January marked the first meeting for new board members District 3 Patrick Thomas and District 4 Nola Bryant. Thomas was sworn in on Tuesday, January 7 and Bryant was sworn in on Friday, January 3.
And the two board members received a bit of a crash course coming in. The first, learning that board members are paid a stipend and must attend 80 percent of all meetings. If they miss a meeting, they have to pay the school district back for the meeting they missed. After getting the board formalities out the way, the meeting began.
The board voted to re-elect Trustee Mike Thomas as the board president and Clint Huffman as the vice president. New members were then explained by Business Manager Kenny Clark the monthly spreadsheets he give the board showing where the district is.
Clark also told board members that they finally received their funding they were awaiting, but they’re going to have to have a real discussion in the Spring well before their June budget meetings. He said their ad valorem base they utilize to determine how much to request from Supervisors would change this year because the funds they were awaiting were paid in the wrong month. And because it was paid in the wrong month, it thew off the district’s ad valorem base.
“If you’re under, you’re going to have a shortfall and if you’re over, you’re going to have escrow. We’re going to be neither,” Clark said. “It makes it seem like you have a shortfall, but you don’t. You were just paid in the wrong month. But, we’ll talk about that more in the Spring.”
The board also approved for the district to begin accepting cards for concession through GoFan. Melody McKenzie said after going to other schools and seeing that they accept cards, the district decided that it wanted to implement it as well. She said she didn’t know if it would be a fee, but the fee would be assessed to the user.
McKenzie explained to board members that the district already takes cards at the game.
“If someone wants to pay at the [football] gate, we send them over and we have a section where we’re set up with a card reader and we can swipe your card there,” she said. McKenzie said for those who buy their tickets online before going to the game, they can just show them their ticket on their phone.
Trustee Clint Huffman said he’s been asked about the district accepting cards at the concession stand at football games. Superintendent Glen Beard said it wouldn’t be for football, because the concession stand is ran by the Band Booster Club. But, it would be for all other sports.
“If they wanted to get a card reader and set it up at the concession stand, they could,” Beard said.
Also, the board approved adding the new position of an assistant band director. Beard said that current band director Bruce Dobbs has stated that after the 2025-2026 school year, he is retiring. Beard said because band directors are far and few in between, moving on this as soon as possible would give them time to get someone in for the position.
He also said they wanted someone who would keep up with the same caliber and standards that Dobbs has done since being hired.
“We wanted to be able to have someone in place once that happens. After that year, the position would go away,” Beard said. That person would then move to become the new band director.
Beard said that Dobbs has said that he recommended his current student teacher for the position of assistant band director. He said Dobbs current student teacher is excellent and understands what the district expects.
“I have a question,” Trustee Nola Bryant said. “Would this mean this position would not be advertised?”
“No ma’am, it will be advertised,” Beard said. “It doesn’t matter who gets the position, we just wanted it to be out as soon as possible.”
“But, it would be advertised correct?” Bryant asked again.
“Yes ma’am. Some district give their people contracts as soon as next week. And once they sign that contract, they’re locked in and can’t go anywhere. We wanted to get it out there as soon as we could,” Beard said.
“And at the end of the year, Dobbs would recommend that person [who is hired as the Assistant Band Director] for the job?” Bryant asked.
“Yes ma’am,” Beard said.
Also the board:
Approved the retirement of Jim Wood as Transportation Director effective June 30, 2025.
Accepted the resignation of Kimberly Clark-Bell as a Special Education teacher at CCHS, Mikayla Raburn, Teresa Childress and Ada Ellis as substitute teachers, and Billy Woodard as a bus driver.
Approved to pay Stephanie Howard for unused leave. Howard retired as a PreK teacher from Weir Elementary in December.
Approved to hire Sunja Douglass as a bus driver, effective January 13, 2025.
Approved to add Olivia Smith as a substitute teacher.
Approved the request for Lizzie Thomas to help volunteer with CCHS Athletics.
Approved to send a letter to a 16th Section leaseholder to clean up their property.
Approved for the board to tour schools on February 10 before the February meeting.
