Clarksdale trustees approved teachers for the 2022-23 school year last week but did not give payroll numbers on how many teachers were hired.
The personnel recommendations approved by the three-member board were part of three different votes to hire certified teachers, amended/classified teachers and Clarksdale coaching positions with stipends.
To be eligible for certification in the state, teachers must hold a bachelor's degree and complete a Mississippi teacher preparation program. Additionally, applicants must pass the required Praxis teaching skills and content-area tests. There are four class levels of Mississippi educator licenses.
Amended teachers are those teacher candidates who have failed their content area assessment to earn licensure, but as long as they have documented evidence of effective teaching over at least a three-year period they can teach.
Coaches follow a different career path and stipends are extra pay for those who may coach more than one sport. Districts can also pay stipends for coaches who win a certain number of games or make it to post season play. Stipends are also paid for district employees who drive buses.
The average public school teacher salary in Mississippi is $47,713 as of May 27, but the range typically falls between $39,852 and $58,174. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other factors, including education level, certifications, additional skills and the number of years a teacher has spent in their subject area.
Teachers typically sign contracts in June with principals and superintendents filling spots as late as August for teachers in high demand subjects or with special certifications.
Clarksdale had 2,108 students enrolled at the end of the 2021-22 school year. CMSD had 2,237 students in grades Pre-K through 12th grade the previous year and 2,294 in 2020.
The district had per pupil expenditures of $13,363.33 in 2020-21 the last school year data available by the state.
The board also approved memorandum of understanding with school board attorney Carlos Palmer and CMSD.
The votes to conduct district business were unanimously approved by Board President Zedric Clayton, Vice President LaFiesta Roland and Secretary Manika Kemp. Two posts on the Clarksdale School Board are vacant following the termination of Suprintendent Joe Nelson in May.
In other business:
• Trustees approved the 2022-23 handbooks for various schools.
• The district approved garbage disposal bids.
• The board approved paint, labor and material costs for Oakhurst School for Red Drywall and Paint.
• The district approved manhole and sewer repairs for W.A. Higgins school.
• Trustees approved CMSD salary scales, without discussion.
• School board members reviewed budget, cashflow and expenditure reports. No vote was taken.
• Final school attendance and discipline reports were presented to trustees for each school.
• Trustees also approved disposal of a list of items. Trustees were told some items were old, some were broke and some could not be found. State law requires school districts to number and label all equipment and strike that equipment from its inventory when it is disposed of.
• The board entered executive session as a group to discuss concerns with a parent, review a letter from the Mississippi Department of Education, a report styled only TLC Reports and review financial findings and recommendations from Financial Forecast.
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