GENTRY — The Gentry School Board approved a number of personnel changes and reorganized itself at the June 11 regular meeting at the Pioneer Activities Center.
Personnel changes included moving Cheryl (Speed) Skaggs and Kim Nichols from night custodians to the cafeteria; hiring Karen McCoy as the primary school nurse, Angela Johnson as an evening custodian, Allison Blanchard as high school library media specialist, Hayley Watson as high school band director, Jordan Campbell as high school history teacher and track and volleyball coach, and Crystal Coppedge as fourth-grade teacher at the intermediate school.
The board approved paying Tyson Sontag to teach two hours of diesel mechanics as a charter school instructor since the pay assistance to the program provided by McKee Foods has elapsed.
With only four of the seven board members present, a resolution to authorize board member Randall Bolinger to serve as a volunteer registered assistant senior high football coach was tabled until the July meeting because, without Bolinger present during a discussion and a vote on the matter, there were not enough board members present for a quorum.
The board voted to keep the same organization following the school election last month since the board membership remains unchanged.
The board approved the school district’s financial report for Period 11. Terrie Metz, district superintendent, told the board the district was on course to finish the year with approximately $1.7 million in operating funds at the close of the fiscal year, ending on June 30. The ending balance is required of the district to avoid the possibility of the state board of education considering the district to have a declining end-of-year balance and to be in fiscal distress.
Jason Barrett, the school district’s transportation and maintenance supervisor, reported on the progress of construction at the intermediate school. He said the construction of the new classroom facility is on course, with masonry work nearing completion. No specific date was given for completion but, barring weather setbacks, construction is on schedule and work is being coordinated to speed up the final parts of the construction project.
The board approved two policy changes on their second reading: 1) a change in policy on the inventory of fixed assets and the equipment descriptor code and 2) a change on the bid solicitation descriptor code.
The board also gave consent to a zoning change for a property in Highfill from commercial to residential. The property has a house on it and has been used as a residence. The zoning change will make it easier for a buyer of the home to obtain financing.
Coye Cripps, board president, asked that more opportunities to perform be provided to the band and the choir. He suggested the groups also perform occasionally at board meetings and at other events in Gentry. He mentioned the possibility of performing at the July 4 Freedom Festival if the new band director can coordinate that on such short notice.
The July meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, July 16, in the PAC Building at the high school.