The Simpson School board held their monthly meeting on October 10.
Following the adoption of the agenda, Board Vice-President Lillie Hardy called for a correction of the minutes to include documentation that the board reviews district policies every month. She stated that every policy has been reviewed every year with the board reviewing a section of policies each month. She said this review needs to be documented. Board Secretary Danny Cowart said it should only be documented when the policy is changed and otherwise spread throughout the minutes that they are reviewed.
Updates to Board Policy BBA, which covers Board officers and method of election, was discussed. The change discussed in election of officers would provide for succession of positions moving forward. This means the board president would roll off, the vice president would take over as president, and the secretary would move to vice president at the start of a new fiscal year.
Member Stan Bulger said the change in policy is to help with succession of the board. He said that having that continuity is important or “you will get into politics.”
Bulger, who is not running for re-election in District 4, said, “I’m leaving the board and the future here lies with the rest of you.”
Member Stacey Herrin questioned why he presented these changes now as he is leaving the board.
Bulger replied that it is a board decision on whether to adopt the policy change, and the board would have to live with that decision.
Hardy said, “I’m not retiring from the board and I have the longest experience with the board. This was the practice at one time. This was the policy.”
She went on to explain that in her second year on the board she was elected vice-president, and she has sat in that seat since being a school board member. Hardy said that the policy changed when she was up for president and the same president got to be president two more times.
Hardy said the board may be setting a precedent on who is not eligible to be president twice. She believed the person in the seat now should not be denied that opportunity. She voted against the policy change.
Cowart said the board acts in a trustee role, not as a delegate and that he sat in the president’s seat for four years and it was strictly filling a role.
He said, “It’s not who but what we are doing in that seat.”
Cowart said he believed the policy change would improve the functionality of the board with continuity.
The new policy on electing board officer failed 3-2 with Hardy, Herring, and Board President Ralph Walker opposing it.
Retired teacher employment policy was approved, and the board approved the rescinding of policy JCB.
During board comments Bulger said there has been a lot of discussion about attendance in Simpson County schools. He said attendance is at approximately 85 to 90 percent and that the district’s attendance numbers are good, though they can be improved.
Cowart commented that the district wide attendance is around 91 percent, and said how comments made in the recent supervisors’ budget meeting were incorrect.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Lawrence explained that after the Covid pandemic attendance was one of the biggest issues schools faced. He said, however, that the district numbers have gone up and they have successfully implemented strategies leading to improved attendance.
Hardy commented , “I think people get enrollment and attendance mixed up. Our main goal should be maintaining and increasing enrollment. How many students enrolling in our schools has drastically dropped and that is concerning.”
She said attendance is great, but it does not take away from the fact that the district has a real problem with enrollment because the amount of funding the district receives is directly related to the number of students being served.
Hardy said, “We have an enrollment situation, not attendance.”
Bulger said commented on the new funding formula and how it is based on enrollment and shared the actual number for September’s attendance percentage at 89.3. Bulger said the Board of Supervisors was using old data.
The consent agenda approved. The board plans to review their contract and collaboration with Five County Child Development Program because the district will now have a preschool program. The agreement needs to be reviewed because the age of the students the district serves has changed. Board Attorney John Hooks was charged with reviewing the contract.
Dr. Furlinda Travis fielded question on human resources. She explained that six teacher slots and a counseling position are currently open. She said special education teachers are hard to find at the moment, as are math teachers and that there are teachers on the board report getting certified to help cover these classes.
New director of maintenance, safety, and security Jerry McGuire introduced himself to the board and showed enthusiasm to start his new position with the school district.
The board discussed finances with Finance Director Sheilah Copeland. It was explained that the value of the mill has gone down and the amount allocated to the school district has also decreased.
Nutrition Director Derricka Thomas presented the board with information from her recent training on the fact that the suicide number, 988, is available for any students needing help and encouraged anyone suffering from thoughts of suicide to call.
Superintendent Lawrence reported that enrollment was 2801 for September, which is down 15 from August.
Magee High School Principal Jamal Banks informed the board that an anonymous person has established a scholarship fund for graduating seniors. The scholarship will provide full tuition coverage for students to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College or Jones College.
Eligibility requirements for this scholarship include:
● Graduating from Magee High School
● Attending Magee for at least two years
● Maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0 from 9th through 12th grade
The scholarship will cover all tuition costs throughout the student's attendance, provided they continue to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The board entered executive session to discuss litigation and student discipline before adjourning the meeting.
