Carroll school board scraps wheelchair lift project at middle school

By SANDIE BANKS

N-D Correspondent

A plan to add a wheelchair lift to improve accessibility to the 21st Century Lighthouse program held in the basement of the Carroll County Middle School has been scrapped due to the cost of the project.

The lowest bid submitted for the project came in at $43,000, said consultant Ron Murrell of Ross Tarrant Architects Inc., who advised the board not to approve any of the bids. The board rejected the bids by unanimous vote.

In other business, Pam Williams, elementary instructional supervisor, told the board that 72 seniors last year took the American College Test, a standardized test used by colleges for accepting students. Six years ago, only 42 seniors took the test. Williams said the overall scores in 2007-08 increased by one point.

Food services director Patty Burgess told the board that about 882 free lunches were approved in Carroll County. About half, 433, were certified through the KTAP program or food stamps program. The remainder came from applications submitted by families.

She said applications are still being accepted, and said the numbers may increase because not all applications already received have been entered into the computer system.

Burgess brought along a new fruit parfait that will be served at the schools, to help them meet nutritional requirements for fruits, dairy and grains.

She offered the board to sample the new item, and said it would be included in the regular lunch menu and won’t be an “extra” that students would have to pay for. “It will be available to all,” she said.

She reminded the board that Grandparents’ Day is Sept. 11 at Cartmell Elementary School and Sept. 12 at Kathryn Winn Primary School. On those days, grandparents are invited to join their students at the schools for lunch.

Superintendent Lisa James presented “Champions for Kids” awards to three district employees: Cindy Johann, Joe Bliton and Jeff Fremin. The three were given the awards for “outstanding performance” and for being champions for the district’s students.

The next board meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept.11, in the CCMS media center.