There will be no more daily temperature checks at the three schools in the McKenzie Special School District.
Board member Misty Aird made the motion to eliminate the checks after Director of Schools Lynn Watkins informed board members there had only been one student that has had COVID-19 since January although one teacher is now out with it.
The opinions of both the high school and middle school principals were heard on the matter prior to the vote.
High school principal said taking temperatures didn’t affect their day.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said.
Middle school principal Dorothea Royle said there had been only one student with an elevated temperature since January.
Varsity basketball practice will be allowed during the school day during the 2021-2022 school year as recommend by Spivey.
No action was taken on Aird’s request to allow other sports the same opportunity. She said her son has football practice after school and it makes him get home late without not as much time to study. Watkins said basketball practice during the day began when block scheduling was put in place.
Two budget amendments were passed.
One amendment was for $650 which was for Title 3 staff development funds that were reallocated for instructional supplies and materials.
The other amendment included ESSER federal grant budget funds of $1,113,420.28 that were used for a variety of items such as food service equipment, air conditioning equipment, instructional supply, software , library computers and scanners.
In the director’s report, the resignations of four teachers were announced: at the elementary school – Renee Hobson special education teacher and April Stepp, first grade teacher; at the middle school – Rachel Johns, 8th grade math teacher and Angela Winstead, fifth grade English teacher.
It was also announced that two will be retiring – high school assistant principal Randy Thomas and middle school 6th grade math teacher Roxie Walker.
At the close of the meeting, Watkins said a workshop meeting would be held June 7 at 5:30 p.m. with the regular meeting set for June 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Federal ESSER funds in the amount of $2,500,584 are to be forthcoming to the school.
“This is stimulus money that has to be spent and all the bills paid,” said Watkins. “It’s an opportunity to get to do some things that is not normally done.”
Discussed as a use for the money was an all purpose covered facility with turf that would be built near the high school on the practice field. It would be 30 to 45 yards long and would be used as a practice field for different sports and band practice, according to Watkins.
