News

Rick Rainer officially named superintendent of Elba City Schools

The Elba City School Board was busy in the special called meeting last Thursday evening, May 31, with officer changing and finalizing the hiring of a new superintendent.
The board chairperson normally rotates annually at the first meeting in June. However with the earlier resignation of Chairperson Auburey Williams, board member Doris Matthews was elected as the new chair and immediately assumed the position.
Abdel Bilal was named as vice chairperson. Board members did not know that he too had resigned from the board in a letter to the mayor. His resignation was effective on May 31st, the day of the meeting.
Williams was in his 24th year on the school board and the current term was to run until 2015. Bilal was in his first term, and the expiration date for it was in 2013.
The board immediately moved into the business of officially completing the written contract and naming a new superintendent for the Elba School System. Board Attorney Merrill Shirley presented the board with the finalized contract approved by both the school board and by incoming superintendent Rick Rainer.
The difference in this one and the contract the board recommended last week was the addition of salary amounts and describing the perks already approved by the board. Board member Gappa Wise’s motion to approve the contract was approved.
Both Rainer and Board Chairperson Matthews signed the contract and Rainer quickly moved on with school business.
He thanked the board for the confidence they had placed in him and the opportunity to serve the Elba City School system.
He recommended that the regular monthly board meetings be held at 6:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. The board approved the move. LaKesha Brackins was in attendance and expressed her enthusiasm for this action.
The next item was Rainer’s recommendation that the board accept the resignation of Dr. LaKesha Brackins as Elementary School principal and name her as full time Federal Programs Director. Rainer said he and Dr. Brackins had discussed this move and both felt it would be good for the school system.

Photo: New Elba City Schools superintendent Rick Rainer (left) is shown here being welcomed by Elba Board of Education member Doris Matthews (right) following the signing of Rainer’s contract last Thursday evening, May 31, officially making him the new head of schools in Elba. The contract is for a four year term. It was effective immediately and Rainer was officially on the job Friday morning.