball and baseball, Calhoun City powerlifting and baseball and Bruce baseball.

n Moore acknowledged almost $10,000 in donations to the district, including trophy cases to Vardaman High School, library and Accelerated reader supplies and Bruce High School golf team funds.

n Bruce coach James Ray and Vardaman coaches Justin Hollis, Eric Spann and Billy Dill were hired as summer maintenance workers.

n Linda Davis will retire at the end of the year.