The Webster County School Board was busy in June with four meetings during the month.
At its first monthly meeting on June 1, Superintendent Brian Jones asked the board members to examine proposals for school security for the 2018-19 school year from TBL Security, minutes reflect.
He also presented an attendance and discipline report for each school for the school year to date. Additionally, Jones informed the board of an interdistrict transfer of a teacher for the 2018-19 school year.
In other business June 11, records show the board:
• tabled a request from Business Manager Angela Avent-White to transfer funds from 16th Section into the District Maintenance Fund. She and the board also discussed the 2018-19 budget and dates for the budget hearing. No action was taken (see section on June 21 meeting).
• approved the Professional Development Plan for 2018-19.
• accepted bids on two expiring 16th Section hunting and fishing leases. The bids were for $2,320.65 from Chris Collum on one tract and $2,855 from Spring Creek Hunting Club on another tract.
• approved a request from a parent who lives in Montgomery County but is employed by the Webster County School District for her child to be accepted to attend school in the district.
• approved a request from the guardian of a student that he be allowed to continue to attend Webster County Schools although his residence is not in Webster County. The request was based on the recommendation of the student’s therapist, according to the minutes.
• approved a request from Michael Adkins, director of the Webster County Career and Technology Center, for some of the money donated to HOSA for its trip to National Conference be placed on a prepaid card to be used on the trip.
• accepted a letter from Kayla Turner indicating she was resigning from her position as school psychologist effective June 30.
• accepted a letter from Sara Smith indicating she was resigning from her position as teacher at East Webster High School effective May 29.
• accepted a letter from Robin Brand indicating she was resigning from her position as teacher at East Webster Elementary School effective June 30.
• accepted a letter from Clayton Dodd indicating he was resigning from his baseball coaching duties at Eupora High School effective June 30.
• accepted a letter from Danya Turner indicating he was resigning from his girls basketball coaching duties at Eupora High School effective June 30.
• accepted a letter of from Judy Thompson indicating she was resigning from her position as bus driver effective May 25. Thompson has retired.
• approved a recommendation from East Webster High School Principal Jim Ray to hire Chance Carden as a teacher effective Aug. 2.
• approved a recommendation from Ray to hire Mallory Roberts as a teacher effective Aug. 2.
• approved a recommendation from EHS Principal Laci Knight to hire Kenny Wolf as a teacher effective Aug. 1.
• approved a recommendation from Eupora Elementary School Principal Chip Powell to hire Taylor Moore as a teacher effective Aug. 2.
• approved a recommendation from Ray to hire Jacqueline Meek as a teacher effective Aug. 2.
• approved a recommendation from Powell to hire Chassie Burton as a teacher effective Aug. 1.
• approved a recommendation from East Webster Elementary School Principal Kim Stalling to hire Mamie Easley as an assistant teacher effective Aug. 1.
• accepted a donation from an anonymous donor of $2,500 to the Eupora High School softball program.
• approved financial reports and claims dockets.
June 14
At a special meeting on June 14, Jones presented the board members in attendance with a flow chart for each school in order to clearly explain which personnel are leaving and who will replace them for school year 2018-19.
The board and superintendent examined and discussed the charts and personnel placement, according to the minutes. No action was taken.
Also on June 14, records show the board:
• accepted a letter from Turner indicating he was resigning from his teaching and coaching duties at Eupora High School effective June 29.
• accepted a letter from Lassandra Turner indicating she was resigning from her position as assistant teacher at Eupora High School effective June 29.
• approved a recommendation from Knight to hire Jonathan Childs as a teacher/coach effective Aug. 1. The recommendation had been tabled from June 11.
• approved a request from Area Forester Mark King of the Mississippi Forestry Commission to return the performance bond to Flora Logging upon satisfactory completion of a 16th Section harvesting operation.
June 21
At another special meeting on June 21, the board heard a district insurance proposal from Bill Yates of Meek Insurance Agency for 2018-19. Sandra Dewberry also addressed the board regarding insurance for the upcoming year, according to the minutes.
No action was taken and the minutes state the issue of insurance would be continued to the next meeting on June 28. At that special meeting, records indicate Jones shared an email from Dewberry stating that she would not be able to submit a proposal for the district’s insurance for the upcoming year.
Therefore, the only bid received for district insurance was from Meek Insurance Agency, presented at the previous meeting. Jones recommended the board approve the policy as presented, which after some discussion, the board did, according to the minutes.
Also on June 21, Jones recommended, based on White’s recommendation, to set July 16 as the date for the 2018-19 budget public hearing (which was to be followed by the first monthly meeting).
A recommendation was also made to increase the ad valorem request by 5 percent for the upcoming year in order to accommodate security for the schools (as reported July 4). The board approved the recommendation.
Board members also tabled a recommendation from Knight to hire Cole McBride as a teacher/coach effective July 1.
June 28
In addition to handling the insurance matter on June 28, Jones presented the 2018-19 student handbooks for examination by the board. No action was taken.
Also, minutes show the board:
• approved a revision to the “Promotion and Retention Policy,” which had been tabled from June 21.
• tabled a revision to the “Child Nutrition Charge and Payment Policy.”
• approved coaching supplements and contract days for the 2018-19 school year.
• tabled a recommendation from Knight recommending the hiring of Leslie Faulkenbery as a teacher effective Aug. 1.
• tabled a recommendation from Stallings to hire Jennifer Waller as an assistant teacher effective Aug. 1.
The board will have its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 13.
