The Webster County School Board has accepted a bid to replace the gym floor at East Webster High School.
It did so during a special meeting the morning of Sept. 20, with all board members except Marilyn Brown (District 4) present via phone. Brown was present in the boardroom.
Superintendent Brian Jones announced to the members on the phone that he was about to open sealed bids for the EWHS gym replacement project, according to the minutes.
The only bid received was from Covington Flooring Co. for $86,764. Jones recommended the board accept the bid, which it voted to do.
The board had voted Aug. 12 to advertise for bids on the replacement of the gym floor and heard an update on the project on Sept. 16, minutes of that meeting reflect.
The monolithic dome gymnasium was completed six years ago as part of the rebuilding of the tornado-damaged EWHS campus. Belinda Stewart Architects has consulted with the district over the past year on the matter of the condition of the floor.
Also on Sept. 20, the board approved a request for the third-grade class at Eupora Elementary School to go a field trip to Aliceville, Ala., which was Oct. 18.
The board adjourned until Oct. 21 and its next regular meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 11.
Sept. 16
On Sept. 16, minutes indicate the board heard a bid from Meek Insurance Agency’s Bill Yates and Artie Grimes for the district’s workers comp insurance. The presentation offered quotes from several carriers. Business Manager Angela Avent-White also presented a bid that had been emailed to her.
After some discussion, minutes state the board voted to accept the bid from Union Insurance Co. (Berkley Insurance Group) through Meek Insurance Agency.
Additionally, the board entered into executive session to discuss personnel matters and came out after some discussion.
While in executive session, the minutes state Jones presented a letter from a student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) Committee recommending that the student have a personal care assistant. The board voted to accept the recommendation.
Other Action
In other business Sept. 16, records show the board approved motions to:
• appoint Ridgeland-based Adams and Reese LLP as board attorney. Hugh Gibson resigned from the position effective Aug. 31.
• accept a letter of resignation indicating that Jim Ray is resigning from his position as principal of EWHS effective Dec. 31. As previously reported, Ray has accepted the position of superintendent of the Carroll County School District.
• approve an agreement between the district and Laura Murphey for student intervention at no cost to the district.
• approve the School Recognition Incentive Payout Lists.
• retain Rodabough Education Group as consultants to manage the district’s E-Rate requests and compliance.
• approve the Webster County Child Nutrition Procurement Plan.
• approve the yearly agreement between the Webster County Special Education Department and Head Start for child find assessments and needs.
• approve Gina Sanderson to provide contractual services in the areas of psychoeducational evaluations, psychoeducational consultation and speech therapy for the school district as needed.
• table revisions to the “Child Nutrition Department Payment and Charge Policy” and “Intellectually Gifted Policy.”
• approve various forms for Eupora High School: AP exam student agreement, EHS senior trip contract, EHS senior trip waiver of liability and EHS prom contract.
• approve a request from the Mathiston peewee football organization to use the practice facilities at East Webster Elementary School. Proof of insurance was also included.
• approve the hiring of Javores McKinney as a teacher at Eupora High School, effective Aug. 30, and of Kelsey Redus as a teacher at Eupora Elementary School, effective Aug. 26.
• approve the hiring of Kayla Bingham as an assistant teacher at Eupora Elementary, pending background check results after Sept. 17.
• approve the hiring of Justin Hill as a bus shop worker effective Sept. 17.
• approve the hiring of Joni Adams, Kassidy Shurden, Diane Tomlinson, Chelsea Bass and Lee Bailey as cafeteria substitutes effective Sept. 17, pending background check results.
• approve the hiring of Kara Anthony as a substitute teacher at Eupora Elementary effective upon receipt of a background check after Sept. 17.
• approve a request from a parent to have their child released from Webster County Schools to attend school in another district because of their parents’ employment with that district.
• add a bus turnaround at the Hill residence in Bellefontaine.
• approve a request for the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade SHAPE classes at Eupora elementary and high schools to go on a field trip to Atlanta.
• approve various fundraisers.
• accept various donations to the EWHS baseball program, EWHS athletics, EWHS junior high cheer, EWHS (for workbook fees), EWHS football program and Eupora High School cross-country.
• approve a 16th Section hunting and fishing lease bid of $2,540 from Artie Sutherland on approximately 635 acres.
• advertise for bids on the agricultural lease on approximately 462 acres in a 16th Section tract with a minimum bid of $174 an acre.
• approve asset disposals, financial reports and docket of claims.
Additionally, Jones and the School Board collectively answered the 2020 Mississippi School Boards Association Legislative Survey to be returned to the MSBA.
Milton Davis, board vice president, presided Sept. 16 in the absence of board President Bobby McMullen.
