Sub calling system starts
An automated substitute teacher calling system called AESOP began its first day of operation in McDuffie County on Feb. 9. There were 23 absences on that day, and the system filled all but one of those slots.
That position was filled manually after AESOP was unable to fill it with 41 calls to potential subs.
School officials are very happy with the system that was paid for using Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax dollars. Principals, school secretaries and teachers alike had praise AESOP's first days.
Schools get better news from state
The McDuffie County School system will receive a slight break from the expected budget cuts for the coming months.
School officials initially expected the cuts for the remainder of fiscal year 2004 to be $419,727, but new figures provided by the state put that figure at $365,383.
Also, preliminary cuts for FY05 were $818,468 but have been reduced to $730,767. While Superintendent of Schools Ed Grisham thinks that news is helpful, he still thinks the system will have to consider cutting approximately 14 teaching positions to help make up the difference.
Crossroads earns accreditation
Crossroads Learning Center Principal Steve Strouble received a plaque recognizing the alternative school's accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools during the February Board of Education Meeting.
The school received accreditation in the category of Standards for Special Purpose Schools. This makes McDuffie County Schools 100 percent accredited.
Sand Hills receives donation
J. Timothy Shelnut of Shelnut Enterprises recently made an in-kind donation to improve the facilities of Sand Hills Psychoeducational Center located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Street.
Work totaling $50,000 was done to install an intercom system, an alarm, cameras and monitors, lighting, improving the time out room, along with various other projects.
