McKenzie School Superintendent James Ward announced
Tuesday the Winchester administration has asked the
school system to pay one half the salary of school
resource officer Jackie Sykes' $36,000 salary.
The school system in June prided themselves in their
ability to present a balanced budget without raising
school property taxes. The city instituted a 31
percent tax hike this year and the Police Department
has incurred the un-replaced loss of three positions
over the past two years.
"Mr. (Charlie) Beal indicated this would be something
they would ask for annually," Ward advised. Beal is
city clerk for the city of McKenzie under Mayor Walter
Winchester.
Ward stated the school currently contributes $2500 in
Drug Free Schools grant monies toward the school
resource officer position filled by Jackie Sykes and
that other funds from the grant are spent in character
education.
Asked if he could continue teaching the D.A.R.E. (Drug
Abuse Resistance Education) program without salary
supplementation by the school system, Sykes said, "I
don't see where I can work at night and teach in the
daytime."
D.A.R.E. instructors must be certified to administer
the program which in McKenzie targets grades K-4, 5, 7
and 9.
Board member Joe Fortner questioned whether a full
time officer was needed. Sykes currently spends time
in each of the three McKenzie schools: elementary,
middle and high schools. Ward said Sykes is
instrumental at the high school level in handling
truancy and absenteeism, locating people and
administering the "drunk goggles" activity near the
end of the school year.
Fortner stated repeatedly that the $18,000 expenditure
was worthy if it saved "one ounce of this or that"
from coming on campus or if it saved one child.
Board member Jill Holland was advised by elementary
Principal Richard Davey and middle school Principal
Doris Blackman that guidance counselors in both
schools provided character education.
While praising the D.A.R.E. program as wonderful and
stating "everything Jackie has done is excellent", she
said the programs were "icing on the cake" during a
time when the system was beleaguered with salary
equity issues.
Last month, board members approved a state-required
transition plan by which the school system will assume
increased teacher salary funding in the amount of
$32,900 in compliance with the Basic Education Plan
salary schedule for teachers. The board proposed a
combination of three alternatives in meeting the
transition funding including savings in new salary
dollars as veteran instructors retire and are replaced
by personnel with less experience; funds generated by
natural growth (if any) in local sales tax or local
property assessments, and the use of federal funds for
special programs.
"I don't see how we can justify $18,000 for this
position when we possibly have a need for an extra
math teacher since we now have algebra in the eighth
grade," she said. "My concern is that right now at
this time I'm not sure if we have the money to
supplement something like that."
Chairman Ruth Carroll pointed out that the budget was
already set for the year. Ward added there was no way
with this year's budget that money could be shifted to
procure the requested funds and that, should the board
vote to fund the request, the money would have to be
taken from the fund balance.
He further advised the city had stated its intent to
reapply for the COPS grant for 2005 but that the money
would be used to hire a new officer in a different
capacity.
Syke's position was currently funded by a COPS grant
which expired in February. The grant stipulates a
minimum 25 percent local match.
According to program specifications (www.cops.usdoj.gov),
"All grant recipients must develop a written plan to
retain any COPS-funded officer positions awarded for
at least one full local budget cycle after federal
funding has ended. This plan must be clearly specified
in the Retention Plan Certification form that all
applicants are required to submit at the time of their
application."
On Carroll's suggestion and Davis' motion, the issue
was tabled until the next meeting in order to give
members time to study the issue.
THREE INSTALLED FOLLOWING AUGUST ELECTION
School board veteran Holland and newly elected members
John Austin and Brad Davis were administered the oath
of office Tuesday following the August election.
Carroll, a member of the board since 2000, was
reappointed by the unanimous vote of her peers as
chairman of the board while Holland likewise retained
her role as vice chairman and Mildred Sneed, who was
absent, was appointed treasurer. Davis was elected
Tennessee Legislation Network member with Austin
serving as alternate.
DESIGNATED TOBACCO AREAS DEFINED
Designated smoking areas during public gatherings on
school property were approved by unanimous consent of
board members in an administrative regulation modeled
after Tennessee tobacco-free schools laws stating, in
part, that smoking shall be prohibited in any public
seating areas, including but not limited to, bleachers
used for sporting events, or public restrooms.
The use of tobacco products is prohibited in or on any
property owned by the McKenzie Special School District
during school hours. After hours, adults may smoke on
property surrounding the school but may not block any
entrances.
Designated smoking areas were approved as follows:
Elementary school: beneath the red awning at the front
(north) side of the building, 50 feet from the front
entrance;
Middle school: beneath the east end of the awning that
runs parallel to Woodrow Avenue;
High school: 50 feet from the back lobby entrance; and
Football stadium: signs will be posted to designate
areas provided for smoking. Tobacco products may not
be used in the stands or restrooms.
In other matters the board:
* Was advised of the following resignations: Jennifer
Warren, food service; Nan Stapleton, high school
special education teacher; Terry Odle, elementary
physical education teacher, and Kim Spear, technology
assistant. New employments included Arianne Ward,
middle school librarian; Paula Collum, elementary
custodian; Jeremy Maddox, elementary physical
education teacher; Karen Jeffrey, kindergarten
teacher; Celia Allen, Linda Hollowell, technology
assistant, and substitute teachers Celia Allen, Marta
Jeffers, and Brooke Cooper;
* Approved budget amendments for projects under the No
Child Left Behind Act. Ward explained of various
titles under the act, monies moved into Title I (which
deals with salaries among other program costs) cannot
be redistributed into other titles, therefore funds in
Title II were being allocated to provide staff
development;
* Awarded the contract for milk products to low bidder
Prairie Farms Dairy. Golden Rod Dairy had also bid for
the contract;
* Approved on first reading board policy no. 5.602
(Staff Time Schedules) which rescinds 5.604 (Overtime
Pay) and incorporates its provisions into 5.602. Ward
stated overtime is not an issue in the McKenzie school
system as no positions require overtime, but that in
the event an employee filed for overtime compensation
the system was responsible to provide appropriate
documentation;
* Approved on first reading an amendment to policy no.
5.303 (Personal and Professional Leave). Certified
employees earn personal and professional leave at a
rate of one day for each half-year employed for a
total of two days per year of employment with a bonus
day earned beginning with the 16th year. The amendment
changes the requirements for earning the third day of
leave from 16 years "in the school system" to 16 years
"as a professional educator."
* Approved the annual Report of School System/School
Compliance for 2004-2005 specifying that the school
district is in compliance with state board rules,
regulations and minimum standards;
* Approved an easement in order that Long Heights
Baptist Church, whose building site is adjacent to the
high school, can connect sewer lines to the lift
station on the north side of the school's property.
Ward stated he had stipulated that the line be run
adjacent to the roadway so as not to interfere with
future development on the school property: and,
* Was advised of the 2004 Fall District Meeting
scheduled for September 27 at Dyer County High School.
