THS fire out quickly
By Arthur McLean Editor

A pair of cafeteria staffers coming in on a Saturday spotted the smoking and burning equipment in the cafeteria's kitchen.

Their visit to pick up an item left over from a booster club meeting Thursday night led to the discovery of a small fire that was beginning to grow.

A cooling fan on a combination warming and cooling unit had malfunctioned and caught fire sometime Friday, according to sources. By the time it was discovered Saturday, the fire had already caused smoke damage to the kitchen and was in danger of growing into something much more serious.

"We caught it just in time," said superintendent Vic Adkison. "It could have been a very serious issue."

As it was, the kitchen suffered mainly smoke damage from the faulty equipment. The cooling and warming unit was slated to be replaced, and the school system had already signed a purchase order for its replacement before the fire, Adkison said.

Cafeteria workers came in over the weekend to help clean up and get the kitchen ready for school on Monday. Emily Thornton, Maxine Mosley, Judy Carlton, Marilyn McDaniel, Nadine Sanders, Melba Turner, Gachel Woodard, Bobby Fuller and Richard Kimbrough all pitched in to get the kitchen ready. "I'm proud of all of them for their hard work and dedication," Adkison said.

The loss of the unit is not affecting the kitchen's ability to serve meals but some adjustments to the way of working in the kitchen have been made until the replacement unit is installed, he said.

School board meeting

On Thursday, the school board met and had its first budget hearing.

The school system expects to again spend slightly more money than it expects to bring in. The budget, including all revenue sources totals $16.5 million while expenditures could reach $16.67 million. "With the Boise situation and the county audit, it will be a challenge this year, keeping our fund balance where it needs to be," Adkison said.

The board took action on several measures Thursday night, approving contracts with Education Station and Little Blessings for preschool services, a contract with Southwest Alabama Medical Center for physical therapy, a contract with MidSouth Psychiatric Therapy for psychiatric therapy and a contract with Therapy Services of Montgomery for occupational therapy.

The board also approved a contract with BancorpSouth Equipment finance for a lease/purchase for four school buses at a cost of $265,000.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of Rhonda Harris, third grade teacher at TES, and changed the contract for Lance Ingram and Adam Elliott from nine months to 10 months, and changed Rita Larrimore's contract from parttime coordinated studies teacher to full-time coordinated studies teacher/multi-media communications teacher at THS.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Taking Names and Keeping Score	1
Frances Nichols passes at 91	1
Bryant is a contestant in Ms. Senior Alabama Pageant	1
Dunagans to celebrate golden anniversary	1