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Lauderdale School Board meets
on January 8 The Lauderdale County Board of
Education joined faculty, family and community members to
welcome Superintendent Joey Hassell to Lauderdale County at 5:30
p.m., Thursday, January 8, with the school board’s regular
January meeting following the event in the boardroom at Ripley
Elementary School.
School Board members attending the meeting
included Mrs. Eva Drain, Mrs. Sheila Ferrell, Mrs. Cynthia
Glenn, Robert “Rob” Harris, William “Bill” Hendren, Mrs. Melinda
Hutcherson and Terry Sellers. Ripley High School Student Board
member James Barbee and Halls High School Student Board member
Craig Davis were also in attendance, along with Superintendent
Joey Hassell and Board Secretary Johna Arwood.
School Board member Austin Thompson, Jr. was
absent.
Regular Agenda – LCEA
Lauderdale County Education Association President Jennifer
Brandon, LCEA President informed the board that the Negotiations
Committee sent out a survey to all members regarding the
contract as this is a full contract negotiations year.
LCEA plans to start negotiations on March 1.
LCEA representatives will be attending a Day
with Legislators in Nashville on the January 10 and 11.
Budget Amendments
Lauderdale County School Director of Finance Rick Gilliland
presented one budget amendment to the board for approval.
Amendment BA 15 is a General Purpose Amendment
in the amount of $25,920.07. This amendment records the receipt
of e-rate funds for 2007-2008 from AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
These funds are used for technology use in classrooms and
libraries. The amendment was approved by a unanimous roll call
vote.
cTechnology, Inc. – Paul Van Hoesen
Mr. Paul Van Hoesen presented a report for the period 10/05/08
thru 12/31/08, informing the board that all paperwork had been
submitted to the USDA for the Community Connect Grant for
Nankipoo.
Construction will begin on the tower as soon
as the formal letter of approval is received from the USDA. Van
Hoesen also reported that cTechnology, Inc. is currently meeting
with a number of economic development agencies in order to
secure continuation funding for the Lauderdale technology
program.
Several school projects are underway,
including:
- Web-based Typing Tutor-fully implemented
in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades
- Video cameras are in high demand for use
in English, Communications, and Marketing classes as well as
other subjects
- iMacs are loaded with the latest Adobe
software and are seeing high demand by the yearbook and
marketing classes
- Both high schools have five seats for the
Lynda.com video training library
- A formal identification of
technology-orientated students is now underway to
familiarize them with the training software and help them
identify what skills may align with their goals and the
marketplace, leading to future employment.
Mr. Van Hoesen asked that the remaining
$15,000 left in reserves in the original TN ECD grant be spent
in the following way:
- $3000 to cTechnology for expenses
- $5,000 for the short term continuation of
program and grant development in 2009
- $7,000 for meeting a portion of the
matching fund requirement for the USDA grant for Nankipoo
School Board member Rob Harris moved to
approve the expenditures listed by Van Hoesen, with Sheila
Ferrell adding a second. The motion carried with all members
present indicating “yes” by voice vote.
Items for Future Agendas
Items for future agendas included:
- student cell phone use
- transportation
- maintenance at the District Office.
Board Member Reports
Sheila Ferrell reported that she had been to the District Office
and the Board needed to look at the maintenance issues there.
Student Board Member Reports
With students just returning from Christmas break, both Student
Board Members reported that they had no issues ready for
presentation to the board at that time.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Joey Hassell reported to the board that he had
visited seven of the system’s eight schools, and had plans to
visit the last school. Hassell had also met with faculty at the
inservice and supervisors and support staff at the District
Office.
Hassell had also met with Lauderdale County
Mayor Rod Schuh and completed a walk through of all schools with
Lauderdale County Schools Maintenance Supervisor Charles Smith.
He had met twice with LCS Transportation Supervisor Mark Newman,
and once with Youth Leadership and Economic and Community
Development Board.
He planned to meet with the Mayors of all the
towns, County Commissioners, Juvenile Authorities and Sheriff,
and had plans to go back to the schools and spend more time
meeting staff and students.
Review Policies 8300 – 8800
This item was tabled until the February meeting. |
