Board makes contact information public

GENTRY -- At the request of area residents in attendance at the Feb. 17 Gentry School Board meeting, contact information for school board members is now published on the school district website.

The contact information was requested, first by telephone call to Randy Barrett, Gentry School District superintendent, and then in a Feb. 15 email communication from Al Lemke. Barrett initially denied the request, stating those serving on the school board did so on a volunteer basis and that board action was carried out as a board in public meetings and not through private communications to individual board members.

Lemke had argued that "occasionally, there are issues that the public needs to discuss with the board members in a private, personal setting."

Barrett pointed out that board members conduct school business as a board in open, public meetings and not through private communications.

The contact information was published on the school website at the consent of board members. The following contact information, along with a zone map, was published following the meeting:

Zone 1 -- Gary Dunlap, 479-736-3394, [email protected]; Zone 2 -- Dani Cypert, 479-233-9130, [email protected]; Zone 3 -- Clarence Kreger, 479-549-8518, [email protected]; Zone 4 -- Randall Bolinger, 479-366-4662, [email protected]; Zone 5 -- Jim Barnes, 479-736-2714; [email protected]; At-Large -- Coye Cripps, 479-736-8663, [email protected]; At-Large -- David Williamson II, 479-233-1258, [email protected].

In an email communication to the board on Feb. 19, Barrett cautioned board members that email communications to them were subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. He did say the law did not require them to keep emails for any specific length of time and they could not be expected to turn over emails which they had deleted.

In the Feb. 19 email to the board, Barrett wrote: "To limit the use of your personal email accounts for school district matters, I have added your school email addresses to your contact information on the district website and I will communicate with you by that email in the future. Although you are most likely aware of this, school email falls under the FOIA so correspondence in this venue, from me to you, you to me, others to you, you to others, etc. may be subject to inspection by the public.

"Also be reminded that two board members talking school business in any venue outside a properly called meeting, including by email, is prohibited in the FOIA Laws.

"If your personal email address is used for school district related business, those emails are subject to release under the FOIA. However, it does not open your personal, non-school related email up to inspection and copying.

"Also, be aware that there is no requirement for you to keep email and if you no longer have it, it cannot be obtained from you through the FOIA."

In other business, Barrett reported to the board that the school district was "tracking along as I believe it should be," pointing out that the district had a balance of approximately $3 million in its general operating funds, which includes money to pay teacher salaries for the remainder of the school year.

The board passed on their first readings a number of policy changes, most to keep the district in compliance with law changes. The board also passed on its first reading a calendar submitted by the personnel policy committee for the 2014-2015 school year. Barrett also had included a proposed calendar in the board packet but withdrew it in favor of the PPC recommended calendar. The proposed calendar sets the first day of school on Aug. 18. It includes six snow makeup days at the end of the calendar -- between May 21 and May 29.

The calendar must be returned for teacher and staff approval before being adopted by the board.

The board approved a number of student transfer requests and a personnel change -- Jane Ennis was hired as a primary school aide, replacing Becky Williamson, who resigned to take another position outside the district.

Board member Coye Cripps requested an executive session (without the superintendent present) to discuss personnel matters. No board action was taken following the closed session.

Barrett also submitted to the board, via email communication on Thursday, an update and observation report on the concession stand construction project. The report noted construction progress, some corrections to be made and projected completion within a few weeks.

General News on 02/26/2014