The Webster County School Board discussed legal matters during executive sessions last month.
The first executive session was April 8, after Superintendent Brian Jones announced board attorney Hugh Gibson would address the board concerning legal matters.
The board came back into open session after some discussion, according to the minutes. While in executive session, minutes state the board approved a motion for Jones to sign and send unspecified letters prepared by legal counsel.
The board again met in executive session to discuss legal matters on April 15 with Gibson, attorney David Mockbee and Craig Bjorgum, minutes of that meeting indicate.
Mockbee is president of Mockee Hall & Drake of Jackson. According to the law firm’s website, he is a leading authority in the field of construction law. Bjorgum is technical director/project architect with Belinda Stewart Architects. No action was taken after some discussion, records show.
April 8
Other action taken by the board on April 8:
• Granted permission to advertise for bids on hunting and fishing leases on two unleased and expiring 16th Section tracts. Bids will be received until 10 a.m. June 10.
• Accepted a letter of resignation from Lacey Huffman from her position as a teacher at Eupora Elementary School effective May 24.
• Approved a request from a teacher to miss the last working day of school to attend a family event. Jones recommended that she be allowed to make up the day at a later time without a reduction in pay.
• Approved a request to add an assistant band director position at East Webster High School because of increased participation in the band program. The position will also include chorus.
• Approved a bus turnaround on the property of Ted Cole on Cole Road in Maben.
• Approved a request for Eupora High School basketball to hold a student/teacher basketball game as a fundraiser.
• Accepted donations to the East Webster High School athletic program, Eupora High School tennis program and EHS softball program.
• Approved a request from Rob Turner to commit to a dollar amount matching a grant to resurface the tennis courts at East Webster High School so that the grant could be applied for. Jones recommended that the district commit to the funds, and if more money was necessary to complete the project, Turner come back to discuss the matter again.
• Approved financial reports and the docket of claims.
Additionally, Jones informed the board of some teacher transfers that will be effective in the upcoming school year, of information regarding planning for the budget of the 2019-20 year, and presented an attendance and discipline report for each school for the school year to date.
April 15
At the April 15 meeting, the board accepted CB&S Bank and Bank of Kilmichael as depositories for fiscal years 2020 and 2021, based upon the recommendation of Business Manager Angela Avent-White and following advertisement for bids. The motion also approved depository accounts and signees.
Other action taken by the board on April 15:
• Approved board meeting dates through June 2020. Remaining meeting dates for 2019 are June 10, July 16 (preceded by a budget hearing at 5 p.m.), Aug. 12, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9.
Meeting dates for 2020 are Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 16, April 6, April 20, May 11 and June 8. All meetings, excluding the budget hearing, begin at 6 p.m.
• Approved certified personnel recommendations for 2019-20.
• Approved the MAEP teacher pay scale for 2019-20.
• Approved salary scales for 2019-20.
• Approved a facilities use request from Dorthy Ross, president of Maben-based Hand Picked by God Gospel Singers, for an anniversary program that was May 11, contingent upon receipt of use fee, deposit and proof of liability insurance.
• Approved Becky Oliver as a long-term substitute teacher at Eupora Elementary School.
• Approved a request for the Eupora High School baseball team to sell chicken dinners as a fundraiser.
• Accepted donations to the Eupora High School baseball and tennis programs, and to East Webster Elementary School.
• Approved Career and Technical Education assurances for fiscal year 2020.
Rana Mitchell (District 2) was absent April 15. Minutes of the April meetings were approved May 13.
