History of Lauderdale County School District | Page 151

Meridian Star, December 19, 1969

County School Driver Not Asked to Resign
By Jean Perry, Star Staff Writer

Despite reports otherwise, Rev. Jim Meadows has not been asked to resign his position as
a bus driver for Southeast Lauderdale School. Rev. Meadows, a Baptist minister, is chairman of
an eight-member steering committee which has called on county residents to boycott the county
schools when classes resume Jan. 12 after the Christmas holidays.
Lauderdale County Superintendent, Ikie Ethridge, said today he had asked Douglas Little,
Southeast Attendance Center Principal to talk with Rev. Meadows and inform him that as a
county school employee, he is under the federal court order the same as the superintendent and
the school board. “I would like to have him stay as a bus driver.” Ethridge said, “but I don’t feel
he ought to be chairman of a committee working against what the board has to do under the court
order. “According to Justice Department attorneys, he could be held in contempt of court. If he
feels he can’t support the school program, he should resign is my opinion.”
Ethridge pointed out that the county school board has not officially said anything about
the situation. Rev. Meadows is a good bus driver, a ccording to Doug Little. “I hope he
continues,” he stated. “He is one of the finest drivers we have. “He’s not advocating anything,
just voicing his own opinion.”
Meridian Star, December 30, 1969

High School Annex Planned at Vimville
By Jerry Kerns

A new high school annex is to be constructed don the present site of the Jefferson Davis
Academy, the board of directors announced today. The academy is located at Vimville. Dr.
John Lindley is president of the private school, which has been in operation for over four years.
The academy now has grades 1st through 10th and with the addition of the new building the 11th
and 12th grades will be added.
Eight New Classrooms – Publicity Chairman, Dr. P.R. Stodard said construction of the
annex, which will have at least eight classrooms, a science department and a library, will begin
March 1. It will accommodate two section of each grade, nine through 12, with a maximum of
25 students in each section. Dr. Stodard said the addition will enable the school to provide a
greater variety of subject tin the high school area. He said a reasonable tuition will be charged.
The high school will be in operation by the fall term of 1970. The plan is to continue the eight
elementary grades with a maximum of 25 students per grade. The present school facilities
include a gymnasium and a cafeteria.
Registration Dates – Registration for the fall term in grades one through 12 will be held
on two Saturdays – Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 – from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students must be accompanied
by a least one parent. The campaign for building funds is to get underway immediately, with Joe
Odom as chairman of the finance committee. The academy is a tax exempt private institution.