The Limestone County School System has entered into a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation that will grant the system $220,000 towards the project to improve the strip of U.S. 72 in front of Blue Springs Elementary School, which is still under construction. The announcement was made at the Limestone County School Board meeting Monday night by Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll.

Currently, only improvements such as adding a turning lane are being made. The board hopes for the approval of a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. 72 and Hardy Road where the new school is located. A second request for a traffic light at the intersection is still in review by ALDOT, Carroll said.

The first request for a traffic light at the intersection was denied in February but a second request for the light was considered in June after a man, Gerald Burns, 64, died following a June 3 wreck on 72. His pickup truck collided with a fuel truck that had slowed to turn left from the highway onto Hardy Road.

ALDOT is conducting a traffic volume study in the area as part of the process to consider the traffic light, Carroll said.

In other business, the Limestone County School Board approved a motion by Carroll to equalize the salary increase percentage rate for certified teachers and staff who earn degrees. The rate, at an 8 percent increase in the budget, would impact only about 40 employees, at about $36,000 over all.

Other items approved by school board members are:

• An increase of adult board member and volunteers meal prices to $1.55;

• Use of Cedar Hill Elementary gym by the Ardmore Booster Club for volleyball and basketball practices and games August through March;

• Use of the Elkmont High School lunchroom for a class reunion by the class of 1979 in September;

• An overnight trip Sept. 13-16 to Dauphin Island by Owens Elementary sixth graders;

• New positions for: A speech therapist at a school to be announced; special education instruction assistant at Johnson High School; 12 Title Elementary Teachers for one year only at schools to be announced; Five Title I instructional assistants for one year only at schools to be announced; elementary teacher at Tanner High School; and Phychometrist/Behavioral Specialist at Central Office;

• Contracts for Kathy Hudson, special education pre-school program testing, and Meredith Waggoner, special education pre-school program testing;

• New personnel: Joshua Sawyer, science teacher at Ardmore; Carla Hood, part-time CNP worker/assistant at Cedar Hill; Kelley Hayes, elementary teacher at Creekside; Candy Littrell, elementary teacher at Owens; Kathryn Lewter, elementary teacher at Tanner; Erin Maguire, itinerant music teacher at Tanner and West Limestone; Melba O’Connell, counselor clerk at West Limestone; Anne-Marie Haddock, Pre-K collaborative teacher at Johnson; and Peyton Marsh, Title I integration teacher at central office;

• Leaves of absences for various personnel;

• Resignation of Lynda Cooper, special education inclusion assistant at Clements;

• Designated assistant principals: Roger Cobb at Cedar Hill; Rebecca Valenzula at Johnson; Janice Sutton at Owens; and Angie Barnes at Piney Chapel;

• Positions for numerous supplements, substitutes, after school detention, extended day staff, temporary help, and transfers.

The next Limestone County School Board meeting is planned for Aug. 3.