The Thursday, July 11, Carroll County Board of Education meeting was extensive as a result of many civil discussions being prompted. For the first matter of discussion in the meeting, Board Member Teresa Vanlandingham brought up her concerns of the cell phone policy not being properly followed during school hours.
“I have a question on the cell phone policy in the handbook. When the Board did our walk-through of the schools, we noticed - a lot of students had their cell phones out in the classrooms,” member Vanlandingham explained. “I am not a proponent of cell phones in the classroom. They need to be learning. How do we monitor? And I have a suggestion.”
“That is a principal/teacher decision. It may be a reward… I don’t know,” Superintendent Joey Carpenter replied.
At this point in the discussion, Member Vanlandingham read from the policy verbatim, which stated that cellphones were expected to be off, not on vibrate, and concealed during school hours. She then questioned, backed by Board President John Phillips, why children were still allowed to have their phones out and use them during the Board’s walk-through.
“I understand that, but there are certain times that it may be a reward - I think that’s day-to-day operations between a principal and a teacher,” Superintendent Carpenter responded.
After the brief discussion regarding the policy, Member Vanlandingham suggested closer monitoring be done on the school's part, specifically suggesting a walkthrough to be performed to better understand the issue.
The Board quickly shifted topics of discussion, prompted by a question asked by Board President Phillips regarding the difference in grading scales between the elementary and high school. As of now, Marshall Elementary is on a seven-point grading scale while J.Z. George High School is on a ten-point grading scale.
“Do we have a district grading scale?” President Phillips asked after pointing out the difference.
“No sir - When you’re dealing with colleges and entrance into colleges, I think that high schools went to a ten-point system. Most elementaries I’ve ever been around have been on a seven-point scale. We don’t have a district scale. The elementary and high school have always been different,” Superintendent Carpenter explained.
Member Vanlandingham shared her findings that Winona schools are reportedly all on the same scale. At this point in the discussion, Federal Programs Director Sarah Johnson spoke on the subject.
“Really it’s up to the principals and how they feel. The high schools, because we do have students that take dual credit or dual enrollment courses, are on a ten-point scale, and so that’s why they’re on a ten-point scale here,” Director Johnson explained. “As an elementary teacher, a sixty five for a first or second grader should not be a passing grade.”
“Curriculum at the high school level is a lot more difficult,” Superintendent Carpenter added.
The next major point of discussion in the meeting was regarding student transfers. At this meeting, the Board only had one student transfer to address, which was concerning a special needs student.
“I understand that this person does have autism and that is covered in our policy - but here’s my question, to keep this from continuously happening, to lose these special needs kids, how do we make it better here?” Board Member Vanlandingham questioned on the subject.
It was explained that the school district would lose more money attempting to remedy the problem by hiring more special needs certified instructors or paying for appropriate certifications, than if the district were to allow students to transfer. As the district is so small, it does not have the means or funding to justify employing more certified instructors. On that note, the student transfer was approved on a vote of four to zero. Board Member Kenneth DeLoach did not vote as he was absent from the meeting.
In other news the Board
• Approved the Agenda with the addition of two items.
• Agreed to the Annual Legislative Policy Update.
• Approved the Minutes from the June 6 regularly called meeting, as well as from the June 18 and June 28 special called meetings with corrections on the votes on fixed assets and adjournment for the June 28 meeting.
• Accepted the MDE Administrative Review of the Summer Food Service Program.
• Approved Amendment for Food Service Moving to Provision 2.
• Approved Credit Cards and Open LOC’s for Purchases.
• Accepted Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. (Head Start) Partnership Agreement Memorandum of Understanding.
• Agreed to Team Assure, Inc. Coverage for Student Medical Insurance.
• Approved Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Services Proposal for Special Needs Students.
• Approved the JZ George High School Safety/Crisis Management Plan (with corrections) and the JZ George High School Instructional Plan.
• Accepted the CCSD Personnel Handbook with corrections.
• Approved the CCSD Homeless Procedure Manual and CCSD Foster Care Plan and Procedures.
• Agreed to MCSPS Signature Page.
• Accepted the Kids First Proposal and the English Learner Plan.
• Agreed to Consolidated Title Budget.
• Approved the purchase of weights for JZ George.
• Accepted Financial Statements.
• Agreed to the payment of Claims.
• Approved one Recommended Certified Employee, one Recommended SPED Certified Employee, one Adjusted Recommended At-Will Employee, and Recommended Certified Supplements.
• Voted on a personnel issue in an executive session regarding the resignation of a certified employee.
• Approved MS Forestry Work Plan and Cost.
