By Shirley Nanney
Editor
Huntingdon Special School District director of schools Dr. Jonathan Kee says school safety continues to be a top priority of focus at the school district’s three schools. The goal is to provide a safe learning and working environment for the students and staff.
Kee emphasized this fact in the July 21 board meeting.
Schools across the country are putting in place more safety measures since the Robb school shooting at the Uvalde, Texas School.
“This summer, we met with our school safety team which includes our school administrators, district leadership team, and local law enforcement to review our safety protocols and consider any additional measures we can implement,” said Kee. “We want to assure the public that the safety of our students and staff is at the forefront of what we focus on each day. I believe we must focus on what we can control while also giving our students a positive educational experience.”
The school system continues to fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) in each school and has implemented additional measures that the school system can control in providing a safe and healthy school environment.
There is a plan of action that only Kee and Huntingdon’s Public Safety director Walter Smothers are aware of and can’t be disclosed to the public, according to board chairman Dr. Lee Carter. However, Kee would be glad to talk with board members concerning the safety plan, Carter said.
Board members accepted the 2020-2021 financial audit from Alexander Thompson and employed them again for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. There were no findings on the district level and only three three minor ones on the school level.
“Our financial staff does a tremendous job overseeing our school district’s financial accounts and we have addressed the findings to be corrected,” said Kee.
Two new board policies were adopted and five others were updated.
The new board policy concerns Instructional Standards. Several recent changes to state law impact the materials and content that can be included in classroom instruction.This new policy (4.101) will outline how one may file a complaint if a person feels prohibited concepts are being taught. New policy (4.402) contains the process for handling complaints about textbooks and instructional materials.
Policy (4.403) has been reworked to align with this new state law and focuses solely on library materials.
Policy (4.406) is in regard to the use of the Internet. State law requires school boards to have a policy in place regarding complaints about how vendors provide access to online content. The school district must have a policy specifically allowing these complaints and stating how they will be handled.
Policy (6.200) is in regard to the denial of driver’s license. State law no longer permits the denial of a driver’s license due to poor student academic performance.
Policy (6.318) concern the admission of suspended or expelled students. No longer does the commissioner of education be notified if a district denies enrollment to a student who had been suspended or expelled from another school district.
Policy (6409) regards the reporting of child abuse.The policy narrows the category of individuals who must receive training on child abuse. In the past, state law required all school personnel to receive this training. Now this training will only be required for employees working directly with students.
The policy allows employees to first report to the Dept. of Children’s Services and law enforcement if an alleged instance of child abuse involves someone employed by previously employed by, or otherwise affiliated with the school district. The district’s Child Abuse Coordinator must still be notified . However, in those particular instances, they are not required to be notified until the other entities are contacted.
During the meeting new teachers, retirements, transfers and resignations were acknowledged.
New teachers and other personnel at the primary school are: Scarlet Blake, kindergarten teacher,; Rhonda Horn, food service; and Patricia Roney, Kimberly Chasse, Lynda Denning and April Skelton, educational assistants.
New hires at the middle school include: Lindsey Cobb, 8th grade science teacher; Kimberly Williams, secretary; and Ashley Futrell, educational assistant.
At the high school, Special Education teacher Stacey Johnson is a new employee.
Paula Gregory retired at the conclusion as a high school special education teacher, but will remain on a 100-day contract.
Sabrina Burnine was transferred to the high school as an educational assistant.
The following resignations were acknowledged. They include: kindergarten teacher Amy Gillespie, primary school educational assistant Heather Whitworth, and Jacob Sisk, middle school educational assistant.
Lisa Woodell will be taking a leave of absence from July 25 – Aug. 14.
The teachers were invited to a breakfast at the Civic Center on July 25.
The next school board meeting will be Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.
