City to receive school's playground equipment

— Three pieces of unused playground equipment at the former Decatur Elementary School will be given to the city to expand the playground in Veterans Park.

Board members Darleen Holly, Ike Owens and Aaron Owens voted to give the city a slide and jungle gym for very small children and a tug boat for use in the park. Board members Justin Thompson and Kevin Smith were not present.

Mayor Charles Linam presented a proposal to the board explaining it would allow the equipment to be used by the children of the community.

The city’s proposal states that the city will be responsible for preparing the site at Veteran’s Park, dismantling, moving and reassembling the equipment, and smoothing any obstacles from the old site to make it ready to plant grass.

“This proposal will make the equipment accessible again to the children of Decatur and surrounding areas (the original purpose for the donations tobuy the equipment),” it states.

A larger piece of equipment will be moved to the Northside Elementary School and placed on the west side of the building to provide a playground for fifth and sixth grade students.

Elementary school principal Leslie Sharp said she plans to apply for a grant to pay for a walking track in October to further expand the playground area on the west side of the building.

Other items the school board took action on were:

◊ Rehiring all non-certified staff for the 2011-2012 school year based on the current school policy and salary schedule and depending on state and federal funding.

◊Selling a 1992 GMC Amtram school bus with an original purchase price of $14,900.

◊Buying an eight passenger 2006 Ford Expedition for teachers to use to transport smaller groups of students or to travel to professional development seminars.

◊Buying a 2007 Ford Econoline van to carry tools and supplies for the maintenance department.

◊Approving the resignation of two teachers for the 2011-2012 school year and the hiring of one teacher’s aid.

◊Changing the monthly meeting to 6:30 p.m. to allow members more time to get there after work.

News, Pages 1 on 05/18/2011