The Andalusia Board of Education authorized the general contractor for improvements at the high school auditorium and stadium to order metal for parts of the project bid as alternates.

Bryan Ray of Wyatt Sasser Construction said a field house to be used for visiting football teams, soccer and softball teams was originally designed as concrete block construction with brick exterior, and originally expected to cost $510,000. To help the school system save money on the project, it and other pieces have been value engineered and designed as metal buildings with brick or partially brick exteriors. With the changes in the plan, the board can save $92,000.

The batting cage has been similarly value engineered. Originally priced at $370,000, but building as a metal building, the board could save as much as $100,000.

The board authorized Ray to move forward with ordering the metal, and will make decisions about exterior brick in a future building.

The board also hired:

• Teresa Wade as a special education paraprofessional at Andalusia Elementary, retroactive to Jan. 8.
• Katie Ingram as a special education paraprofessional at Andalusia Elementary, retroactive to Jan. 8.
• Jenny Jordan as a special education teacher at Andalusia Elementary, retroactive to Jan. 5.
• Mallory Hogg, as a special education teacher at Andalusia Elementary, retroactive to Jan. 8.

The board also granted a leave of absence to Shanna Davis, library paraprofessional at AES.