By Beth Pinyerd
For the
Opelika Observer

The Opelika City School Board voted to approve a dual enrollment/credit initiative with the University of Alabama’s Early College Program during their regular meeting last Tuesday.
Katie Murray, OCS’s Secondary Curriculum Coordinator, made the presentation for the new policy, which will allow eligible high school students to enroll in college-level courses while taking high school classes. Credits earned go toward a student’s high school diploma and their college degree.
The board also requested the Lee County Commission to hold a special election Feb. 19, 2019 for a renewal of the county-wide ad valorem taxes for Opelika City Schools was approved. Set at a five-mill rate, monies from the tax are shared among the Opelika, Auburn, and Lee County School systems on a per-student basis. Because it is a renewal, this will not cause an increase in the millage rate.
In order to start the renewal process, all three school systems are required to send out petitions to be signed only by Lee county residents who are registered voters and pay property taxes. Two-hundred signatures are required on the petition. The school boards will then submit the petitions to Lee County Probate Judge Bill English, who will submit them to the county commission.
In other business, the board:
-approved new hires, resignations, retirements and transfers.
-approved the OHS’ Culinary Arts Teacher Judy E. Eldred and her class to enter into the “Cook Around the World Culinary Competition” at Disney World in Orlando, Florida next year
-approved the sale of school bus 03-1 because of high repair costs.