Members of the Watson Chapel School District Board of Directors and the district superintendent on Monday voiced their hope for voter approval today of a five-mill increase to the current district millage of 31.8.
“We are excited about the possibility,” district superintendent Danny Hazelwood said during the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday. “I don’t really have a good idea either way for what the public sentiment is about the vote. I feel like we as a district need this and our kids deserve it. We are a quality school district and we want to keep it quality.”
Board vice president Sandra C. Boone thanked Hazelwood for his efforts on behalf of the district in drumming up support for the millage increase.
“I want to commend Mr. Hazelwood for the millage presentation he gave last week,” Boone said. “I just wish more people had come out to hear him.”
Board member Maxine Nelson said that she was hoping for a favorable vote as well.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“I hope that people come out and support the millage vote if they want to see this district progress,” Nelson said.
Voting for the special election will be from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Goodfaith-Carr United Methodist Church at 3703 Ryburn Road.
Other business
In other business the board approved the purchase of two new buses for the district’s fleet.
“We run between 40 and 50 buses every day and some of them are getting up in mileage and in years,” Hazelwood said. “I recommend that we purchase two 2013 buses; a 71-passenger for $76,994 and a 78-passenger for $93,930 for a total of $170,924.”
Hazelwood said that the district offered the contract for both vehicles to Central States Bus Sales of North Little Rock as the low bidder in a competitive bid process.
Board member Donnie Hartsfield asked district transportation director Cornovious Branch a question about the district bus fleet.
“When was the last time the district made a bus purchase?, ” Hartsfield asked.
Branch said that two buses were purchased in 2011.
“Every year we have a bus with 20 or more years on it,” Branch said. “There is a law that says a school bus can’t be more than 20 years old but they have backed off a bit on that and allowed districts to use older buses as backups.”
Hazelwood said that during his tenure as superintendent the district purchased three buses in 2008, two in 2009, none in 2010 and two last year.
“Our old buses are put up for bid when they wear out,” Hazelwood said. “Most of them are mechanically sound and people buy them for parts or to use as campers. We get maybe $2,000 apiece for them.”
The board approved the financial statement for March.
“We received $2,287.949.32 in March and spent $2,022,722.20 in the non-activity funds, leaving an ending balance of $8,348,473.45,” Hazelwood said.
The board approved several employment recommendations from Hazelwood after a 10-minute executive session.
“I recommend the renewal of all current certified employees except those who have retired or resigned,” Hazelwood said prior to the board approval vote.
The board approved the hiring of; Mary Morgan as a special education teacher; Lindsey Burkett as an elementary school teacher; Deborah Linsy and Dina Smith as special education aides; and Tamera Tidwell-Gee, April Shinn and Tammie Kendall as substitute cafeteria workers.
Hazelwood said that he accepted the resignations of Donald Almond and Jamel Crumblin.