By Donna Williamson
Opelika Observer
Special to the Opelika Observer
Front row, left to right: Glenda Monhof, Amy Foster, Ginger Burdett, Curtrisher Sanders, Shirley Taylor, Beth Langcuster, Jennie Smith. Back row (l-r): Gloria Campbell, Rebecca Hendrix, Wanda Smith, Ottis Stephenson, Beth Sasser, Ann Denson, Laura Lambert and Betty Flakes.
The Opelika City Board of Education honored its retirees at a retirement tea on Tuesday afternoon at Jeter Primary School. Dr. Mark Neighbors, superintendent, thanked the retirees for their years of dedication and service.
At the school board meeting which followed, Neighbors thanked Sammy Smith for always supporting Opelika schools and for his many years of volunteer work behind the scenes at sporting events and other school events.
Neighbors read a resolution honoring the boys’ track and field team for being the AHSAA 6A Boys’ State Champions. He also praised the girls’ track and field team for placing third in the state competition. Individual state winners were recognized along with the teams.
Certificates or plaques were given to winners of the Superintendent’s Art Show, Congressional District Art Competition, All-State Band, State Trumbauer Theatre Competition, and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) writing competition on the state, Southeast Division, and national levels.
Summer Upton, advisor of the OHS literary magazine Perspectives, along with staff members Emily Johnston and Carli Tyer, presented copies of the magazine to Neighbors and board members.
In other business the board:
-approved the low bid of $97,088.00 from AMCO, Inc. for the replacement of a boiler at West Forest Intermediate School.
-approved the low bid of $30,646.80 from Dorris Signs for an LED marquee sign at Opelika High School
-approved a list of vehicles to be added to surplus to be sold
-approved a trip to Herscher, IL for the Opelika High School Ovations Show Choir to compete in a Swing and Show Choir Competition on March 18-21, 2016
-approved a trip to Petal, Miss. for the Opelika High School Ovations and Impressions to participate in a Show Choir Invitational on February 27, 2016
approved personnel changes, which included new hires, resignations, and transfers.