Christmas carols highlight school meeting

Published 6:00 am Thursday, December 21, 2006

Brookhaven School District board members were treated Tuesdaynight to a special Christmas performance by select students fromMamie Martin Elementary School.

Nearly 10 kindergarten and a handful of second grade studentsperformed a brief holiday program during the board’s regularmeeting. Many of the students’ parents and other relatives alsowatched the program in the district’s board room.

The kindergartners sang four carols for the board, including onethat they signed for the hearing impaired. The second graders sangthree songs in Spanish under the direction of four Brookhaven HighSchool Spanish Club seniors, who worked with them for a few weekson the program.

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Kindergartner Hannah Arnold finished the program with amemorized recitation of Clement Clarke Moore’s “The Night BeforeChristmas.”

Board members laughed and applauded the students at the end ofeach song.

“They did a wonderful job. That was very nice,” said BoardPresident Carl Aycock.

In other matters, the board approved the purchase of two usedpickup trucks at auction for no more than $14,000 each.

Assistant Superintendent James Tillman said the trucks would beused by the lawn and plumbing crews.

Superintendent Lea Barrett also received board approval for her2007-2010 technology plan. The plan is required by state law.

“As you well know, it’s difficult to plan three years in advancebecause of technological upgrades,” she said. “This plan does notlock us into anything.”

Under the plan submitted Tuesday night, the district wouldinvest $2.4 million in technological improvements in the next threeyears. Nearly half of that funding would be reimbursed, Barrettsaid.

Among other provisions, the technology plan allows for eachteacher to have their own computer. Some teachers presently aresharing computers with students, which poses some security riskswhile preparing tests, she said.