Board of Trustees

August 22, 2006 Board of Trustees Meeting

Public Comments and Recognitions

No public comments were presented at this meeting of the board.

Recognitions

• TMS teacher Ruth Baker – Junior Achievement’s American History Teacher of the Year
• THS student Sara Plunkett – the first student from Tupelo High School and the first student from Mississippi to be elected an International Thespian Officer (Region Three Representative)
• The following Tupelo High School students participated in the Individual Events Showcase at the International Thespian conference: Julie Grisham, Solo Musical Theatre; Ashley Prince, Solo Musical Theatre; Heather Wigginton, Solo Musical Theatre; Michael Galloway, Solo Acting; and Matt Sanford, Solo Acting.  THS Drama teacher Debby Gibbs is the sponsor of these students.
• Parkway Elementary School teacher Lauren Taylor – won first place in the state of Mississippi for the Kindergarten Storyboard Competition.
• The following Tupelo High School members of the Technology Student Association (TSA) competed against over 4,000 students from across the nation this summer in Dallas, TX in various engineering and computer-related competitions: Savannah Wright; Cowen McDaniel, Gold Achievement Award; Aaron Lozano; Danny Shah; and Troy Hughes, 3^rd Place, Transportation Modeling Competition.  Gloria Jarrell (Co-Advisor), Nickola Wright, and Student Advisor Randy Lucius accompanied the students.

Communications to the Board

Initial Report for the 2006-2007 Opening of School Enrollment

Deputy Superintendent David Meadows presented an attendance report for all TPSD schools.  The total enrollment for Pre K-12 is 7,115 students.

Overview of Standardized Test Scores

Deputy Superintendent David Meadows presented a brief overview of district standardized test scores.  The report included information on Mississippi Curriculum Test, Mississippi Subject Area Testing, and Terra Nova Norm Referenced Tests.

Tupelo Middle School Security Cameras

Deputy Superintendent David Meadows and presented a brief report and Technology Coordinator Brenda Meriweather along with Technology Team Worker T.J. Higgins presented a demonstration of a “live” view of the 30 security cameras and management software at Tupelo Middle School.  In addition, Mr. Meadows reported that Tupelo High School staff members are currently working to identify recommended locations for cameras for a similar system at Tupelo High School.

Citizens for Public Schools Update

Mrs. Polly Bailey presented a report that provided insight concerning the support activities and goals of the Citizens for Public Schools community group for the 2006-2007 school year.  They also told of their website http://www.citizensfortupelopublicschools.org/.

Superintendent’s Report

Consent Agenda

Contractual Agreements

• TPSD Contracts: #CO7010 through  #CO7017
  
• Rental of School Facility: #SFR701 –

§               White Hill Missionary Baptist Church
§               Civic Auditorium
§               August 20, 2006

• Charter Bus Service Contracts: #BC07000 –

§       THS Fan Bus
§       Clinton, MS
§       August 25, 2006

• Permission to Apply for TPSD Grant #251 – MDE; TPSD Dyslexia Project; TPSD K-3 Schools; Dr. Susan Johnstone

o       ACTION BY THE BOARD: PASSED

Student Transfer Report

Dr. Randy McCoy recommended the following ratifications be made to the student transfer requests:

• Approval of 3 resident student transfer requests for the 2006-2007 school year
• Approval for admission of 10 non-resident students. (tuition)
• Approval of the release of 3 resident students

o       ACTION BY THE BOARD: PASSED

Personnel Recommendations

• Licensed Staff
• Classified Staff
• Substitutes
• Request to approve unpaid leave of Ms. Leigh Ann Estep who is a teacher at Lawhon Elementary School
• For Your Information
• New Hires for the 2006-2007 School Year

o       ACTION BY THE BOARD: PASSED

Docket of Claims

Mrs. Brevard reviewed the Docket of Claims for the period of August 1, 2006 through August 11, 2006 in the amount of $158,096.17.

o       ACTION BY THE BOARD: PASSED

Financial Statements for Month-Ending July 31, 2006

The Financial Statements for Month-Ending July 31, 2006 and a Statement of Income and Expenditures through the period of July 31, 2006 were presented for approval.

o       ACTION BY THE BOARD: PASSED

Unfinished Business

            No items were submitted for this meeting date.

New Business

Authorization to Accept Mississippi Department of Education – TPSD Dyslexia Project Grant

Authorization was requested for the 2006-2007 school year for the K-3 schools.

o       ACTION BY THE BOARD: PASSED

Consideration of 2006-2007 Lee County Families First, Inc. – Family Support and Preservation Agreement

Recommendation was made by Assistant Superintendent George Noflin, Jr. to continue the partnership with Lee County Families First for 2006-2007 school year to provide counseling services to TPSD students.

o       ACTION BY THE BOARD: PASSED

Miscellaneous Business

Adjournment