Christmas is coming early for Watson Chapel School District employees.
The board on Monday unanimously approved one-time bonuses of $1,000 each for certified and classified employees. District Superintendent Keith McGee said classified employees had not received any bonuses since construction of the new Watson Chapel High School began in March 2023 as the salary schedule was frozen, but he also didn’t want to offer a bonus to classified-only employees and not to certified employees.
“Our employees, classified and licensed, deserve it,” McGee said. “They work extremely hard, and I want them to know we’re thinking about them. I think this is the right thing to do, to give them the bonus going into the holiday to honor them and show them our sincere appreciation.”
McGee said he intended to not be included among the 237 employees receiving bonuses, but district treasurer Norma Walker said the bonuses, which will cost the district an estimated $296,250 including benefits, did account for him.
“We were in the bottom of the can and we’re coming out of that, and I think you deserve it just as much as anybody else deserves it,” board member Donnie Hartsfield told McGee.
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Each employee receiving a bonus must have been hired before Nov. 25 and be in good standing (not currently suspended or resigned) and must have fulfilled all requirements for employment including licensure, McGee said.
The board, six of whom were present with one absence, also voted on a memorandum for an extra duty stipend for special education teachers. McGee said he would bring to the board a financial impact summary for the stipend at the January board meeting.
According to a district memo from Traci Holland, executive director of curriculum and instruction who also serves as director of special education, the WCSD is experiencing a shortage of special education teachers. Of the 12 positions allocated for teachers, one is on a teacher licensure plan, six are fully licensed, and three teach virtually through the Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative. Two vacancies were created due to resignations this school year.
“We talked about, maybe a range from $500 to $2,000,” McGee said. “It won’t go past $2,500. It may not be $2,500. It may only be $750. It just depends. Right now, I reached out to several of my colleagues that are retired and then have come back. We’re just trying to figure it out, because we’ve got teachers who are overloaded in these case folders. That is a lot.”
TEACHERS HONORED FOR STUDENT GROWTH
Nine WCSD teachers were recognized for posting student growth scores of 80 or above. McGee explained on an average of student rosters, the teachers are meeting or exceeding the expected growth based on a three-year average. One of the teachers, junior high English language arts instructor Sherita Thomas, also ranked among the top 25% of teachers in Arkansas for ELA growth.
Other honored teachers include:
Three-year ELA growth: Jequetta Monk, Coleman Elementary
Three-year composite and math growth: Amy Bledsoe, Coleman
Three-year composite and ELA growth: Darlene Hines, Coleman; Patricia Jones, Watson Chapel Junior High; Marchelle Knight, Watson Chapel High; Kathleen Mitchell, Watson Chapel High; Janice Soto, Coleman; and John Wells, Watson Chapel Junior High; and Thomas.
IN OTHER DISTRICT BUSINESS
Central Moloney Inc. secured naming rights to the scoreboard inside the gymnasium at the new Watson Chapel High School under construction following a $10,000 contribution.
The naming rights do not have an expiration date. Central Moloney will sponsor Watson Chapel’s Faculty Appreciation Event in the spring.
A strategic plan for the district titled “Rolling to Readiness” is now in place following a board vote. The plan establishes four priorities: creating positive school cultures, operating efficiently, accelerating student outcomes and connecting school communities with partnerships.
PERSONNEL MOVES
The district approved the hires of Jean Austin as full-time ELA secondary teacher; Marc Bateman, Bobby Hyatt and Terry Lawson as bus drivers; Dwain Lewis as bus driver and 6-hour custodian; and Larose Wooten as security guard.
Pay changes were approved for Jevon Barnes for filling in as assistant principal at the junior high school and Reginald Forte for filling in as principal of Coleman.
A letter of resignation was accepted from Jarvis Mayo as special education paraprofessional.