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Circuit Clerk Steve Womack swore in new board members Patrice Boykin, Danny Cowart, and Stan Bulger before the beginning of the first Simpson County School Board meeting of 2019.
The first order of business at the January 10 meeting was the election of officers. The board discussed whether a member can serve as president back to back and determined to table election of officers.
Some of the new board members shared their vision for the growth of the school system and possible changes and improvement they would like to see in the coming year.
Under the consent agenda, the following requests were approved:
- Permission for Simpson County technical to accept a donation of one Lincoln GMAW welding machine from Price Wallace
- Permission was granted for JoAnna Maddoox to accept the following cafeteria donations from Pilgrim Rest MB Church in the amount of $200; Eastside Baptist Church in the amount of $100; and Smith Repair Service in the Amount of $50.00.
- The following travel request was approved: Deia Sanders and Stephanie Hubbard were granted permission to attend SE Blended Learning Symposium, February 4-6, 2019 in Orlando, FL, which is paid for with federal funds.
- Permission was granted for Mark Hudson and three Mendenhall band members to attend Mid-South Honor Band Clinic, February 21-23, 2019, at the University of MS in Oxford, which is paid for by boosters.
- Permission was granted for Shelia Caney, Shirley Griffith, and Wanda Raddle to attend MS Speech and Hearing Association Conference, March 31-April 3, 2019 in Biloxi, MS. This trip is paid for by federal funds.
- Permission was garlanded for Mendenhall High School DECA students and sponsor, Stephanie Kennedy, to attend State DECA competition, February, 14-15, 2019 in Biloxi, MS. This trip is paid for by students.
- Permission was granted for Monroe Allen, Jeffery Crosby, Cyril Fisher, and Derrick Jenkins to attend Gulf Coast Coaching Clinic, February 20-22, 2019 in Biloxi, MS, which will be paid for with Athletic funds.
Dr. Rober Sanders, Human Resources, presented the following HR report:
- The board accepted the retirement of Mary May, Magee High School, effective 5/24/19, and Beverly Williams, Simpson Central, effective 1/25/29.
- Todd Bob and Susanne Durr were hired as part-time Band Directors at Mendenhall Jr. High.
- Kala Glen Smith was hired as a Math Interventionist part-time at Magee Middle School.
- Nick Lee was hired as a bus driver at Mendenhall, and Valerie Ward was hired as a bookkeeper/accounting clerk in the business office at the central office.
- Nannette Hobbs and Kala Teater were hired as an Instructional Assistants at Magee Elementary .
The board approved action plans for Magee Middle and Mendenhall Junior High schools.
Principal Tracye Pierre from Magee Middle presented her call to action for improvement and test score results mid-year, showing improvement with the students’ testing.
Principal Sydney Magee at Mendenhall Junior high presented her plans of action for improvements at Mendenhall Junior High, as well as data results mid-year, showing improvement with the students’ testing.
P16 Councils from Magee Middle and High School were present to bring before the board things that need to be addressed and looked further into for improvements in the schools.
Terrance Norwood represented Magee Middle. The committee shared concern about safety issues because the campus is an open campus. The committee would like to see a fenced area for the students’ protection. They also shared concerns about student drop off being moved to Choctaw street because of traffic and the fact there is no awning for children on rainy days, explaining that children are getting wet going to the buildings.
Ralph Walker, La Claudelle Craft-Jones, and Pam Parish were the representatives for Magee High School. The three target areas the committee is focused on are: attendance, behavior, and course performance. A survey was taken by parents and students to determine interest in school uniforms. Survey results showed that parents were in favor of uniforms while students were not. The committee would like to see uniforms as a plan of action for the future. They would also like to see an incentive plan for the students with attendance, as well as alerts through Power School for discipline issues. The committee would like to see contracts issued in March so retention of good teachers is possible.
Tom McAlpin, Sixteen Section, presented to the board contract approval for cell tower lease with American Tower. The board approved the contract.
Dewayne Fewell presented the finances. The board approved the purchase of a new handicap school bus at the cost of $88,700.00.
Due to a required form that was needed for signature that is required by an officer, the board had to reopen the decision for selections officers for the evening.
Stacey Herrin was elected President with 3 votes and Lilly Hardy 2. Lilly Hardy was unanimously elected Vice President, and Patrice Boykin was unanimously elected Secretary.
The board voted to change policy and time of board meetings from 6:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The board also voted to change the March board meeting from Thursday, March 14, 2019 to Thursday March 21, 2019 due to the fact that the second Thursday of March will occur during spring break.
No further business was discussed, and the meeting was adjourned until February 14, 2019.
