John Wooden named new principal of Bainbridge Middle School

The Decatur County Board of Education unanimously passed its 2013-2014 budget during the regular monthly meeting Thursday night.

The new budget reduces the number of furlough days from six to five for all system employees next school year.

The approved budget includes total revenues of $37.13 million and expenses of $38.34 million. A positive fund balance left at the end of the current fiscal year would cover the $1.2 million gap in revenues and expenses.

In personnel actions, John Wooden, current assistant principal at Bainbridge High School, was named principal at Bainbridge Middle School.

Dr. April Aldridge was also promoted to assistant superintendent in charge of elementary curriculum. Aldridge is currently the system’s director of federal programs.

Sylena Wiggins, currently a special education teacher at John Johnson Elementary School, was named assistant special education director for the system.

The board also unanimously voted to declare surplus a small tract of property off Evans Street, located behind the Bainbridge Middle School baseball field. The property is 25 feet wide, 290 feet long, and 0.166 acres. Left over from several prior land transactions, the system will dispose of the property after taking bids from interested buyers.

In another unanimous vote, the board re-appointed Danna Sue Hadsock to a third three-year term on the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library Board.