GENTRY — Teacher of the Year awards for each campus were presented Monday night at the Gentry School Board meeting.
The special teacher awards were presented to Scott Erks, Terrie Metz, Patrick Lanford and Dianne Burrus, with Burrus also being chosen as the district’s teacher of the year.
“All these people have one thing in common,” said Gentry School District superintendent Randy Barrett. “They have masters degrees and continue to educate and prepare themselves in the subject matter they teach. They desire to teach children and be an example to our students. These four teachers represent the cream of the crop,” Barrett said.
In other business, the board accepted the credentials of Scott McCollum, recently sworn in to fill the board vacancy created when Brenda Willett resigned.
The board also reorganized itself for the 2011 school year, with Jim Barnes appointed to another term as president; David Williamson, vice president; Dani Cypert, secretary and disbursing officer; and Scott McCollum as alternate disbursing officer. The board also passed a resolution appointing Barrett as the board’s ex-officio financial secretary and as the board’s legal and fiscal agent in all matters concerning federal and state funds and for other matters not requiring specific action by the board.
The board also adopted a devolution of duties document outlining temporary assignments of duties for school administrators in the case of an emergency when a school administrator is absent.
The district continues to be in sound financial condition according to a report presented by Barrett. The report showed ending balances for periods one through three of $1,661,912 in the operating fund and $2,395,263 in the operating fund with categorical funds included.
The board approved contracts for Lisa Banks, an English as a Second Language teacher in the Intermediate School, and for Joe Fugate (a certified teacher) to work as a duty aide in the Intermediate School. Also approved was the creation of a testing aide position, with money to come out of NSLA funds.
A contract adjustment was approved for Marian Killgore to pay her for teaching an additional period.
Stipends of $300 were approved for each campus to pay for the preparation and publication of the school newsletter if the teacher does so on his or her own time.
Also discussed was a location for graduation ceremonies next spring. With John Brown University declining to rent out their new arena, the board asked high school principal Brae Harper to check with seniors and their parents about a possible location. Options mentioned, in addition to keeping the ceremonies on campus, were Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville - with only a Monday slot open - Hammons Center in Rogers and theHoliday Inn. The board authorized Harper to book a location if it was suitable to seniors and their parents and the price was reasonable.
News, Pages 1 on 10/20/2010