The Webster County School Board rejected a recommendation by the superintendent of education to delay the start of school, records show. The sole agenda item of a special board meeting on July 30 was an updated school calendar for 2020-21. Superintendent Brian Jones presented a school calendar revised to include additional professional development before an adjusted start-of-school date, Aug. 13, one week later than originally planned. After some discussion, meeting minutes state Milton Davis (District 5) made a motion to approve the revised calendar and delay the start of school. Bobby McMullen (District 1) seconded the motion. Davis and McMullen voted aye, and Rana Mitchell (District 2), Jimmy Hood (District 3) and Marilynn Brown (District 4) abstained. McMullen, as board president, counted the three abstained votes as nay votes and declared the motion as failed, according to the minutes. The board had approved the school district’s plan for returning to school amid the COVID-19 situation after reviewing and discussing it on July 9. The next day, Jones released the guidelines and procedures for returning to school. These included following the previously approved school calendar with a student start date of Aug. 6. In-service for all certified personnel and assistant teachers was held Aug. 3-5 and classes did begin Aug. 6 as scheduled. The school district tweeted after the Aug. 10 board meeting that the school calendar had been adjusted to provide for a professional development day for teachers on Aug. 17. ------------ July 27 Previously, the School Board had a work session July 27, with board attorney Jim Keith attending via Zoom video. Minutes state the board voted to go into executive session to discuss a financial matter. Jones told the Progress-Times this was to discuss how staff would be paid if school was delayed and involved discussion of specific personnel. ------------ July 20 During the regular monthly meeting on July 20, the board adopted a resolution declaring a shortfall for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Jones informed the board of the shortfall in revenues on July 9. He recommended then that the board take proper steps in addressing the shortfall and the board approved the recommendation. The resolution states it is the intention of the board to enter into a three-year loan arrangement and issue a promissory note in an amount equal to the estimated shortfall of local revenues, which is $15,179. Young Law Group was retained as special counsel in connection with the issuance of the note. The meeting began with a public meeting to address the technology protection measures and internet safety policy of the district for Children’s Internet Protection Act compliance via Rodabough Education Group. The board retained Rodabough last September as consultants to manage the district’s E-Rate requests and compliance. Minutes state attendees were given the opportunity to ask any questions about internet safety and technology protection measures for the district’s technology devices. The policies were in order and on file, and no questions arose. The board went into executive session to discuss a personnel issue regarding Sharonna Miller, the minutes indicate. No action was taken. Other Action Other action taken by the board on July 20: • approved the Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care Plan, Procedures for Enrolling Homeless Students, Instructional Management Plan, English Language Learners Plan and School Occupational Safety and Crisis Response Plan for 2020-21, all submitted by Sue Anne Boatman, Federal Programs director. • accepted the only bid received, $4 per acre, from Big Buck Hunting Club, for the hunting and fishing lease on a 16th Section tract. Jones also presented a request from someone to lease an unleased 16th Section lot. After some discussion, the board agreed to take no action on the request. • approved a request for a student to be released from the district to attend Louisville School District as a parent is employed there. • approved the student handbooks from each school for the 2020-21 school year. • approved the hirings of Madi Blake and Monica Cole as school nurses at East Webster Elementary School and Eupora Elementary School, respectively, effective Aug. 1. • approved the hiring of Hunter Mason as a teacher/coach at East Webster High School effective Aug. 1. • approved the hiring of Carley Norman as a long-term substitute teacher at EWHS effective Aug. 1. • approved a request from a parent to allow their child to ride the school bus that the parent drives unless the parent is now driving that day. • accepted an anonymous $600 donation to Food Services. • approved asset disposals, financial reports and the docket of claims. Davis, vice president, presided in the absence of McMullen. A budget hearing preceded the meeting.
