BY ANITA STIEFEL | PHOTO BY OCS
ANITAS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — At the regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 23 of the Opelika City Schools Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Farrell Seymore announced the 2023-24 Teachers of the Year.
Among this year’s honorees are Kasi Davis of Southview Primary School, Laura Childs of Jeter Primary School, Meagan Pritchard of Carver Primary School, Haley Thomas of Morris Avenue Intermediate School, Traci Meyers of West Forest Intermediate School, Tamera Garner of Fox Run School and Marta Harrison of Opelika Middle School.
System-wide, the Elementary Teacher of the Year is Branham Smith of Northside Intermediate School, and the Secondary Teacher of the Year is Mandy Baker of Opelika High School.
Also at the meeting, the board voted to replace the turf at Bulldog Stadium at a cost of $407,055. The board accepted the lone bid from Krebs Engineering Inc. Work will begin immediately so the project will be finished in time for the stadium to be used for spring graduation. Turf in the school’s inside practice facility will also be replaced.
In discussing the project, Superintendent Dr. Farrell Seymore explained that the current turf has been used beyond its 10-year warranty, is worn and must be replaced for safety purposes. The project is part of the board’s ongoing plan to upgrade facilities.
In other business, the board:
- Approved updates to the Opelika High School cheer tryout score sheet;
- Agreed to increase the state per mile travel reimbursement rate for use of personal vehicles, per a memorandum from the Office of the State Comptroller;
- Approved recommended revisions to the Sick Leave Bank guidelines; and
- Approved the recommended 2024-25 school year calendar for Opelika City Schools.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 4:30 p.m.