Board honors WL football for historic season

The West Laurens Raiders were honored for a successful season in which their football squad went further than any in school history.

New board chairman Tony Johnson, an alum of WLHS, thanked the football players for the 13-1 season in which they made it to the semifinals, during last Thursday’s Laurens County Board of Education meeting held at the Old West Laurens School.

“Thank you for your outstanding play and your hard work,” Johnson said. “You created memories for me and the community that will last forever. I appreciate what you did on and off the football field.” 

New Superintendent O.J. Hall, who also graduated from WLHS, agreed with Johnson.

“What you provided for us and this community this year was something special,” Hall said. “I know it is something I will never forget. It was good to know that our high school football team was practicing on Thanksgiving Day and our high school football team was playing a day after Thanksgiving. It was good to know that they were playing the first week of December.” 

He pointed out all of the school officials and the parents for what they did behind the scenes.

“I know they came home tired and you made them stick with it,” Hall said. “They were playing on week 14 … and it was good to see our crowd come alive this year like I have not seen it in years.” 

Raiders head coach Kip Burdette introduced the players and coaching staff, who came up to receive a gift from the board.

“I really appreciate our board, school system, community and everybody who is involved in this,” Burdette said. “Winning is extremely difficult and I think anybody who has been in athletics knows how hard it is. There are a whole lot of people involved, we are really fortunate here and everything came together at the right time.” 

Burdette said this year’s team was “the perfect storm.”

“We were very blessed,” he said. “I’m really excited to recognize these players.” 

In other meeting news:

– The board approved Sports Turf Company to replace the tracks at East Laurens High School and WLHS.

“This would put both schools on the same rotation,” Hall said. “The tracks will be guaranteed for about 10 to 12 years. It should be a while before we have to do it again.”

Hall stressed that this work will not impact the upcoming track season.

“We will go through the season on the current tracks and then construction will start after that,” Hall said. 

– Northwest Laurens Elementary School was given the Clean School Award.

– West Laurens High School’s art was on display for board members and people in the audience to look at during and after the meeting.

– The board approved the new hiring of Kevin Daniel, maintenance.

– The board approved the retirements of Kathy Harrison, teacher at WLHS and Jeff Johnson, teacher at WLHS.

– The following resignations were approved: Abbie Fincher (food nutrition assistant at WLHS), Walter Lunsford (bus driver for Laurens County Schools), Amy McLaughlin (teacher at East Laurens Elementary School), Mary Ann Medina (custodian at WLHS), Charles Perez (bus shop for Laurens County Schools) and Denise Wooden (teacher at WLHS).

– The board approved the FY 27 budget development calendar.

– Ryan Dixon was re-appointed as legal counsel.