The monthly meeting of the Jackson Parish School board that was postponed from Monday, January 11th to Thursday, January 14th due to the winter storm that blanketed the area was worth the wait. Instead of the normal, run of the mill meeting that usually takes place the evening was a night of celebration as faculty members and students of the year were recognized.
The meeting that was held at the Jonesboro-Hodge High School cafeteria opened with Board members Mary Saulters, Dennis Clary, Wade McBride, Calvin Waggoner, Gerry Mims and Rickey McBride along with Business Manager Kristi Bass enjoying watching Superintendent David Claxton give plaques and certificates to the various award winners. Gloria Davis was absent.
Representatives from three separate categories received recognized including State of Louisiana faculty award winners, Jackson Parish Faculty and Jackson Parish Students representing Elementary, Middle School and High School divisions.
Two Jackson Parish faculty members received Louisiana Teacher of the Year recognition in their respective fields. Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School teacher/coach Tracy Taylor was named the 2020 Middle School Physical Education (PE) Teacher of the Year by the Louisiana Association for Health, PE, Recreation and Dance with Tristen Bergholt earned Teacher of the Year honors by the Louisiana School Counselor Association.
Faculty of the Year award winners for Jackson Parish for high schools were Chevonda Leonard of Jonesboro-Hodge High School as Principal of the Year and Kimberly Shows of Weston High as Teacher of the Year. Additional honorees were Pre-K, teacher Emily Smith of Weston High School for the Elementary School division middle school teacher of the year April Simonelli from Quitman. Receiving awards as Student of the Year were Weston High 5th grader, Anna Shows and both 8th grader Cali Deal and 12th grader Grace Sharplin of Quitman High.
After the award winners were recognized by Superintendent David Claxton the School Board continued with the meeting by approving the minutes from the December session followed by Matthew Margaglio of Kolder, Slaven and Company LLC presenting the June 2020 audit. The board then moved to adopt the recommended payments and declarations of the Executive/Finance and Building and Grounds Committee’s as follows.
Payment of General Fund bills – $2,269,138.20
Payment of Federal Program bills – $172,777,67
Payment of Food Service bills – $88,443.37
Payment of Sales Tax bills – $766,483.03
Payment of Special Education Fund bills – $32,568.42
Payment of District Maintenance bills – $112,462.79
Extend until March 31, 2021 any unused Covid Leave Days from 2020 and to add 10 days if the school system sends and employee home for Covid reasons to be paid from the CARES Act.
Declare as surplus property and discard the portable building at Jonesboro-Hodge (J-H) Middle School that was damaged by Hurricane Laura.
Declare as Surplus and discard the Reznor Heater in the old gym at Quitman High School.
Declare as Surplus and discard the Electric Wheel Chair ramp at J-H Middle School.
Declare as Surplus a Plasma Table (Torchmate II) and controls at Weston High School and move to JHHS welding department to be used for parts.
Purchase from Diadex for the amount of $8,565.00 eighteen (18) Eureka Math Manipulative Kits for QHS K-5 use to be paid from Title I School Based funds.
Accept low quote of $5,964.00 from Contact Paper Group, Inc. for 240 cases of copy paper for all schools to be paid from Title I School District Level funds.
Purchase from Amplify in the amount of $15,355.10 for Science Kits, Teacher Guides/Licenses and student notebooks for Grades 3-5 at Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from Title I School Based funds.
Purchase from Amplify in the amount of $14,938.88 for Science Kits, Teacher Guides/Licenses and student notebooks for Grades 3-5 at Weston High School, to be paid from Title I School Based funds.
Purchase from Amplify in the amount of $15,771.39 for Science Kits, Teacher Guides/Licenses and student notebooks for Grades 3-5 at Quitman High School, to be paid from Title I School Based funds.
Accept low quote of $16,100.12 from SHI for 50 HP Chromebooks (with academic licenses and White Glove service), One Chromebook Cart, Four Dell Latitude Notebooks (laptops) and 2 Dell OptiPlex Computers for Weston High School to be paid from Title I School Bases funds.
Pay $15,609.02 to Sharon’s Little Angel Day Care Inc. as approved by the LA Department of Education to help early childhood community networks recover from income losses due to the pandemic, to be paid from COVID-19 Community Child Care Recovery Grant.
Accept low quote of $95,000.00 from Southern Roof and Vinyl Siding LLC for roof replacement at the Central Office to be paid from the General Fund
Accept the low quote of $5,967.00 from Bannister Energy Solutions for the re-routing of electrical and fiber wiring at the Central Office.
Following acceptance of policy revisions in the areas of: Purchasing, Bids and Quotations, Sports Injury Management and Concussions, Student Health Services, Child Abuse, Attendance Reports for Student Drivers, Employments of Superintendent and Retired Personnel, School Board Meeting, Suspension, Expulsion, Sale of Surplus, Sick Leave and Electronic Telecommunication Devices for Personnel the meeting was adjourned after Superintendent Claxton made his final comments.