Daniel elected school board chair

MIKE WEST
Courier Editor

Bruce Daniel was elected chairman of the Cannon County School Board Thursday (September 8).

Daniel represents District 3, the Woodland School area. He was nominated by Board Member Shelly Walkup. Nathan Sanders, District 1, was selected vice-chairman.

It was a quiet victory for Daniel who soon vowed "to get the train a rolling."

One of his first projects as board chairman was being appointed liaison for the board in a possible land acquisition near Cannon County High School.

The property, listed by Exit Realty, is along Highway 70S and adjacent to Cannon County High School's campus.

"We need to pursue it, but it is $20,000 an acre," said Board Member Tim Powers.

Turning to security issues at CCHS, the board voted fund a new security window at the front entrance to the school.

The bid was awarded to Preston Brothers to erect the 36-by-36 inch window with an "L" shaped counter.

Preston Brothers made two bids on the project with the first being a B1 bullet resistant window that was rated to stop a 9-mm round, said Courtney Nichols, CCHS faculty member. That bid was $5,682.

The second bid was for BR3 glass, which would offer protection against much heavier firearms. That bid was for $6,028, Nichols said, and includes installation.

Newly-elected Board Member Javin Fann, District 4, suggested the doors at the high school also need upgrading.

"Security is a major problem," Fann said. "I'm just looking to upgrade it."

"There's no point in spending extra unless the doors are upgraded," he said.

CCHS principal Mike Jones disagreed.

"I would rather have my personnel protected behind that thicker window," he said.

Director of Schools Barbara Parker said the existing doors meet state codes.

In other action, the school board approved John B. Young as auditor and appointed Board Member Tim Powers as Teacher Leadership Network (TLN) representative.