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PHS SELECTS TEACHER AND STAFF MEMBER OF YEAR, PAGE 4 RECIPES / COMMUNITY, 5
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS / SPORTS, 7
PHCC NURSE ENJOYS WOODWORKING
DOGS HIT THE ROAD TO PLAY DESHLER
The Piedmont Journal www.thepiedmontjournal.com
75 CENTS
WEDNESDAY // NOVEMBER 13, 2013
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Members look at two new policies LAURA GADDY Consolidated News Service At Tuesday’s Piedmont School Board meeting, members took a first look at two proposed policies that may be adopted next month to ensure the system is complying with legal requirements. The first policy, a Limited English Proficiency policy, would require educators to formally identify children who don’t understand the English language within the first 30 days of school. The second measure, a Cooperative Education policy, would set forth a framework for the system to begin an on-the-job training program, if officials decided to begin one.
The changes are being considered as the system prepares for a monitoring session with the Alabama Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education next week, said Superintendent Matt Akin. Akin said Piedmont was selected at random by the office for the monitoring session, for which state monitors will be on campus for one day to review policies that pertain to the system’s career and technical programs. The proposed policy additions, and a proposed change to other policies, were recommended at a premonitoring session with employees of the state office, Akin said. The proposed insert is three paragraphs long and
would be applied to six policies designed to ensure the schools’ employees and students receive equal opportunities. It states that the school system does not discriminate and lists people to contact regarding anti-discrimination policies. “It’s a way of showing the state we are providing a service to those students and how we are providing that service,” Akin said, referencing the language program. “It’s in line with what we’ve already been doing for years.” ■ See POLICIES, page 3
TEENAGERS DO THEIR PART
HELPING CANCER PATIENTS
Council mulling decision on Internet LAURA GADDY Consolidated News Service
Submitted photo
Piedmont FCCLA members are, from left, Jenna Steward, Emory Reedy, Haley Dobbs, Darian Gaines, Kaylie Hill, Baylee Kerr, Alex Robertson.
Venecia Butler is proud of Spring Garden, PHS, JCA students
Venecia Benefield Butler was once a teenager. She knows how they can sometimes get distracted and not think about the more important things in life. She doesn’t believe that rings true with teenagers in Jacksonville, Piedmont and Spring Garden who have stepped up to the plate to help those affected by cancer. Butler is leading the effort to make life easier for cancer patients. She’s formed Venecia’s Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides aid, support and comfort to cancer patients and their patients. Butler knows what it’s like to have cancer, and she knows how it affects a family. She’s battled it four times herself. The foundation does a number of things, including providing bags with helpful items to cancer patients. The bags include soft blankets, comedy DVDs, chap stick, gift cards, toothbrushes, queasy drops, crossword puzzle books, lotion, neck wrap and hydrating socks. “These are some thing I know would help in chemo,” she said. “I also want to make sure every chemo chair has a portable DVD player and headphones.” Butler said she appreciates those teenagers and sponsors who have helped out recently. Spring Garden’s cheerleaders gave their share money from twoPUfootball games to Venecia’s Foundation. 666000999999 MAG 80 NBAR .0104 BWA -0.0015
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“We split the pot,” said cheerleader sponsor Christina Howard. “People buy a ticket for $1 at the games and, at halftime, we draw and whoever has the winning ticket gets half the money collected from the game. Usually cheerleaders get the other half. But we donated money, about $325, from two of the games to go to the foundation. The girls were very excited about doing it. They wanted to be able to take a part and help out.” Spring Garden’s FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) sponsor Mandy Pope is proud of her students for their work in helping the foundation. They made a special effort to collect items for the chemo bags, donated money and worked at a 5K race to benefit the foundation. “We like helping people,” said Pope. “That’s part of our club’s job is helping people in our community.” The Piedmont High School Honor Society had several fund-raisers, including a one at Wal-Mart in Centre where they sold t-shirts. As shoppers entered the store, the students gave them a list of items needed for the chemo bags. They were happy with the number who purchased the items. Meg Crane, honor society sponsor, said she’s proud of the students for helping. ■ See HELPING, page 4
The Piedmont City Council heard a pitch this week from a school official on why they should help pay for home Internet service for students, but members haven’t yet committed. The pitch Tuesday came from schools Superintendent Matt Akin, who made a long-delayed presentation to the council on Tuesday, asking that the city resume monthly $6,250 payments for a citywide wireless network to connect to students’ school-issued laptops. Akin said the network is crucial to the school system’s three-yearold program to issue laptops to all students in grades four through 12 as part of a plan to change the way schools work and improve student performance. The council heard him out, but has yet to commit. On Friday, he told The Star he was confident the council will come to the school system’s aid. “We have established and are establishing a good relationship with the city,” Akin said. “I am very positive moving forward that they are going to be a partner.” Some city leaders seem to agree, but have not explicitly said they would vote to restore the funding. “We’re a small town,” said Mayor Bill Baker Wednesday. “If we can give our kids a good education, I think we need to continue spending money in that area.” Councilwoman Mary Bramblett during the council meeting offered a positive response to Akin’s presentation. “I think the schools are the best thing Piedmont has going for it,” she said. Councilman Frank Cobb questioned the proposal at Tuesday’s meeting, saying the city is cashstrapped and struggling to repair other basic city services. And, he said, the city needs to be sure it doesn’t neglect its other responsibilities. “I worry every day we’re not ■ See INTERNET, page 4
THE PEIDMONT JOURNEL
VOLUME 32 | NO. 46
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OBITUARY See page 3.
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