The Watson Chapel School Board received thanks Monday for its earlier approval of $500 bonuses to each district employee. Watson Chapel High School teacher and Personnel Policies Committee Chairperson Frankie Hemphill thanked the board on behalf of her colleagues for granting each employee a $500 bonus. She presented a card that her colleagues had signed and gave it to the board members.
“I realize they did not have to award bonuses,” Hemphill said. “I was raised to say thank you.”
Hemphill had asked for the bonus on behalf of her colleagues at an April meeting. At a June meeting, Superintendent Connie Hathorn recommended the board approve a $500 bonus to all contracted Watson Chapel employees who completed the 2016-2017 school year. Board members Ronnie Reynolds, Alan Frazier, Goldie Whitaker, Sandra Boone, Mack Milner and Donnie Hartsfield approved a motion to this effect in June. Board member Kevin Moore was absent from the June meeting. The money was given in June.
All board members were present Monday and heard Hemphill voice her gratitude. In school board election news, Watson Chapel does not have contested races and does not have a millage increase. Hathorn recommended using early voting and absentee voting only to save money. The board did not discuss this matter and voted unanimously to approve it.
In financial statements, Hathorn said the district received $197,928.32 in July and spent $484,027.70 in the non-activity funds and had an ending balance of $6,821,088.49. The board did not discuss this matter and voted unanimously to approve it.
In fund balance news, Hathorn cited Act 1105 of 2017 amending the limitation on fund balances. He recommended starting with the 2016-2017 school year if the total operating funds exceed $6 million, that the surplus will be transferred to the building fund. The board did not discuss this matter and voted unanimously to approve it.
The board approved the following hiring of personnel after convening in executive session:
- Lashona Crater as an elementary counselor;
- Yalonda Keaton as an elementary behavior interventionist;
- Erica Mauldin as an elementary instructional specialist;
- Christle Pierce as an art teacher;
- Mary Taylor as an elementary teacher;
- FayLisa Thomas as a special education teacher;
- Candeai Bush as a paraprofessional;
- Tasha Woods as a head district nurse;
- Terry Armstrong as a cafeteria substitute;
- Ira Holloman as a cafeteria substitute:
- Harold Branson as a bus driver;
- Hazel Shepherd as a bus driver;
- Nellie Burnett as a substitute custodian;
- Kalan Davis as a substitute custodian:
- Cortez Jones as a substitute custodian.