The Simpson County School Board held their board meeting via Zoom on Thursday afternoon.
Zoom, a computer conferencing program, allows people to log on via computer and internet to observe as well as participate in an actual meeting. The board used this process to follow social distancing while maintaining meeting requirements for boards.
One of the biggest issues to surface in that meeting was grading for students who were border line in passing classes now that schools are closed to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
The board approved, pending orders from the State Department of Education, allowing students to improve existing grades so that they could pass a class in which they were not doing well. This way, students would be offered the same opportunity they would have had to raise their grades if classes had continued as usual. This action would only be in place in the event that the school year has officially ended due to coronavirus restrictions. Instructions for officially ending the school year will come from the Department of Education and the Governor’s office.
According to County Superintendent Greg Paes, who has been in discussion with other school districts, other districts are using this plan, or a modification of it, to help border line students.
Paes told the board that the district is responsible for providing a written plan to the State Department of Education outlining the process that the district used for distance learning during the shelter in place order issued by the governor. He explained that part of the plan included on-line instruction as well as distribution of student materials from the teachers at the schools.
Paes also spoke about the claims from the fire at the vocational center during the Christmas holiday break. He reported that the total claim of $1.4 million has been paid by the insurance company that insures the district schools.
The board discussed the district’s progress on getting teacher contracts signed for the upcoming school year. Dr. Robert Sanders, assistant superintendent for human resources and secondary curriculum, reported that contracts had been sent to teachers but are not due yet.
Sanders was asked after the meeting about the status of the hiring process for a new principal for Magee High School to replace the retiring Dr. Tom Duncan. He said the position had been announced and that thus far there have been 21 applicants. He said the district is currently reviewing applicants to shorten the list before presenting them to the superintendent for a recommendation.
The board discussed budgeted funds from this calender year and how they were being managed. Duane Fewell, director of finance, told the board that those funds are being saved in the general fund until the district can determine the amount of money that will be available next year based on the school facilities being closed this year. The closures will affect contract items, as well as utilities and reduced food cost.
Paes told the board he had been in discussion with other school districts about how a graduation ceremony might be conducted for this year’s graduates. He said it was too early to formulate a plan because state leaders have not yet determined how long the current shelter in place order will be extended.
School board members questioned how the district would be rated this year for accountability. Paes told the board that everyone is in the same boat so it is basically “It is what it is.”
The district will be advertising for sealed bids to utilize banks as depository for the upcoming school year.
Acknowledgements were given to the superintendent and staff for the hard work they have done during the shelter in place orders issued by the governor.
