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The Covington County Board of Education approved the system’s 2023-2024 school calendar and approved six personnel matters at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, April 4.

The board approved next year’s calendar to follow the same format as this year’s.

“It is almost identical to what we have run the last few years. We are keeping our spring break week in line with the Andalusia City Schools and Opp City Schools’ calendars for everyone’s benefit throughout the county,” Superintendent Shannon Driver said.

The first day of school will be Monday, August 14, with three holidays (one each) in the first four months. As in years past, students will be off an entire week for Thanksgiving and two weeks at Christmas.

Teachers and students will return from the winter break on the same day. In years past, students arrived back at school a day or two after a scheduled day for teachers’ in-service. Spring break will once again be the final week of March. There are two weather days planned in February and April.

The last day of school will be Thursday, May 23. Each of the four high school graduations will be split into four separate windows, as the case will be once again for this year.

During the meeting the board approved five retirements and one resignation.

“We have a lot of service years with these five individuals retiring this year and thank them for their contributions to Covington County Schools,” Driver added.

Retirement:

• Sandra Waller Bryant as central office secretary effective June 30 (11 years)
• Ricky L. Messick as transportation coordinator effective June 30 (26 years)
• Angelia W. Hardage as custodian at Straughn High School effective June 30 (28 years)
• Tina Louise Moore as elementary teacher at W.S. Harlan Elementary School effective May 26 (25 years)
• Nathaniel Belcher as bus driver at W.S. Harlan effective May 26 (27 years)

Resignation:

• Dawn E. Smith as bus driver/custodian at Pleasant Home School retroactive to March 21

School board members also announced a “very good” report from an audit that was recently conducted. They thanked Chief School Finance Officer Ressie Gray for her efforts.

“The auditors were complimentary and had no discrepancies in the audit. They found nothing wrong and told us they would see us again next year,” Driver said.

In other business:

• The board conducted training as required by the School Board Governance Improvement Act following the meeting.
• Superintendent Driver announced this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian recognition banquet to be held Monday, May 8.

The board set the next meeting date for Tuesday, May 2, 5:30 p.m., at the central office.