Cathy Wilkes, a sixth grade teacher at Luverne Elementary School, was selected by the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) to train other educators this summer in the program, according to Crenshaw County Schools Superintendent Kathi Wallace.

At the March 19 Board of Education meeting, Wilkes told the Board that &#8220math and science are the main focuses right now” in the hands-on approach to teaching.

&#8220We make actual models of volcanoes, for example,” Wilkes said, &#8220not the paper mache kind.”

This summer, Wilkes will also, herself, be trained in the space portion of the program.

&#8220I really believe this is a great way to prepare our kids for the outside world,” Wilkes said. &#8220It is definitely a hands-on approach.”

Wallace congratulated Wilkes on her achievement and recognition and said that during the next school year, all three schools in the county would be ready for AMSTI. Presently, Luverne School participates in the program.

&#8220The kids are really more excited when it comes to learning about science,” Wilkes said. &#8220It's only as good as you use it, though, but I truly believe in the program.”

Read more about the AMSTI Program in next week's 2007 Progress edition of The Luverne Journal.

*In other business, the Board accepted three letters of retirement from Brantley School and accepted two letters of resignation from the school system.

*The Board gave approval for the junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders at Brantley High School to attend a cheer camp out of state from May 29 through June 1.

*At the recommendation of the Textbook Committee, the Board adopted the entire list of new state adopted textbooks for art education and foreign languages. Those two subjects were up for adoption of possible new books during the school year of 2006-2007. Wallace said that this would be the best way to handle the new textbook adoptions, &#8220if we come into the need of any of those (textbooks).” The new school year would see the possible adoption of new language arts books (English grammar, literature, etc.)

*Wallace reported that student enrollment was up with 596 students at Brantley School, 859 at Highland Home, and 1,072 at Luverne School. The total was 2,527 for Pre-K through grade 12.

* Wallace read a letter of appreciation and thanks from Coach Charles M. Sport. The newly renovated baseball field at Luverne High School was recently named in his honor.

*A vote will be taken on the school calendar for the 2007-2008 school year at the next Board of Education meeting. Wallace said that she wanted the school system's teachers to have input into the decision-making process first.

The next regular meeting of the Crenshaw County Board of Education will be held on April 23 at 5:30 p.m.