School Board Meets
Aug 8 2022
Those at the Helm
From left, Joe (Pretty Boy) Paxton, David Pierson, Lo Nutter, Board Prez Phoebe Nichols
Brooke Jones and Susan Bodkins
There has
been a big change during Clayberry School Board meetings.
Well, actually two noticeable changes. One, they're having
open discussions, in public discussions. That's something that
has nearly never happened in the past. Two, and, it appears,
the people actually in charge, the School Board, are taking
that role and running the show. Hard to believe but it's
true.... Superintendent Paxton makes his wants known but then
the Board decides what it wants to do. That has never happened
before.
It's a welcome change from stagnant, no discussion, not so public, meetings.
The Clay Board of Edumacation convened their meeting on August 8th, 6pm, in the Pentagon. All Boardsters attended and 20 or more filled up the peanut gallery for the 85 minute meeting
For the blah blah blah stuff of running a school system: Sheran Helmick resigned her 5th grade teacher slot at H E White; custodian Kathy Foster is moving over to Lizemore Elem; Patricia Neff moved up a cook slot at Clay Elem; Mike Mullins hired as a volunteer football coach at Clay Middle; and, Tyler Dorsey is a new volunteer football coach at Clay High. That makes about 600 football coaches at CCHS
Hey, get this, Clayberry will be receiving a new electric school bus to try out. The cheap to operate vehicle, and face of the future, will be in use for 6 weeks.
There's a renewed push to get students to show up for school time. Now, kids that are truant for 10 days of more, the arm twisting of parents will get underway. Maybe more attention could be given for the teachers that stay home every time they have a hang nail or sniffle.
Some things are forbidden to talk about.
Brooke Jones brought up a serious issue of when kids have to stay at home when the next COVID wave hits us this Fall. The problem is, many, most, of the rug rats live without DSL service or even "hotspot" service via cellphones. Eric Legg agreed that's a big big problem. No solutions were provided Ms Jones.
And then the biggy of the night, floating, trying again, to pass a School Excess Levy during the Nov General Election. Excess means "too much".
During the last public meeting, Chair Phoebe Nichols brought up, she would like to see changes in what a Levy would pay for. For this meeting, four options were prepared for the Board (maybe by the new board). The options varied between how much would be spent for this that or the other.
Option four was the biggest switcharoo and would include: paying for additional school safety issues like increased entrance security, covering college tuition for dual credit high school courses, and providing college text books for advanced classes.
On the Levy topic, there were accolades on how important the wallet fleecing is for the kids and Pentagon. Around the table they went on about what would have to be cut out like field trips, some sports., etc.
Here's the way it works readers. If a Levy is passed, that $531,000 annual bonus would allow regular budget items to be used for other purposes, stuff the Pentagon wants done. Dr. Samples: the Levy would free general fund dollars to use for other stuff like matching funds for grants.
A great deal of round robin time was spent discussing the good stuff that they would get if the Levy passes.
In the end, Option 4 was selected (unanimous vote) to be the call for the Levy.
There was also strong discussion on how to better market the Excess Levy. Ms Nichols wanted a better public relations job that would spell out the changes this time around. Phoebe: we have to sell it. Dave Pierson agreed that parents needed to be educated on the pluses.
There was a consensus on having pro Levy meetings at each of the 6 schools before Election Day.
From another point of view....
Voters spoke loud and clear during the May Primary election by tossing out three long time Boardsters. They were saying, we want change, improvement. We think they were also saying that change needs to come from the top down. IE: Change out the Superintendent.
Of course none of that was said during the Board meeting. But, we think it's on the mind of the newbie Board.
With a new Superintendent at the helm, it would be a true new beginning for education in County Clay. That top dog change may be the only change to make a real difference.
For those that don't know, our Superintendent is an "at will" employee and can be fired without any reason given. If that should happen, give him the boot, he has to be given a 90 day severance package... that means he gets paid for 90 days. Remember, change comes with a price.
The Ace Cub Reporter, in attendance, was overhead saying, he would be 100% in support of passing a Levy if the Superintendent was given his walking papers. That's quite a chance from 25 years ago when then Superintendent Linkypoo asked him to support the extra taxation. In response, from the Mel Gibson Look Alike, "I wouldn't support one more dime in taxes if it fed every monkey in Africa!
