Fifth district member W.J. (Dub) Evins, III has been re-elected Chairman of the Board of Education.
Evins was named by his fellow board members to serve another year as chairman during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting.
Sixth district member Doug Stephens was re- elected Vice-Chairman and Seventh District member Shaun Tubbs was re-elected Assistant Secretary.
The board re-organizes each September electing officers to serve for the year.
In other business, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps gave his monthly report on personnel moves since last month.
Amanda Johnson and Kim Violet were each granted a leave of absence as requested.
Kenderly Cripps has been transferred from DCHS Bookkeeper to the Central Office, replacing Joyce Robinson
Nathaniel Kennard, a teacher; Dan Hooper, an educational assistant; and Joyce Robinson, federal bookkeeper have resigned.
Although the school system provides free breakfast, a “grab-and-go” breakfast program has been launched this year at DeKalb Middle School which allows students to take their breakfasts from the cafeteria to the classroom.
According to Director Cripps, this pilot program has already been a tremendous success with the rate of students eating breakfast at the school almost doubling and it may be started at other schools in the system next year.
Because of its success, the school board has added a new part-time position at the DeKalb Middle School Cafeteria to be funded from the Food Service Budget.
The board adopted a resolution in support of reading initiatives to reach the goal of children being able to read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade.
Fourth district member Kate Miller read the following resolution:
“Whereas, the children of our community are our most precious resource; and
Whereas, our children’s education is their key to success in life; and
Whereas, research tells us children who read at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade have a better chance for success in school and life; and
Whereas, children who are read with 20 minutes a day from birth are more likely to have the skills needed to succeed in school and life;
Now, therefore we, the members of the DeKalb County School Board do resolve that we support the goal of having 90% of our students reading at or above grade level by the end of the 3rd grade; and we support the Children’s Reading Foundation of DeKalb County to help achieve such goals; and we encourage parents and caregivers to read aloud with children 20 minutes a day from birth;
Resolved this 8th day of September, 2016.”
The school board budgeted more money to help meet increased costs for employee medical insurance this year, still employees may have to pay more out of pocket to cover higher premiums. The board approved the increases Thursday night.
“As everybody knows the state has increased insurance across the board for educators. We have been working with our partners and in order for us to meet the Affordable Health Care Act the premiums are set before you (school board)”, said Director Cripps.
“Do you have an idea of how much they did increase,” asked Board Chairman Evins.
“From six to twenty percent,” replied Director Cripps
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