The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, January 11, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Angela Hunsucker, Mac Davis and Christi Johnston. Tammye Sherrill was not present. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Kim Solomon, Ryan Walker, Toni Dozier, Chris Lipham, Kristi Sigman, Darla Jeffery, Josh Atchley, Josh Brown and Zack Taylor.
Vice-President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Davis began the meeting with a word of prayer, and Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Superintendent Fielding informed everyone that January is School Board Member Appreciation month and he recognized the school board members for their service to our school.
A motion was made by Johnston and seconded by Hunsucker to add Item C. (Approve BXS School Board Legal Liability Insurance) to the Consent Agenda. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Davis and seconded by Johnston to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the December 14th Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve BXS School Board Legal Liability Insurance. Motion carried 4-0.
Superintendent Fielding informed each of the school board members of the number of training hours they received for 2020. All of the board members have received the required number of training hours.
A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by Davis to approve policy numbers 3.32.1 and 8.23.1 (Licensed and Classified Personnel Covid Emergency Leave).
The principals reported on each of their school’s active cases of COVID-19. District-wide, there are three cases, with 90 quarantined due to contact with probable close contact. They also reported on the number of remote learners. Those numbers have decreased in each building. Elementary and Middle School principals informed the board of training their leadership teams. Those teams either have or will be attending that training. They also informed the board of readiness for upcoming testing.
Superintendent Fielding expressed that this year has allowed the school to grow and get better, “learning from the things we’ve endured.” Only three positive cases in a school district with over 1400 students and 250 employees is a testimony of how great the staff is doing at taking the necessary precautions to keep those numbers down.
At 7:05 p.m. the board convened into executive session, and returned at 7:41 p.m. A motion was made by Davis and seconded by Johnston to approve the recommendation to hire Shannon Isham with six years of experience, effective January 18, 2021. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by Christi Johnston to extend Superintendent Fielding’s contract for one more year starting July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, with an addendum to come back in February to look at a possible pay increase.
At 7:44 p.m., a motion was made by Johnston to adjourn. That motion carried unanimously.
