When the school year begins next year at West Marion High School, a new face will be leading the school as the Marion County School Board voted in Elesha Buckley as the new principal. She will be replacing Gigi Dunaway, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
Another big move at West Marion High is Brandon Thornhill, who was approved as new head coach of the high school football team. Thornhill will take the reins from Brad Duncan, who is also retiring at the end of the school year.
Both East Marion Elementary and West Marion Primary schools received awards from PREPS, recognizing them as schools thinking outside the box due to the pandemic. East Marion Elementary received an award for exemplary signage, and West Marion Primary received one for hosting a virtual open house.
Board President Larry Jenkins provided an update on the search for a new superintendent to replace Wendy Bracey, who is retiring at the end of the school year. He said applications are being accepted until April 23, and they have received some applications so far. A survey is available to be completed on the Marion County School Board website to help decide what criteria is important in selecting the new superintendent. The survey is open for submission until April 22. Also, on April 22 at 6 p.m., there will be a webinar explaining the hiring process for the superintendent.
Engineer Jeff Dungan reported back to the board regarding the paving of the parking lot. Dungan provided preliminary drawings of each of the schools’ parking lots, and offered more detailed cost lists. Estimated costs for the West Marion High School campus will cost $513,000; West Marion Primary will be $194,000, the East Marion campus will be $330,000, and the Carl Loftin Career and Technology Center will be $145,000.
Dungan said if the board decides to move forward, it will take about a month to finalize the designs, then an additional six weeks for bidding. Once the project begins, it is believed that it will take at least three to four months.
Bracey reported that state testing has begun and will continue until May 14 throughout the different schools. State testing is being done for both virtual and in-person students. Bracey said the teachers have bent over backwards to uplift the students and prepare them for the tests.
Under personnel changes, the board approved the resignations of:
Jordan Smith – third grade English/Language Arts teacher at West Marion Primary;
Jessica Davis – teacher at West Marion Primary;
Haley Hill – receptionist/transportation secretary at the administration office;
Amy Reed – teacher at West Marion High School.
In addition to the hiring of Buckley as principal, and Thornhill as the new head football coach at West Marion High School, the board approved the following hires:
Melissa Beasley and Shondreaka Williams – child nutrition cafeteria workers;
Ruby Hughes – special education case manager for MCSD;
Garyn Miller – second grade math teacher at West Marion Primary;
Adam Weatherford – Journey of Hope counselor with Save the Children;
Calvin Newsome – head varsity girls’ basketball coach at West Marion High School;
Charles Cory Odom – head softball coach at West Marion High School.
The next school board meeting will be held May 10.
