The agenda for the monthly meeting of the Simpson County School Board last Thursday included a pay raise and a three year extention of Dr. Toriano Holloway’s contract as superintendent.
The board approved the minutes from a previous session which included the extension of Dr. Holloway’s contract from one year through June 30, 2025.
Compensation was increased to $140,000 annually following an evaluation of Dr. Holloway’s performance by the board in that session.
The board also discussed pay for head coaches, which they said may need to be evaluated. Dr. Holloway pointed out that there had been eight coaches in 13 years at Magee High School and concluded that coaching supplements are going to be up for discussion in the future.
Additionally, the board discussed compensation for the positions of assistant principal. Holloway told the board that a teacher with a bus route makes as much as an assistant principal. Holloway also informed the board of the intention to allow principals to give comp time to teachers who had given up planning periods during the COVID pandemic and/or filled in for other teachers who were out.
Board chair Danny Cowart informed the board that Dr. Holloway would be a presenter at the annual School Board Associational Meeting.
Joanna Maddox, director of finance, reported that the audit for the school year ending in 2020 would be complete as of Monday of this week, and that the 2021 audit would be complete by June of this year. Maddox gave an audio presentation to the board which outlined the reports in format to include basics like bank reconcilation forms so that the board could be properly informed.
Cowart commented that this would be the first time the board has received properly documented financial data in years, adding that he did not take the time to dig through the figures to determine whether they balanced properly. He said this had been done wrong before this board took office.
The current audit is being conducted by Charles Shivers of Ridgeland. The audit for 2021 is anticipated to take 228 hours at the rate of $97.50 per hour for a cost of $22,230. The anticipated audit of 2022 is expected to take 208 hours at the same rate for a cost of $20,280. This follows audits by Meagan St. Claire and work from Charles Prince CPA once the former director of finance, Duane Fewell, left to work in Smith County.
Dr. Deidre Randall, district curriculum coordinator, reported on the district’s current rating and told the board that because the state has not given directives it was going to be hard for them to determine what the district’s rating is.
Cowart commented that over the past 12 years the district rated at best a “C” and more likely a “D,” adding that now the board is getting data that can tie directly to individual teachers and students and with this information the district should be able to identify the detractors and improve student performance and learning.
The newly appointed community steering committee was discussed. Cowart told the audience that the school board did not select the committee and had no influence over them, despite the fact that his son, Ian Cowart, is chairing the committee. The committee itself selected the younger Cowart to serve in that capacity, and Dr. Holloway had selected the steering committee, which will hold a series of community meetings to share information about the upcoming bond issue vote and plans for the new consolidated high school.
While members of the staff and the school board may be at the community meetings, they will be there only to answer questions and make sure that any information disseminated is accurate. The board is prohibited from taking an active role in the passage of the bond issue, although they are the body that voted to consolidate the county’s two high schools into one facility.
Board member Stan Bulger explained the importance of building new facilities in Mendenhall, saying that the existing Mendenhall Jr. High would be abandoned because its aging buildings are in such disrepair, and its students will be moved to the current location of Mendenhall High School. He stated that the environment of the classroom plays an important part in a child’s education.
Sydney Magee, principal of Mendenhall Junior High, reported that there are currently no changes to report on school scores but that information should be available in March. Tracye Pierre, principal of Magee Middle School, was unable to attend because of a conflict, according to Asst. Superintendent Dr. Robert Sanders.
District maintenance manager Jeffrey Walker gave an update on existing construction, stating that the new fifth grade building at Mendenhall is progressing. He said he hoped that concrete could be poured the next day, Friday of last week. Ten additional parking spaces are planned at the site of the new building. He said plans are to let bids in March for projects at Simpson Central as well as the new cafetorium on the Mendenhall Elementary campus.
Cowart stressed that these projects are not costing the district money because the funds are coming from the federal government as ESSER, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, funding. The $10 million awarded to the county could be used for expansion to prevent the spread of COVID but could not be spent on construction of a new school.
Judith Jones, director of nursing for the district, reported that case numbers from the latest variant of COVID are reducing.
Dr. Holloway reported his intentions to cross train members of the staff so that in the event of an emergency more than one person would be capable of performing certain duties for the school district.
Stacey Herring was absent from the meeting.
