Morgan said Martin will be replaced with a couple of part-time employees and that all programs currently running through the planetarium will continue.
Morgan said she's heard interest from a retired scientist living in the area who might be interested in working at the center part time.
Bester parking lot included in CIP
The Washington County Board of Education on Tuesday voted 7-0 to include in the school system's fiscal year 2005 Capital Improvement Plan the construction of a $60,000 parking lot and dropoff area to relieve congestion at Bester Elementary School.
The Capital Improvement Plan will be up for approval in October.
$1.2 million approved for reading textbooks
The Washington County Board of Education on Tuesday approved $1.2 million worth of elementary school reading textbooks, which will be purchased over the next two to three fiscal years.
The School Board opted to buy the Houghton Mifflin Core Reading Program, which will be used by students in grades pre-kindergarten through five.
One group of elementary schools used the books during a trial period in the spring and another group of elementary schools tested a different set of books, before the Houghton Mifflin series was selected.
Bids approved for well, floor repairs
The Washington County Board of Education approved four bids at Tuesday night's meeting.
The bids were awarded to:
- Weyer's Floor Service Inc. of Odenton, Md., to install a new wood flooring system over an existing synthetic urethane floor at Smithsburg Middle School at a cost of $54,574. The project should be completed by Aug. 8, said Dennis McGee, the school system's director of facilities management.
- ARS Contractors, of Hagerstown, to replace the floor at Northern Middle School at a cost of $26,410. The project should be completed by Aug. 8, McGee said.
- Callas Contractors Inc. of Hagerstown, to replace Fountain Rock Elementary School's well water treatment system, piping and well building at a cost of $60,000.
- GRC General Contractor Inc., of Hagerstown, to replace Old Forge Elementary School's well water treatment system, piping and well building at a cost of $59,865.
Board approves reading of pay policy
The Washington County Board of Education on Tuesday approved 7-0 the first reading of a policy regarding payroll procedures.
The proposed policy addresses when staff will get their paychecks and how holidays and inclement weather will be factored into the pay period.
