VALDOSTA — The Valdosta City School System is researching the possibility of building eight tennis courts at Valdosta High School.

The matter was discussed at Monday’s Valdosta Board of Education meeting. Bill Aldrich, director of facilities and maintenance, said that in an effort to get firmer information about the cost he would request formal proposals for the tennis courts.

Warren Lee, District 3, then asked if the facility committee had discussed this issue yet and where the funds would come from to pay for the courts.

Bill Love, District 6, said the committee had not, as its members were waiting on more information. The construction of the courts would come from SPLOST funds, he said.

The tennis courts are tentatively scheduled to be located on Valdosta High School’s campus behind the water tower.

Field Trips

Dr. Janice Richardson, Newbern Middle School principal, presented the four field trips requests that were approved by the board.

The Chorus Department will attend the Music in the Park Choral Festival at Six Flags over Georgia in Atlanta in May. The Beta Club will attend the State Beta Convention in Macon in November. The eighth graders will take a trip to Atlanta in May and the Beta Club will go to Washington D.C. in May.

In other news:

• The Writer’s Guild was approved by the board to be an academic club at Valdosta High School.

• The Title I precipitous decline form was approved and will be submitted for the system to receive the rest of their stimulus funds.

• Two 48-seat Yancey, Blue Bird Buses that will be adapted for special education students were approved for purchase at a cost of $181,988.

• Clifford Greer, Carl Roe and Keeling Harrell were recognized for their help in getting a resident of Langdale Place back home. The man was found outside the board office by the maintenance employees and transported by the employees back to Langdale Place.

• VHS Band Director Michael Thomas and the Marching Cats were recognized for their superior performance at the Battle on the Border, which resulted in them being named grand champions, their fourth in four years.