Liddell sues CMSD for reinstatement
Former Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell has sued to be reinstated as the district’s superintendent.
The Dispatch obtained a copy of the lawsuit, which was filed Friday afternoon in Lowndes County Chancery Court by her attorney, Austin Vollor of Starkville. Dr. Liddell is asking the court to “intervene to restore the rights of the plaintiff, namely to reinstate her as superintendent.”
Columbus school superintendent fired
Columbus Municipal Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell has been fired.
After a four-and-a-half hour executive session, the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees voted, 3-2, to terminate the superintendent during Monday’s board meeting.
Liddell’s consulting work may violate CMSD contract
Columbus Municipal Schools Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell may have violated a school district policy that prohibits the superintendent from engaging in any outside business ventures.
Resources limited for growing number of homeless students
More than 150 children in the Columbus Municipal School District do not know the comfort of sleeping in the same bed every night or the other comforts of home so many take for granted. In the 2012-2013 school year, 154 children were classified as homeless in the district.
Federal programs critical in Columbus schools
Up to 95 percent of children in the Columbus Municipal School District qualify for free or reduced lunch. Each school year, the district applies for nearly $3 millions in federal funds to make sure those children receive the same advantages as the district’s other children.
Our view: At long last, CMSD Board exerts its authority
Three months ago, when Angela Verdell was appointed to the Columbus Municipal School Board to replace Tommy Prude, there was a feeling the dynamic of the school board would change — and for the better.
Liddell used CMSD resources for private party
Documents obtained by The Dispatch reveal Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell used school resources — including funds and staff — for personal use in throwing a party during the Christmas holidays.
CMSD will handle maintenance, nutrition in-house
The Columbus Municipal School District will soon be hiring additional employees to handle nutrition and grounds maintenance.
During a special meeting of the school board Tuesday night, board members voted 3-1 to reject two bids pertaining to nutrition and grounds maintenance, voting instead to provide the services in-house.
CMSD workers forced to return pay
Custodial and maintenance staff with the Columbus Municipal School District will have 28 hours of pay deducted from their next paychecks as reimbursement for pay approved by their supervisors but ruled inappropriate by district officials. The 39 employees will lose approximately $200 to $500, depending on their pay rate.
Wright: Board vote may be a misappropriation of funds
Lowndes County Superintendent Lynn Wright is concerned the district may be judged to have misappropriated taxpayer funds if their vote opposing starting an alternative school in the county is not reversed.
Our view: CMSD motto: ‘I don’t know’
The defining moment in Dr. Martha Liddell’s first year as superintendent for the Columbus Municipal School District came Monday during the district’s regular board meeting.
Elmore will serve as interim CFO for Columbus schools
Felicia Elmore will fill in for terminated Columbus Municipal School District CFO Kenneth Hughes for the remainder of the school year.
Project Blast targets struggling students
Two new after-school tutoring programs will focus on helping under-performing elementary students. Project Boost and Project Blast began last week within the Columbus Municipal School District and are being offered at four of the district’s elementary schools.
CMSD considers Lee sale, impact of charter school law
The Columbus Municipal School District has yet to reach a decision on the sale of the Lee Middle School property. After meeting for nearly three-and-a-half hours Monday, the CMSD Board of Trustees entered into an hour-long executive session to discuss potential litigation and the sale of district-owned property.
Local schools getting head start on Common Core curriculum
As school districts around the country prepare to make the switch to Common Core, a new type of math- and language arts-based curriculum, the Columbus Municipal School District is taking steps to ensure that students, parents and teachers are prepared for the change.
Prude makes one last junket on district dime
At a time when the Columbus Municipal School District was cutting non-essential expenses, Tommy Prude spent close to $1,000 on a conference that was held just two days before his term on the school board ended.
Search for United Way director enters interview stage
The United Way of Lowndes County is moving forward in its search for a new executive director following the abrupt departure of Jan Ballard in early February.
CMSD board reviews finances, accounting procedures in workshop
The Columbus Municipal School District is changing the way it tracks travel expenses, board members learned Saturday during a two-hour budget workshop at Brandon Central Services.
Our view: Choice of Verdell an encouraging step on the path to progress
On Tuesday night, the Columbus City Council had four choices for one position on the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees.
But really, it came down to two choices: maintaining the status quo that has seen our schools slide toward failure or taking a path forward.
Council picks Verdell for school board
Angela Verdell was appointed by unanimous vote to a five-year term to the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees during Tuesday’s Columbus City Council meeting.