By Donna Williamson
For the Opelika Observer
Members of the Opelika City Schools’ Board of Education recognized the teachers of the year and presented each one with a silver platter at its Jan. 23 board meeting.
The honorees included: Taveta Debrow fromCarver Primary; Rebecca
Lindsey from Jeter Primary; Samantha Knowles from Southview Primary; Elizabeth McFarling from Morris Avenue Intermediate; Tanya Brown from West Forest Intermediate and Betsy Gore from Opelika High School.
Brooke Hipp, from Northside Intermediate School, was chosen as the Opelika City Schools’ Elementary Teacher of the Year and Amanda Vaughan, from Opelika Middle School, was chosen as the Opelika City Schools’ Secondary Teacher of the Year. These two will advance to the next level of competition.
Board members also approved an increase by the State Comptroller’s Office in the per-mile travel reimbursement rate from 53.5 cents per mile to 54.5 cents per mile, effective Jan. 1, 2018.
In other business, the board:
approved the 2018-19 school calendar, with classes beginning Aug., 2018 and ending May 24, 2019
approved a waiver from OCS Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors requesting relief from make-up days
approved an out-of-state field trip for the Opelika High School Jazz Band and Vibe programs April 19-22.