By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Maplesville Town Council unanimously approved $5,000 for Maplesville elementary projects at its meeting on July 9.

Elementary teacher Brittany Yeargan asked the council for $1,500 to replace playground mulch and $3,500 for equipment related to the MHS House System for kindergarten through sixth grades.

The MHS House System was inspired by a trip several MHS teachers took to the Ron Clark Academy, a school that uses the model, and will be implemented for the 2018-2019 school year.

“The purpose of the houses is to make the students feel like they are a part of the community and making a difference at MHS,” Yeargan said.

Students are randomly selected for their house or groups, which will be a mixture of grades and ages.

The funds will be used to purchase shirts, flags, bracelets, an app for keeping track of house points, winner celebrations and a special recognition of the house with the most points at the end of the year.

Winner celebrations will be held for the house with the most points at the end of each nine weeks.

Each house will have a color, logo, T-shirt and flag.

The hope is that the program will re-enforce positive behavior, encourage helping others and giving back.

Houses will earn points through group challenges and for meeting one of the program’s Transforming 20, which will be introduced throughout the year.

Yeargan said these include things, such as greeting a teacher, helping someone and making eye contact.

The ultimate goal is to create a positive culture. Yeargan said that during the visit to Ron Clark Academy, Clark said such transformation takes two to three years.

Also during the meeting, the Town Council:

• Approved Maplesville Fire Department getting a fire truck worked on.
• Received an update on road resurfacing. Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman said drainage issues on the roads need to be addressed before the paving can begin.
• Passed a proclamation in recognition of the Chilton County 150th Anniversary.