The Webster County School Board has approved financing measures for the possible construction of a new gymnasium at Eupora High School.
Superintendent Brian Jones and the board heard information from a representative from the Jim Young Law Group about financing options for the proposed project on March 16.
Meeting minutes show the board voted to contract with the law firm for bond counsel and MuniGroup as financial advisers throughout the process.
Jones and the board also heard information from a representative from JBHM Architects about plans and designs for the gymnasium but no action was taken.
Neil Waggoner of JBHM first discussed the future storm shelter/gymnasium project with the board last June. He also discussed Federal and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency assistance in construction. The board voted then to submit a letter of intent regarding the project under his guidance but tabled an engagement letter with MuniGroup at that time.
COVID-19 Crisis
Jones recommended the board grant five additional days of administrative leave to all district employees while the district was out of school March 16-20 because of the COVID-19 crisis. This was in accordance with the “Authority for Emergency Closings” policy. The board approved the recommendation.
In related action, the board approved a recommendation from Jones that all school-related activities including proms, banquets and other events be postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis until deemed permissible to resume normal activity.
Also on March 16, the board tabled requests for the EHS Biology Club to travel to Memphis and for the East Webster SHAPE classes to go to Huntsville, Ala., both in May, because of the uncertainty regarding the crisis.
Other Business
In other business March 16, minutes indicate the board:
• approved a policy addition proposed by Business Manager Angela Avent-White regarding payment procedures for the district.
• approved renewal of the Hodges and Farley 16th Section residential leases.
• approved a recommendation from Special Education Director Raven Hawkins that the district hire an additional speech language pathologist because of increase numbers of students being served.
• accepted a letter of resignation from Thad Walker from his position as teacher/coach at EHS effective June 30.
• accepted a letter of resignation from Julie Ford from her position as teacher at East Webster High School effective June 30.
• approved these cafeteria staff recommendations: for Diane Tomlinson to become full time from substitute, for Elise Carol Wehunt and Marcy Lucas to be hired as substitutes, and for Mary Lucas to be go from full time to substitute.
• approved a request for students to be accepted to attend Webster County Schools as they had been released from Calhoun County Schools to do so.
• accepted various donations, and approved financial reports and docket of claims.
Additionally, Jones presented an attendance and discipline report for each school for the school year to date. He also presented projected numbers for enrollment and class size for school year 2020-21. No action was necessary as this was a preliminary planning update for the upcoming year.
The five members of the board met in executive session to discuss a personnel issue; no action was taken.
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March 23
The board had a special meeting March 23 in the Webster County Career and Technology Center conference room.
Jones recommended the board grant additional days of administrative leave while the district is out of school until this Friday because of the COVID-19 crisis.
This is in accordance with the emergency closings policy and the order of the governor to close all public schools in the state until Friday. The board approved the recommendation.
The board also met in executive session to discuss a personnel matter; no action was taken.
All members were present at the WCCTC except Rana Mitchell (District 2), who attended the meeting via Zoom video, as did board attorney Jim Keith, according to the minutes.
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Feb. 10
The board also met in the WCCTC conference room on Feb. 10.
Each principal introduced the selected Teacher of the Year from their school and presented them with an award.
The teachers were: Debbie Knight from East Webster Elementary School, Dionne Wolf from the WCCTC, Rebecca Crimm from Eupora High School, Dabnee Slay from East Webster High School and Arey Herard from Eupora Elementary School.
Jones recognized Herard as District Teacher of the Year and Jim Year, former principal at EWHS, was selected as Administrator of the year, but was not present at the meeting. The Progress-Times published a photo of the honorees on Feb. 26.
Jones and the board also heard a report from each principal concerning test data and current events at each school.
Jones recognized and presented a certificate to each board member in accordance with School Board Member Recognition Week. He also presented an attendance and discipline report for each school for the school year to date
Jones presented a letter from the Secretary of State’s Office stating that the acreage on the 16th Section agricultural release accepted Dec. 10 was incorrect because of a typographic error. The lease should be for 426 acres instead of 462 as originally submitted. Because of the researching of this issue, the current lessee will be given extra time to make payment for the correct lease amount.
The board approved a motion that the lease on 426 acres was to be due Feb. 28.
Administrators,
Department Heads
Jones recommended approval of these administrators and department heads for the 2020-21 school year (all of whom now hold the positions): Corey Stidham, East Webster High School principal; Kim Stallings, East Webster Elementary School principal; Adam Dillinger, Eupora High School principal; Michael Adkins, WCCTC director and transportation director; Laci Knight, alternative education director; Raven Hawkins, special education director; Chris Shea, technology director; Kim Jones, maintenance director; Sue Anne Boatman, federal programs director/district test coordinator/curriculum coordinator; Amy Rollins, food service director; and Angela Avent-White, business manager.
Board President Bobby McMullen then called for a motion approving all administrators excluding Stidham, which members approved 5-0.
Board member Marilyn S. Brown (District 4), who is Stidham’s sister, left the room and McMullen called for a motion approving Stidham as principal at EWHS. A motion to do so was approved 4-0, with Brown abstaining. She reentered the room afterwards, minutes reflect. Brown also abstained when the board voted in October to hire Stidham as principal for the remainder of this school year.
Other Business
In other business Feb. 10, minutes show the board:
• approved a request from Stidham to participate in the 2021 Disney Leadership Program including a trip to Florida during spread break 2021. The board had tabled the recommendation in January.
• approved the school calendar for 2020-21.
• approved two requests for students to be released to attend Starkville-Oktibbeha County School because their parents are employed there.
• approved two out-of-state requests. One was for the Eupora High School band to travel to Walt Disney World in Florida the week of March 5, which was spring break. The other was for the EHS senior class to go to Six Flags over Georgia in Austell, Ga., on April 8. The latter trip had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 crisis.
• approved various fundraisers, accepted various donations and approved asset disposals.
• approved financial reports and the docket of claims.
Executive Session
After Jones presented a request from a parent for their children to transfer, the board met in executive session to discuss an issue regarding a student.
After some discussion, according to the minutes, the board came out of executive session. The minutes state that, while in executive session, the board voted 4-0 to not grant the transfer request of the two students to East Webster, with Mitchell abstaining from the vote.
The board was to also meet April 6 and meets again at 6 p.m. Monday.
