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Lauderdale County Department of Education
402 South Washington Street
P. O. Box 350
Ripley, TN 38012
Phone: 731-635-2941
Fax: 731-635-7985
pjackson@mail.lced.net

Lauderdale schools broaden opportunities for students

At the August board meeting, the Lauderdale County Board of Education discussed the high scores captured on its Elementary School Improvement Plans, the addition of three more Pre-K classes, the system’s new Dual Credit program for high school students, and made a key decision to invest in the future.

Board members gave Superintendent Phillip Jackson the go-ahead to attempt to purchase 11.2 acres adjacent to Halls High School and Halls Elementary School for future development for the school system. The land is located next to 10 additional acres that the school is currently using for practice fields for its football and band programs, and is the only land connected to the schools in Halls that is not developed.

“That is 21 acres for future use,” said Jackson. “I don’t expect we’re going to do anything soon, but for future purposes, it would be negligent for us not to buy it. It would be a potential place for a baseball field or a track, or even for more buildings, if needed. The reason (to buy it) is that there is no other property adjacent to any school in Halls.”

In the Superintendent’s report, Jackson informed the School Board that all the elementary schools in the system required to submit School Improvement Plans gained the highest rank available, with “4’s” across the board. He also updated board members on additional grants for staff development, before- and after-school programs, and scholarships within the system.

The system is also reaching out to students of all ages with three additional Pre-K classes implemented this year and the beginning of the system’s Dual Credit program with the University of Tennessee at Martin-Ripley Center. The school system is now serving 120 preschool students and has 80 high school students enrolled in its Dual Credit program.

Outgoing board members Don Ray and Debbie Mays were recognized for their years of service on the school board. Ray will soon achieve his Level 4 School Board Representative ranking and Mays was vice-chairman of the organization. Newly-elected representatives Sheila Ferrell and Melinda Hutcherson will be sworn in at the September board meeting.