School board changes proofs of residency

The Choctaw Plaindealer

The Choctaw County School Board approved changes in the residency registration and documentation that parents must submit to have their child attend school in the Choctaw County School District, in the April 14 board meeting.

Donna Shea, superintendent, said under the new proofs of residency parents must provide three of the following: electricity bill, water bill, gas bill, trash bill, landline phone bill, filed Homestead Exemption Application Form, Mortgage or Property Deed, Apartment or Home Lease, Valid Driver's License, Voter's Precinct Identification, Automobile Registration/Tag Form, or Affidavit and/or visit by a designated school official.

She said the requirements goes into effect immediately, so any new students will have to provide these in order to be enrolled.

Shea said at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, three valid proofs of residency will be required for every student. The proofs of residency previously listed must each have the 911 address of the residence along with the parent or guardians name. She said proofs of residency that have a P.O. Box cannot be accepted.

Before changing the proof of residency requirements the board and principals discussed problems they experienced.

Mike Thomas, District 5 School Board member, said if a person cannot produce a utility bill, then most are not living in the school district.

"If someone can't produce an electric bill, water bill, they are not living there," said Thomas.

The board discussed possible ways people could get around the residency requirements.

Shea said last year she recommended the proof of residency changes to make it harder but it proved to create chaos.

"If it's not working, then get rid of it," said Shea.

She asked the principals about problems they experienced with the proofs of residency at the beginning of the school year.

Glen Blaine, Ackerman Elementary School principal, said their biggest problem was people renting houses, did not have bills in their name.

Terry Bellew, Ackerman High School principal, said their biggest problem was just confusion of the requirements.

Also, another problem was many residents of Ackerman, have post office boxes and do not receive mail at their 911 addresses.

Also, during the school board meeting, the board met in executive session then reported they voted unanimously to carry out an expulsion based on the principal's recommendation.

Each school presented information about how their school is using the Achieve 300 program. The program allows students to improve reading skills by working on their strengths and weaknesses and allows teachers to work with each student on their own level. They said the program is similar to Study Island.

The school board then met in their second executive session to discuss a memo from Ronda Huffman and Shea regarding her transfer to Special Education director for the district. The board voted 4-1 to not allow the transfer.

"We will be looking at someone else," said Derek Hunt, school board president.

Hunt was the vote for the transfer.

Also, during the meeting, Shea withdrew her recommendation of changing the current reduction in force policy would affect all Choctaw County School District teachers.

The policy will remain the same that is based solely on seniority.

Shea said she withdrew her recommendation based on teacher input.

The school board also approved to purchase supplies for French Camp Academy out of Title 1 funds totaling $84,056.

Charlotte Cornish explained that each year private funds are available to private schools but before this year, FCA did not use the funds. Cornish said FCA is required to follow all Title 1 rules and all purchases must go through the Choctaw County School Board. She said all equipment and programs purchased with the Title 1 funds by FCA, are only supposed to be used by dorm students.

Before recessing, the board went into their third and final executive session to discuss administrators and their salaries. The board tabled this matter until their next regularly scheduled meeting.

In the consent agenda the board approved:

¥ Policy change regarding intra-district transfers for non instructional employees.

¥ Change in special programs for gifted students policy IDDD.

¥ Request from Terry Bellew, AHS principal, to return to a 7 period day and decrease credits by two for the 009-2010 school year.

¥ Financial hardship waiver for a student at AHS with exception of band fees.

¥ Five year local plan.

¥ Forest Management agreement for Mississippi Forestry Commission.

¥ One year interim highly qualified teacher license application for Paul Courtney.

¥ Request from Janice Pratt that her daughter, Sharnell Pratt, to be allowed to graduate early.

¥ Donation of sick days from Glen Beard and Anthony McGee to Wanda Davidson, Weir secretary, due to complications from her surgery.

¥ Request from Mariann Beals, AJHS cheer coach, asking permission to have a pancake supper as a fundraiser on May 14 to raise monies to assit in the payment of camp, uniforms and upcoming expenidures.

¥ The renewing of the Heggie Ruth Oredein residential lease for another 10 years. Annual rent will be $225 for one acre in 16-18-11.

¥ Attendance of administrators, principals and teachers to attend seven different workshops and conferences in April, June and July.

The school board approved the following Choctaw County School District personnel changes in the consent agenda:

¥ Resignation of Ginger Theadgill as director of Special Education effective June 30.

¥ Resignation of Jennifer Virden as third grade teacher at Weir Elementary School for the 2003-2010 school year.

¥ Resignation of Jan Ganann as district test coordinator/district psychologist effective June 30.

The school board approved the following requests for field trips or summer camps:

¥ Request from Keith Jefferies to take the AHS After-School students to the Ag and Forestery Museuem in Jackson, May 5.

¥ Request from Patsy Hawkins and Ronda Clark to take the WES six grade class to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala, May 16 and to use a school bus for the trip.

¥ Request from Suzanne Crowley to take her students to "Cool School Days" at Alabama Adventure Amusement Park in Bessemer, Ala. May 15 and to use a school bus for the trip.

¥ Request from Mistie Thomas, AHS cheer coach, to take the AHS cheerleaders to attend summer camp at the University of Alabama in Hunstville June 14-17.

¥ Request from Mariann Beals, AJHS cheer coach, to take the AJHS cheerleaders to attend summer camp at the University of Alabama in Hunstville June 14-17.

¥ Request from Martha Ward and Shirley Franklin to take four FCE students who placed at the annual state Jr. Beta Convention to Orlando, Fla. on June 13-16 and for a donation to help towards the trip.

¥ Request from Christina McDaniel to take Sarah Bowles, Asa Cistrunk and herself to attend ISEF in Reno, Nev. May 10-15 and for financial help. These students were chosen in the Regional V and state of Mississippi Science Fair to compete against other students.

¥ Request from Lynn Black to take her show choir to Mud Island in Memphis May 6.

In the finanical agenda the board approved:

¥ Diesel bid.

¥ Docket of claims.

¥ Teacher substitute report.

¥ Financial statements.

¥ Advertisting for bids for keeping Choctaw County School Distirct funds on short term investments.

¥ Purchase of internet filters and supplies from Marshal 8e6 for $8,972.35 for the district.

¥ Request from Donna Shea to purchase equipment and supplies for the Allied Health program and permission to transfer $8,462.98 from 16 section interest funds to pay for the equipment and supplies.

¥ Purchase of computers and equipment from CDW-G for $26,754.57 to be paid out of Title I funds for Ackerman Elementary School under ELP#3502.

¥ Purchase of Promethean boards and equipment from CDW-G for $30,009 under ELP#3502-642 out of Title I funds for WES.

¥ Purchase of educational supplies from Sopris West for $8,739.18 as a One Source item paid out of Title I funds for WES.

¥ Purchase of Promethean boards and equipment from CDW-G for $25,281 under EUP#3502 out of Title I funds for WHS.

¥ Fixed asset disposal list.

The school board held a special board meeting April 16 at 7 p.m. to visit with Mike Waldrop, executive director of the Mississippi School Board Association, to discuss the new requirements of the "Children First Act" and "Running Effective Meetings."

The next regular scheduled board meeting will be May 11 at 7 p.m. at Central Office.