Education

The Shelby County Board of Education took the next steps for both its ongoing building projects during Thursday’s meeting at the district’s offices.

The board heard updates from the architects on the new Southside Elementary School and the Northside Early Childhood Center and approved the bond issue to get the Northside project started.

K. Norman Berry & Associates’ Harry Dumesnil reported to the board that the contracts are in the works with BCD, Inc., the general contractor the board approved at the Sept. 27 meeting.

The Shelby County Board of Education closed one building project and opened another during Thursday’s meeting at the district’s offices.

The board closed out a series of purchase orders on the Collins High School building project to complete the majority of that project. The direct purchase orders were used to save the district more than $800,000 by using its tax-exempt status.

Shawn Allen Sr. had a dream: academic success for African-American young people.

As parent of several students in Shelby County Public Schools, Allen has become familiar with the strengths and opportunities available to help students succeed. His own children have benefitted from creative teaching methods and extra-curricular activities in local schools.

But Allen’s dream reached beyond championing benefits for his children alone. He said he wanted to close the achievement gap and to increase academic successes for Black students.

Concerns about grades of high school student athletes has prompted the formation of a committee to study the issue.

When the topic was raised at the meeting of the Shelby County School Board on Thursday night, board member Brenda Jackson said she was concerned that student athletes are allowed to participate in sports as long as they have a “D” average.

“I question letting athletes play with a ‘D’ as a passing grade,” she said.