The Attala County School District has thus far been unable to hire for the band director/music teacher roles at both McAdams and Ethel High Schools, as well as the Assistant Principal/Counselor role at McAdams.
When the board first addressed the Assistant Principal role at McAdams during its meeting in early June, it declined to take a vote on candidate Michael Huffman following a lengthy executive session to discuss the matter.
When the board met again lat last week with Board Chairman Christy Moody absent, the board deadlocked on whether or not to hire new candidate Shanika Hickmon to serve in a revised position that combined assistant principal and counselor roles for the school. Board Secretary Willie Perteet and member Vernita Rayford voted against hiring Hickmon while board members Janice Dees and Rodger Clark voted in favor.
Weaver was clearly frustrated by the situation.
“So you don’t want us to have a counselor or an assistant principal at all for McAdams?” he asked.
Weaver later told The Star-Herald that he believed Hickmon would have been hired if all board members had been present for the vote.
“As superintendent, I bring recommendations to the board for the best people we can hire and they’re not getting approved,” he said.
At press time Tuesday, the board was scheduled to convene a special called meeting on Wednesday to address approving “certified staff,” but it was unclear if this position was one of the items to be discussed.
UPDATE: When the board met Tuesday afternoon, with board Secretary Willie Perteet absent, the board voted 3-1 to hire Hickmon for the McAdams post. Prior to the vote, the board called new McAdams Principal McFarland, who told them he has confidence in Hickmon being ready for the position. Member Vernita Rayford, who voted against the hire, declined to discuss her reasons for casting the dissenting vote following the meeting.
No high school bands
Eight of the 10 individuals who originally applied for the open band director/music teacher slots at both Ethel and McAdams high schools have since taken positions with other districts.
The person in the Ethel position left due to family health issues and the person filling the role at McAdams had an emergency license last year, but was unable to obtain a permanent license to continue in the position.
According to schools Superintendent Bryan Weaver, the district is still hoping to offer music classes at the schools.
“We’re still interviewing and trying to find someone for both positions, but it is hard to attract people to such small schools and band programs,” he said. “So the likelihood of hiring band directors is very slim, but our plan would be to have someone teaching general music, or offering something online. It is such a great need for our kids to have the performing arts.”
County implementing in-school suspension
The board voted to approve in-school suspension program procedures. This will be the first year for such a program at the county high schools.
“We’re addressing that because of a new state law dealing with our IAP students,” said Weaver. “Any student with an IAP cannot receive corporal punishment, so if the student couldn’t be paddled, we were sending them home.”
An IAP is an individual action plan, typically prepared for any special education student, including gifted students.
Weaver said that in the past, the situation led to situations that could be deemed unfair, where two students — one with an IAP, one without an IAP —
received drastically different punishment. In one case, the non-IAP student was expelled for an entire year while the IAP student received services.
The new program will keep
most students in school and working following infractions.
“Hopefully, this will alleviate most of the out-of-school suspensions, though we will still use out-of-school suspensions and the alternative school, as needed,” he said.
High school security improvements made
Both Ethel and McAdams high schools will gain new security systems with all staff and students needing a security ID to enter the building.
High school ID and
registration times set
Ethel High School will be taking student ID photos July 22-26 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. All students in grades 7-12 are required to attend to have their photos taken for their school ID, which will be necessary for a student to enter the building due to upgraded security systems at the school.
McAdams High School will be hosting a mandatory pre-registration from July 15-17 during which students will need to schedule their classes and have student ID photos taken. All students will need an ID in order to enter the school building due to enhanced security.
Refreshments will be provided. Sessions July 15 and 16 will be from 1 to 6 p.m., and July 17 will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
EHS work to be done
The double pane windows at the front of Ethel High School, which fill with water during rainy times will be replaced at a cost of $9,000.
As part of the school security improvements, the front entrance will be moved to where front office staff can see who is seeking entrance to the building. The change will require work on the sidewalks at the front of the school.
The work is expected to be completed before the new school year begins.
McAdams field
house project
nears completion
The new $490,000 field house at McAdams high school is about 70% complete.
The project is being funded by revenues from 16th Section land owned by the district.
The sides and roofing are done and the contractor is now doing the internal blocking for hallways and walls, as well as the electricity.
Although much of the work may beat the mid-September scheduled completion, the facility will not likely be ready until October, according to Weaver.
Long Creek to see
traffic and parking improvements
The board voted to authorize two paving projects at Long Creek Elementary School while postponing a series of similar projects at all of the district’s other school properties.
Existing asphalt and concrete next to the sidewalk of the bus pickup and dropoff lane at Long Creek Elementary School will be replaced at a cost of $36,000.
The paved parking lot and entrance drive will also be overlayed with hot mix asphalt at a cost of about $45,000.
Other proposed similar projects at the various other schools in the district have been set aside pending funding.
