The handbook, personnel and schedules for the upcoming 2021-22 school year highlighted discussion at a special Coahoma County School District board meeting Tuesday night.
Superintendent Dr. Ilean Richards brought matters regarding the handbook before the board.
“I’m asking that you take a look, review the past handbooks for employees and for students and advised me anything that you want changed out of those handbooks,” Richards said. “In the folder, there is a school bus driver handbook. We’ve gone through these and I’m going to be making some recommendations.”
Richards said there would be a transportation handbook for parents.
She said the CCSD would be testing a technology security plan, adding she just received a letter from the state auditor and has to make a few revisions.
Richards said the Mississippi Department of Education is pushing Title IX, which is a federal civil rights law that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives federal money.
She specifically mentioned the importance of addressing sexual harassment issues and inequities in sports.
“We have been provided with critical information that we need to look at,” Richards said. “We do have a Title IX policy, but I wanted to share with you some of the things.”
In the past, Richards said there has been an unweighted GPA system. Given some accountability measures for AP courses and other changes, there will be a weighted GPA system.
“We’re going to be looking at standard grades,” Richards said. “We’re going to be looking at honors grades. We’re going to be looking at AP and dual enrollment grades copy of school district strategic plan so that we can be fair to all children in computing that GPA.”
Masks will still be required in the CCSD just as they were when the COVID pandemic was at its worst.
“Everybody will wear masks because we don’t know who’s vaccinated,” Richards said.
The board approved all personnel items, but not without disagreement.
Board member Johnnie Moore questioned all of the resignations. As a result, the vote was 3-1. Board president Lester Myles, board vice president Rico Smith and board member Rodrick Monroe voted for the personnel recommendations.
Moore opposed.
“Why is it so many people are continuing to resign from the Coahoma County School District?” Moore said.
“That’s happening everywhere. It’s not just this school district,” Richards replied. “As a matter of fact, it’s not even school. You go up and down the highway and everybody’s looking for people because they don’t have employees.”
Moore still had concerns.
“I don’t see what that has to do with the Coahoma County School District,” Moore said. “Since April and May, we have had 25 people quit the Coahoma County School District.”
“But it’s so strange that I have all my teachers,” Richards replied.
Moore still saw some issues.
“The ones that…” Moore said.
As Moore was continuing to speak, Richards closed the discussion by saying, “Well, I answered your question, Mr. Moore.”
The discussion later went to schedules for the upcoming year.
“We’re going to do a trial run with the bus schedules,” Richards said.
She said elementary school begin will begin between 7 and 7:30 a.m. and breakfast just like before the pandemic. The regular day will end at 2:30 p.m.
The junior high and high school students will be at school between 8 and 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and the day will run to 3:45 p.m.
The staff will be back at school August 2 and August 5 is the first day of school.
Students participating in dual enrollment courses and having a memorandum of understanding agreement with Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center were originally intended to be discussed Tuesday.
Instead, Richards said the matters would be discussed at the regular board meeting in August.