Teachers come back to work August 17th
Active shooter drills will be conducted before school starts.
Next Board meeting: August 22.
It's a welcome change from stagnant, no discussion, not so public, meetings.
The Clay Board of Edumacation convened their meeting on August 8th, 6pm, in the Pentagon. All Boardsters attended and 20 or more filled up the peanut gallery for the 85 minute meeting
For the blah blah blah stuff of running a school system: Sheran Helmick resigned her 5th grade teacher slot at H E White; custodian Kathy Foster is moving over to Lizemore Elem; Patricia Neff moved up a cook slot at Clay Elem; Mike Mullins hired as a volunteer football coach at Clay Middle; and, Tyler Dorsey is a new volunteer football coach at Clay High. That makes about 600 football coaches at CCHS
Hey, get this, Clayberry will be receiving a new electric school bus to try out. The cheap to operate vehicle, and face of the future, will be in use for 6 weeks.
There's a renewed push to get students to show up for school time. Now, kids that are truant for 10 days of more, the arm twisting of parents will get underway. Maybe more attention could be given for the teachers that stay home every time they have a hang nail or sniffle.
Some things are forbidden to talk about.
Brooke Jones brought up a serious issue of when kids have to stay at home when the next COVID wave hits us this Fall. The problem is, many, most, of the rug rats live without DSL service or even "hotspot" service via cellphones. Eric Legg agreed that's a big big problem. No solutions were provided Ms Jones.
And then the biggy of the night, floating, trying again, to pass a School Excess Levy during the Nov General Election. Excess means "too much".
During the last public meeting, Chair Phoebe Nichols brought up, she would like to see changes in what a Levy would pay for. For this meeting, four options were prepared for the Board (maybe by the new board). The options varied between how much would be spent for this that or the other.
Option four was the biggest switcharoo and would include: paying for additional school safety issues like increased entrance security, covering college tuition for dual credit high school courses, and providing college text books for advanced classes.
On the Levy topic, there were accolades on how important the wallet fleecing is for the kids and Pentagon. Around the table they went on about what would have to be cut out like field trips, some sports., etc.
Here's the way it works readers. If a Levy is passed, that $531,000 annual bonus would allow regular budget items to be used for other purposes, stuff the Pentagon wants done. Dr. Samples: the Levy would free general fund dollars to use for other stuff like matching funds for grants.
A great deal of round robin time was spent discussing the good stuff that they would get if the Levy passes.
In the end, Option 4 was selected (unanimous vote) to be the call for the Levy.
There was also strong discussion on how to better market the Excess Levy. Ms Nichols wanted a better public relations job that would spell out the changes this time around. Phoebe: we have to sell it. Dave Pierson agreed that parents needed to be educated on the pluses.
There was a consensus on having pro Levy meetings at each of the 6 schools before Election Day.
From another point of view....
Voters spoke loud and clear during the May Primary election by tossing out three long time Boardsters. They were saying, we want change, improvement. We think they were also saying that change needs to come from the top down. IE: Change out the Superintendent.
Of course none of that was said during the Board meeting. But, we think it's on the mind of the newbie Board.
With a new Superintendent at the helm, it would be a true new beginning for education in County Clay. That top dog change may be the only change to make a real difference.
For those that don't know, our Superintendent is an "at will" employee and can be fired without any reason given. If that should happen, give him the boot, he has to be given a 90 day severance package... that means he gets paid for 90 days. Remember, change comes with a price.
The Ace Cub Reporter, in attendance, was overhead saying, he would be 100% in support of passing a Levy if the Superintendent was given his walking papers. That's quite a chance from 25 years ago when then Superintendent Linkypoo asked him to support the extra taxation. In response, from the Mel Gibson Look Alike, "I wouldn't support one more dime in taxes if it fed every monkey in Africa!
Teachers come back to work August 17th
Active shooter drills will be conducted before school starts.
Next Board meeting: August 22.
2022 TSA WINNERS ALL
Mr Brown front and center
Clay Middle National Champs
AW