Superintendent Mike Moore asked the school board for support in implementing a “lead teacher” program in the school district in which a designated teacher would in effect serve as an assistant principal and receive an additional supplement.
Moore proposed that the program start this year at Bruce High School with Heather Nix being designated the lead teacher and be paid an additional $3,000 supplement.
Mike Moore
“She will teach two blocks and be off two blocks,” Moore said. “He (BHS Principal Michael Gillespie) has the most (students), numbers wise to deal with, M-Star evaluations and discipline.”
School Board member Danny Harrelson, of Bruce, asked if “her role would be like a mentor for other teachers.”
Moore answered, yes.
“She will help with evaluations to give the principal a little more time to stay in the office for discipline problems,” Moore said.
The school board unanimously approved the appointment, and Moore said his plan is to add more in the district next year.
Moore said based on his anticipation of more education funding from the Legislature, due to it being an election year, the district should have funds available for the “lead teachers.”
“I would like to have one at all elementaries next year, and they may have to split time,” he explained. “They may spend a half day at one school and half at another.”
“If the funding comes through like we anticipate, we can get all that worked out,” Moore said.
The bulk of the brief meeting Monday night was spent on personnel actions for the coming year. The following were all approved:
Vaughn Daniels transferred into position vacated by Jeff Patton; Monica Ross hired as teacher replacing Vaughn Daniels;
Cody Roberts hired as teacher replacing Austin White; Justin Purvis hired as teacher replacing Travis England who transferred to another position; Tammie Shankle hired as bookkeeper, secretary and fixed asset clerk;
Christy West hired as teacher assistant replacing Dana Wells who resigned; Barrett Wooten hired as teacher assistant; Jordan Turner hired as teacher assistant replacing Bethney Threadgill who resigned;
Substitute cafeteria workers hired – Shelia Harper, Juanita Norris, Tanisha Walker, Patsy Sue Williams and Kathy Conner;
Student cafeteria workers hired – Melvin Bailey, Jaderius Glass, Kadairious Glaspie, Chris Gray, Jonathan Bollinger, Jamar Brown and Niko Holmes;
Jimmy Collins hired as bus fueler replacing Ricky Jenkins who resigned.
During his superintendent’s report, Moore noted that school starts Monday for teachers and praised their hard work over the summer.
“This board room has been used all summer for teacher training,” Moore said. “We’ve had consulting groups in here and our teachers have worked really hard all summer on their off time.”
He encouraged school board members to attend open houses next Tuesday, Aug. 5 at all the schools.
Other action by the board:
•Approved the absence from Duty policy that outlines an extra day of pay for teachers who don’t miss a day. It was accidentally left out of last year’s policy.
•Student transfers – Sydney Jewel Stephan from BHS to CCHS; Lauren Keel from South Panola to Calhoun; Carlie Jayne Higginbotham, Sky Pettit and Ryder Pettit from Houston to Calhoun; Miranda and Mychael Moss from Calhoun to Chickasaw.
•Approved BHS and CCHS Band Handbooks.
•Approved school safety plans.
•Purchased five 2009 model buses for $54,500 each.
•Ad valorem tax request for supervisors of no increase.
•Approved District parental Involvement Policy, English Language Learner Plan, and Homeless Procedure Manual.
•Approved collaborative agreements with Millcreek of Pontotoc and Mississippi Action for Progress for 2014-15 and a contract with North Mississippi Educational Services, LLC.
•Approved distribution of supplements, substitute teachers, bus drivers, and bus aides for 2014-15 school year.