The Watson Chapel School District Board of Directors voted 3-1 Monday night to approve a new district policy concerning the evaluation of licensed personnel that was recommended by district superintendent Danny Hazelwood.
Board president Sandra C. Boone, Keith Waddle and board vice president Robin Barker voted for the measure while board members Maxine Nelson, Danny Holcomb and Donnie Hartsfield were not present.
Board secretary Ronnie Reynolds voted against the state-mandated policy change in protest over use of the term ‘probationary principal’ for the first year of a principal’s employment at a school in the district even if they have had a number of years of experience.
“I have a problem with the term probationary because of the negative connotation that it has,” Reynolds said. “So even if a principal has had five years of experience or 10 years of experience as a principal they are still considered probationary for the first year in a new school?”
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Brenda Melton answered.
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“I don’t like the term probationary either but that is what the state has given us,” Melton said.
Hazelwood emphasized that despite the wording the state expected the policy to be implemented.
“This is a policy we need to get into place because it is a statewide program,” Hazelwood said. “This is not a tool to go get teachers but is intended to get the teachers the help that they need if they need help. If a teacher is doing a good job then they will be told that they are doing a good job.”
The policy lists a probationary principal as one who has not completed three consecutive years as a principal in an Arkansas school district; or one who is in his or her first year in a new principal position in an Arkansas school district.
Teachers will be evaluated in the 2013-2014 school year under the same system that was in place for the 2012-2013 school year; and some teachers in each school will be evaluated under the new system during the 2013-2014 school year.
Board election resolution
In other business the board approved a resolution presented by Hazelwood to utilize only early and absentee voting on paper ballots for the September school board elections.
“Because the district has no millage vote and no contested board member zone races we are allowed by the state to do this as a cost savings measure for the district,” Hazelwood said prior to the board vote.
Social media policy
The board was presented with a proposed policy on social media for employees.
“I want us to make sure that our employees know that social media can get them into trouble if they’re not careful,” Hazelwood said. “This is presented for your review tonight. I would like some input from the board before I present this to the Personnel Policy Committee.”
Personnel
The board approved a series of personnel recommendations from Hazelwood including the hiring of Uyolanda Wilson as a junior high school assistant principal; Kristy Sanders as a junior high assistant principal; Ronnie Johnson as Edgewood Elementary School principal; Bryan Bearden as a high school biology teacher; Shelayne Irby as a junior high counselor/secretary; LeAnn Roberts as Edgewood Elementary secretary; Patricia Dixon as a computer lab paraprofessional; Jimmy Harris, Bernice Holly and Darren Edgerson as bus drivers; Chamire Westmoreland as a substitute bus aide; and Latacus McCraney, Tara Boyd, Melanie Mitchell and Jessica Harris as substitute cafeteria workers.
The board approved the resignations of Jeff Glover and Tina Dulaney.
Finances
The board approved the July financial statement read by Hazelwood which included revenue of $245,654; expenses of $533,297 and an ending balance of $5,031,692.