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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Chilton County Board of Education approved a bid of $507,653 for improvements to the parking lots at Verbena High School and the Verbena Annex during a meeting on May 3.

Approval was given as a part of the consent agenda.

The projects had been previously discussed as needs when the board discussed how to use additional funds it received from the state for capital projects.

The hope is that the improvements will be done this summer while school is not in session.

Also, as a part of the consent agenda, the board approved a request for VHS cheerleaders to attend a camp and Child Nutrition Program summer workers.

A vote to hire summer workers for the maintenance department failed with board members Keith Moore and Jacqueline Sullivan as well as Board President Pam Price voting against. Board members Chris Smith, Lori Patterson and Brad Carter voted in favor.

Sullivan had asked how many hours the summer maintenance employees would work. Superintendent Jason Griffin said they typically work 35-40 hours a week.

Price had asked if the numbers of positions being considered could be cut, since the school system needs to find ways to save money to make up for paying employees more than it received from the state.

Griffin said the number of employees is what maintenance supervisor Freddy Smith recommended.

Summer staff often complete maintenance projects that can only be done when people are not in the buildings.