There were plenty of smiles at the Coahoma County School District meeting on Tuesday, May 8.
The board of trustees voted to give a salary increase of $2,500 for the 2018-19 school year to its certified personnel, which includes teachers. The district has 118 certified personnel employees.
Also, the board approved a five-percent salary increase for the school system’s classified personnel and principals for the 2018-19 school year. The district has 90 classified personnel, which includes principals, cafeteria workers and other non-licensed personnel.
The moves were made upon the recommendation of interim Superintendent John M. Curlee.
In other news, the board of trustees:
• Agreed to purchase two new buses at a cost of $284,000.
• Granted approval to install door entry systems for entrances to all Coahoma County School District schools and the district’s education center. The doors are expected to cost approximately $31,000. The project has yet to enter the bidding process.
• Approved the distribution of shared revenue funds totaling $143,783.51. Clarksdale Municipal School District will receive $107,077.77 and North Bolivar County Consolidated School District will receive $36,705.22.
• Heard that the school district had received $160,000 of a $260,500 grant from the Walton Foundation that will be used for the school district’s reading program for students in the first, second and third grades.
• Gave approval to a new Coahoma County School District Alternative School, which will be housed in a classroom at the high school.
• Paid claims totaling $228,269.19.
• Gave approval to paint all school hallways and entrances to all school district buildings as part of the summer cleaning schedule.
• Approved a request to have the Coahoma County Junior/Senior High School classes of 1980 through 1995 use the junior/senior high school for a tour during a reunion on Saturday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. till noon.
• Went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter and five student discipline issues.
Teachers, parents of year recognized
The Coahoma County School District recognized its Teachers and Parents of the Years for the past school year at each of its schools.
The Lyon Elementary Teacher of the Year is Jonnetta Robinson and the Parent of the Year is Barry Wall. The two were also recognized as the overall winners in the entire school district.
Sherard Elementary: Teacher Alisha Gillespie and parent Andrea Williams
Jonestown Elementary: Teacher Latoya Grant and parent Judy Wayne
Friars Point Elementary: Teacher Midrika Cannon and parent Mika Carr
Coahoma County Senior/Junior High: Teacher Jennifer Ruskie and parent Monica Woods
