The Calhoun County School Board unanimously approved the FY20 budget, including a 4% tax increase at their meeting Monday evening in Pittsboro.
The tax increase, the first since a 2% increase in 2009, will generate approximately $150,000 additional dollars that will go entirely to infrastructure improvements. New roofs for Bruce and Calhoun City High Schools are already moving forward. Schafer, Zahner, and Zahner architects have been hired to oversee the projects. The school board had originally budgeted for the estimated cost, but the latest estimate for the work exceeded the budget by more than $170,000. That increase will consume all the additional revenue from the tax increase.
The same Shafer firm was also hired to generate a long range feasibility study on the remainder of the district’s infrastructure as well as the district’s teaching units and how they can be most efficiently utilized.
“For too long we were reactive versus proactive,” Supt. Dr. Lisa Langford said. “We want to generate this plan to help us take a more proactive approach to the future.”
In other news:
•Doubled rental rates for outside groups to utilize school facilities.
•The board decreased the reimbursement rate per mile for athletic trips from $1 to 75 cents.
•Student transfers - Jada Fitzpatrick from Calhoun to Pontotoc City; Ashley Freelon from Coffeeville to Calhoun; Ahmarius “CJ” Haynes from Houston to Calhoun; Reese Young from Houston to Calhoun.
•Agreed to enter into discussions with board of supervisors about utilizing old forestry building behind the school district office.
Dr. Langford explained the long range plan is to consolidate some office positions in the district such as bookkeepers at each school. Those six positions would be reduced to two and be moved to Pittsboro to save money.
The district office currently has a lack of office space for any additional personnel, so the proposal would be to transform the current board meeting room into additional offices and renovate the forestry building into a new board room. All of this remains in the planning/discussion process currently.
•The policy for student drug testing for extracurricular activities was altered. The policy states that 17 students are randomly selected each month at Bruce and Calhoun City and 11 at Vardaman. The pool of students selected comes from all who participate in extra curricular activities such as sports, and all students who drive to school. Parents with children who don’t fit those categories can also choose to opt-in their child for potential random selection.
When a student tests positive, they have 24 hours to appeal. Each original sample taken will be split in half so on appeal the other half of the original sample will be tested.
Positive tests result in the student being prevented from participating for 30 days. They are retested every month after a positive test and must test negative before being reinstated. Second positive tests result in extended time limits from 90 days to a calendar year from participation in extra curricular events.
•Purchased 2020 school bus from Summit Truck Group of Tupelo for $87,450.
•Contracted with MSU graduate assistant program to provide behavioral specialists services to the district.
•Approved contract with Baptist-Calhoun for physical and occupational therapy services for the district.
•Authorized Career Center to apply for $36,603 ARC grant to help expand adult classes at night.
•Created a District Data Specialist position and to apply for a non-traditional teaching certificate for special ed position at BES.
•Personnel – Erin Beth Earnest hired as teacher assistant replacing Mallory Brownlee who resigned; Claire Clark hired as computer lab aide replacing Cain Havens who resigned; Jennifer Bennett and Mary Micah Hunt resigned as teachers; Allison Movitz hired as teacher replacing Hunt; Lindsey Cotten hired as teacher replacing transferred Rebecca King; Jamin McPhetrige hired as teacher replacing Justin Parks; Victoria Hester hired as teacher replacing Bethany LaValley; Darnita Walker hired as teacher replacing Tracey Bailey; Amy Sullivan hired as teacher assistant replacing Sandra Boyette; Brittney Faddock hired as teacher assistant replacing Ruth Bailey; Donnie Ruth resigned as computer technician; Carla Warner and Althea Hubbard hired as teachers; Cindy Snellgrove hired as part time speech therapist; Barbara Jo Howell hired as part-time interventionist; Judy Carnaggio hired as part-time psychometric consultant; James B. Haire hired as secretary replacing Christy Stacy; Charlotte Mays hired as bus driver replacing Monica Ross; Geraldine Vance hired as bus driver replacing Peggy Shields; Nicole Johnson hired as bus driver replacing Cindy Hubbard; Jacqueline Freelon hired as bus aide replacing Nicole Johnson; Lynn Stewart and Michelle Gaskin hired as vo-tech shuttle bus drivers; Jennifer Denise Sharpe, Keri Jones, Patricia Guest, Ruth Wilson, Sue Williams, Tanya Enis and Allegra Harris hired as substitute cafeteria workers; Sharon Hatchet, Elaina Nabors, and Thomas Hobson hired as substitute dishwashers; Jalen Mays hired as student cafeteria worker.
•Board approved for discussions to be had for a potential contract for a cell tower to be installed on 16th section land in Sabougla and for bridge work to be done on 16th section land near Slate Springs.
•Dr. Langford said she is still working on an incentive plan to improve teacher attendance. The only two staff members in the district with perfect attendance last year were Jeff Patton and Heather McGreger, she said.