WACO board handles housekeeping items; Gerot tabbed vice president

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? Housekeeping items dominated the WACO School Board meeting Monday night.

However, prior to handling the routine items, Amy McLaughlin, new board member, was given the oath of office and Tom Gerot was elected board vice president.

Both vacancies were created by the resignation of Gary Brose. Brose, who had been vice president for several years, resigned his board seat because he moved outside the director district.

Personnel matters saw the approval of contracts for Susan Lee Kulevich, secondary business education, $50,628.80; and Amber Scott, half-time elementary art, $17,166.40.

The following resignations were accepted: Steve Blow, junior-high wrestling; Kari Feddersen, junior-high softball; and Jeremy Klopfenstein, at-risk and talented and gifted (TAG).

Klopfenstein?s resignation, because of its lateness (it was received by school officials July 19) was accepted pending the securement of a suitable replacement.

Supertinendent of Schools Dr. Darrell Smith told the board that he ?wants to investigate why Klopfenstein is leaving. At this late date, it makes it very difficult. We can?t lose the TAG program and I don?t want to lose the at-risk program.?

Smith said he would post the position and there may be someone on staff who is certified in both areas. The superintendent also said that the district could enforce procedures applicable for a staff resignation after June 1. Those include the person resigning being assessed the costs of finding a replacement and also the district can deny a resignation request received after June 1.

Commodity bids were awarded for the next school year. They include the following.

Bread ? Bimbo Bakeries, sandwich bread, $1.52; whole wheat bread, $1.22; 12-count hamburger buns, $1.64; 16-count hamburger buns, $2.12; 16-count coney buns, $2.12; 24 oz. Texas toast, $1.22.

Fuel ? Cobb Oil Co. Inc. (BP), gasohol, diesel fuel #1 and $2, all $.069 over vendor cost.

Milk ? Anderson Erickson, one-half pint skim milk, .2139 cents; one-half pint 1-percent milk, .2250 cents; one-half pint chocolate skim milk, .2229 cents; one-half pint strawberry skim milk, .2229 cents; five pound sour cream, $6.60; gallon of 1-percent milk, $3.6521; gallon of 2-percent milk, $3.9302; five pound vanilla yogurt, $5.05; half-gallon buttermilk, $2.35.

Directors added to the school?s technology program, approving the purchase of 20 i-Pads and 70 chromebooks. Along with other accessories, the total cost is $40,985.91.

The purchase will enable the district to have an amended version of the 1:1 initiative, leaving Mt. Pleasant as the only county school without 1:1. However, unlike most 1:1 programs, the computers will remain at school and be transported to the classrooms for student use.

WACO?s 1:1 program includes grades K-12. ?We are providing teachers with the technology, but the technology (computer) stays in the room,? Andrea McBeth, school technology director, said.

?We are committed to increasing technology and are putting technology in the hands of teachers to use,? Smith said, who notes the district annually budgets $50,000 for technology. Funds for the purchase come through local option sales tax revenue.

?Anything like this in the future, I would like to go and seek a riverboat grant,? said Tim Graber, board president. ?It seems like very district around here, but us, are getting those grants.?

WACO instructor Amy Langr said the board has applied many times for riverboat grants but have been denied.

WACO purchased 90 computers last year.

School hot-lunch prices will be rising a dime from $2.00 to $2.10 for preschool-sixth grade and a nickel ($2.25-$2.30) for junior and senior high students.

?We really don?t have much say anymore,? Smith noted. ?They (federal government) tell us where to set the price. The only thing the district has control over is the adult price.?

All other hot-lunch and breakfast prices will remain the same as the previous school year.

Directors also approved a staff peer review procedures. Defined, peer review is a confidential process between the peer review group of teachers through which peers collaborate in and out of the classroom with a focus on developing those skills that will enable them to increase student learning.

The process is where two or more professional colleagues work together to increase student learning on an informal collaborative basis, focused on assisting each peer group member in achieving the goals of the teacher?s individual professional development plan.

Peer reviews and teacher interaction will be kept confidential.

?We want to have meaningful conversation (between faculty),? Smith said. ?It gives teachers the opportunity to be honest with each other.?

He said the program will begin this year and it will be mandatory for staff to participate. ?We may tweak it some, but we will hold the people accountable to do it. If a staff member refuses, then we (administration) step in.?

Finally, the board approved a resolution to authorize the sale and issuance of $1.2M in school infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenue (school local-option tax) to finance some renovation projects at both centers including the incorporation and usage of solar energy.

WACO directors meet again in regular session Monday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the junior-senior high school media center.