Willoughby Updates School Board on Personnel Moves

Director of Schools Mark Willoughby presented his written report on personnel to the Board of Education Thursday night.
Those employed for the 2006-2007 school year since the last meeting include:
Kelly Driver- part time licensed PTA; Mary K. Hearn- substitute teacher; Denise Merriman- cafeteria worker; Marla Beshearse- certified substitute teacher; Kimela Griffith- part time speech/language; and Helen Faye Lohorn- part time cafeteria worker.
Those who have resigned include Mattie Ruth Frazier- custodian at DeKalb West School; Sharon Farler- school nurse; and Jeanette West- cafeteria worker at DeKalb West School.
Karen Pelham, teacher at DeKalb Middle School, was granted a leave of absence as requested.
In other business, the board set May 18th as the date of the DeKalb County High School graduation exercises. The last full day of school for students will be on Wednesday, May 23rd.
The board granted permission for the Junior Class at DCHS to host the 2007 Junior/Senior Prom at Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro on April 20th.
Permission was granted for 5-8 band students to attend the honor band weekends at the Wind Band Conference at MTSU February 1-3, the Governors Honor Band at Austin Peay State University on February 8-10, and the Festival of Winds and Percussion at Tennessee Tech University February 15-17.
The board opened sealed bids and awarded surplus property to the highest bidders.
Timmy Kalmar of Smithville bid $250 on a 1978 Ford panel van with an engine problem and $401 on a 1986 Blue Bird 84 passenger bus with an engine problem.
Jamie Turner of Smithville bid $528 on a 1991 Blue Bird 72 passenger bus with a bad air compressor gear and $52 on a Jacobson Green King Field Mower that is not functional.
Dean Johnson of Lobelville bid $1,851 on a 1991 Blue Bird 72 passenger bus, $1,851 on a 1991 Blue Bird 78 passenger bus, and $1,851 on another 1991 Blue Bird 78 passenger bus.
Craig Newby of McMinnville bid $110 on a 1991 Blue Bird 66 passenger bus with no engine or transmission.
DCHS Principal Kathy Hendrix, in her brief report to the board, congratulated teachers Judy Fuson and Chris Vance who have been inducted into the National Honor Rolls Outstanding American Teachers. She says this has been established to provide positive recognition to educators who have been identified as the kind of teachers who go beyond and above the call of duty.
The board approved general purpose budget amendment requests for $43,450 from the Microsoft Class Action Settlement Grant and $10,000 from the Family Reunion Grant.
Director Willoughby says money from the Microsoft Class Action Settlement Grant will be used for the upgrade of computer software. The money from the Family Reunion Grant will be used to purchase a computer software program called Reading Academy to help close the achievement gap for some students
The board also voted to contract with the DeKalb County Health Department to provide and administer the Hepatitis B Vaccine at the rate of $45.70 per dose from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008.
Director Willoughby, in conjunction with School Board Appreciation Month, commended this board for “putting students first”. “They don’t do it for the money, they do it to help out our county and to improve education. They are thinking about tommorrow, not just today. I want you to know I appreciate you.”