LCS board approves moving preschool to Wicker Elementary
With some discussion, the Lee County Schools board on Tuesday approved moving the preschool from Warren Williams School to W.B. Wicker Elementary, effective for the fall semester.
The vote was 6-0 with Carla Hooker absent. Board member Eric Davidson made the motion to approve the relocation, and added, 'I just wish we had done this earlier.'
Stacie Eggers, assistant superintendent of operations, made a presentation about the proposal, which is awaiting final approval from the state's pre-K office.
The move of 144 students would fit in the ground floor at Wicker ES, which has sometimes been referred to as a basement by school officials.
Eggers noted that each of 12 classrooms that would be used at Wicker has a restroom, which is an improvement over the situation at Warren Williams.
Wicker ES reopened in 2019 and is currently at 61% capacity, Eggers said. With the move, it would be at 79%. The school has a functional capacity of 921 students, she said.
Another benefit is that meals would not need to be bused as they are now at Warren Williams.
In addition, a planned $4.5 million renovation that was requested at Warren Williams as part of the LCS Capital Improvement Plan would no longer be needed.
Some minor improvements at the circa-1950 school could be needed if the school board decides to use the building. Some options mentioned by Eggers include storage for the maintenance department since the old Jonesboro School burned down or as a parent resource center or family engagement center, which are currently housed at Wicker ES. The latter is used to communicate with the area's migrant community, Eggers said.
Board Chair Sherry Lynn Womack asked Superintendent Chris Dossenbach if Lee County would want to use Warren Williams School in the future. Dossenbach said he was waiting for approval from the board on relocating the preschool before speaking to the commissioners about it.
GRADUATIONS
As part of Womack's report, she noted that Lee Early College students will graduate Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the Wicker Civic Center.
Lee County High School's graduation will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29 at Paul Gay Stadium.
Southern Lee High School's graduation will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 30 at Cletis Gore Stadium.
BUDGET WORK SESSION
Davidson noted that the Lee County commissioners are tentatively scheduled to have a budget work session, including discussion of LCS salaries, on Friday, May 30. Davidson did not have a time or location for the meeting.
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