Student infections not Staph
By Arthur McLean Editor

There were two suspected cases of Staph infections in Thomasville City Schools last month, but neither turned out to be the drug resistant strain that has been reported on as infecting students in other areas of the state recently.

Both infections cleared up when treated, according to a report presented to the Board of Education last week. The classrooms of both students were also disinfected shortly after the infections were discovered, according to the report.

The drug resistant strain of Staph is most commonly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Superintendent Vic Adkison said teachers were being instructed to encourage students in the proper washing of hands and keeping of good hygiene practices as the best defense against spreading an infection.

Board member Marshall Pritchett asked Adkison to investigate the option of putting hand sanitizer stations up at the school. The stations would dispense an alcoholbased sanitation gel commonly used at hospitals for hand sanitizing.

The board voted to table approving a 10 percent cost increase requested by Flowers Baking Company for bread and bakery products.

The contract for the year was approved in July and the company is asking for the increase starting in January of 2008.

Board member Kevin Smoker asked whether the price increase was justified. "How do we know his increase in cost is what he says it is," Smoker asked.

Adkison was directed to get more information about the price increase. Adkison said the fund equity in the child nutrition program should be able to cover the price increase should the schools have to pay it.

In other business, the board approved hiring Jane Sellers as a part-time HIPPY coordinator. HIPPY stands for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters and is a new program in Clarke County this year. The position will be funded with money from a state HIPPY grant.

The board also hired five part-time HIPPY parent educators: Jennifer Agee, Edith Allen, Sally Ann Anderson, Valorie A. Hunt and Johnnie L. Raine. Those positions will be paid with a combination of Americorps funds and HIPPY grant funds.

In other business, the board: approved on the job injury leave for Tina Tyler, and 14 days of catastrophic leave for Latonya Woods.

It also appointed the following members to this year's text- book committee: Darla Lyles, Jill Doggett, Leann Moore, Kathleen Craddock, Lisa Newton, Robin Maroney and Gail Harvell.

Adkison made the following reports to the board

Five hundred and seventy one parents attended parenting day on Oct. 23 at the three schools.

Total student enrollment for the system stood at 1,581 for the first part of the school year.

Sandra Williams is working to bring a program called Rachel's Challenge to the schools. The program is based on the journal entries of Rachel Joy School, one of the first victim's in the Columbine school shootings. Its aim is to increase compassion among students.

The high school gym floor is being refinished and repainted.

A contract with Dozier Oil was approved at 15 cents per gallon above cost.

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