Students bring prom protest to board

MOULTRIE -- Two students stood before the Colquitt County Board of Education Monday in protest of the high school's prom policy.

Sisters Lakin and Megan Reynolds, senior and junior at Colquitt County High School respectively, said that the policy that only students of Colquitt County High School (CCHS) can attend the prom and must be invited by an eligible junior or senior is unfair.

"I've been dating this guy for two years. I was wanting the chance to take him to the prom when I'm a senior...," Lakin Reynolds said, adding that other students are faced with the same dilemma.

The sisters acknowledged that students in the past had invited dates who were more than 30 years old, and they agreed that might not be appropriate. Instead, the girls proposed that an age limit be set as a compromise.

The board instructed Superintendent Leonard McCoy to revisit the issue with CCHS Principal Bob Jones.

"We'll follow up. We're not going to promise you any changes," Board Chair Roy Reeves said.

The issue has become a hot topic and for several days was a regular item in the Moultrie Observer's Rants and Raves column. There also was a suggestion that the students have a party outside of the school while some suggested that tradition should be upheld.

In other school business, the board

- Approved the rebid of $2,550,770 from JCI General Contractors, Inc. for the renovations of R.B. Wright and Sunset elementary schools. The board authorized that $300,000 will be redirected from other general budget allocations. The rest will come from special purpose local option sales tax funds.

- Approved the second bid package be sent out for Packer Park. Included in the package is a new well system, irrigation system and grassing for ball fields. The board is also asking for proposals from electric companies for service to the park.

- Voted in a policy that students enrolled in private and/or home school programs may not participate in classes, programs and/or activities sponsored by the Board of Education.

- Approved a travel request for Stormey McDougal, teacher of the deaf within the district, to attend a training conference in St. Louis, Mo., regarding assessing and teaching language to deaf and hard of hearing students.

- Approved the sale of bon-bons by the French Club.

- Approved a change order of $19,887.10 from Barber Contracting on Phase II renovations of Funston Elementary School.