The Webster County School Board has approved the hiring of Corey Stidham as principal at East Webster High School effective Jan. 1.
Stidham is now the assistant principal at EWHS. The board approved his hiring Oct. 21 upon the recommendation of Superintendent Brian Jones. The current principal, Jim Ray, has been appointed superintendent of the Carroll County School District and will begin Jan. 1.
The motion to hire Stidham was approved 4-0; Marilynn Brown (District 4) had excused herself from the boardroom beforehand and abstained from voting, according to meeting minutes.
Additionally, minutes state Jones asked the board to consider creating an assistant maintenance director position to share responsibility for HVAC issues within the district. The board did vote to approve the creation of a new position and authorized advertisement for the position to be filled Jan. 1. This followed an executive session to discuss personnel matters regarding maintenance staff, the minutes indicate.
School principals introduced the Webster County Board of Education Students of the Month — Eden McGinnis from East Webster Elementary School (September) and Tommy Avery from Eupora High School (October).
Additionally, minutes state the principals from each of the district’s schools presented information on school test data, recently issued letter grants and updates pertaining to their schools.
Maintenance Director Kim Jones addressed the board concerning various aspects of the EWHS gym project. Superintendent Jones presented an attendance and discipline report for each school for the school year to date.
Other Business
The Oct. 21 minutes show the board also approved motions to:
• approve revisions to the “Child Nutrition Department Payment and Charles Policy” on behalf of Child Nutrition Director Amy Rollins.
• approve revisions to the “Intellectually Gifted Policy” on behalf of Special Education Director Raven Hawkins.
• approve the 2019-20 District Test Security Plan.
• table yearly policy revisions recommended by the Mississippi School Boards Association.
• add three additional days of paid vacation to 12-month hourly employees because this fiscal year has three more working days than normal.
• allow a Webster County Training School reunion to be held at Eupora Elementary School in July.
• hire Jennifer Edwards as a personal care assistant, effective Oct. 22, upon Hawkins’ recommendation.
• hire Kenny Williamson and Craig McCluskey as substitute bus drivers effective Oct. 22.
• table a recommendation from Ray to hire Sydney Dewberry as a substitute teacher at EWHS effective Oct. 22.
• accept the resignation of Jennifer Brock from her position as a teacher at East Webster Elementary School effective Dec. 31.
• allow a teacher to take a day off before a holiday.
• allow the fifth-grade class at Eupora Elementary School to go on a field trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., in November.
• approve various fundraises and accept donations.
• return the performance bond to Double J. Logging upon satisfactory completion of a 16th Section harvesting operation.
• approve asset disposals.
Oct. 15
The board had a special meeting at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 with Brown, Bobby McMullen (District 1), Rana Mitchell (District 2) and Milton Davis (District 5) present via phone, minutes reflect.
Board members approved the 2018-19 amended budget upon the recommendation of Business Manager Angela Avent-White. They also approved financial reports and the docket of claims.
The board adjourned until Nov. 11, when these minutes were approved, and its next regular meeting is at 6 p.m. Dec. 9.
