New look for Leon School Board

The Leon Independent School Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on June 8, 2009 in the School Administration Building. After last month's election where President Jimmy Beddingfield and secretary Chad Prior were defeated, several special meetings were called to establish new leadership. Currently serving as president is Darren Thomas, Keith Watson as vice president and Pat Schmidt will serve as secretary. Other members of the board are: Collen Robertson, Peggy Ivey, Ryan O'Neal and Gilbert Garcia. Long time board member Billy Bob Evans resigned when his grandson Jason Evans was hired to be Girls Athletic Director and volleyball coach.

In Open Forum kindergarten teacher Pam Baldwin addressed the Board and asked that they reevaluate the fairness of the steps laid out for raises. Raises are currently awarded based on tenure but the time stops at 20 years, thereby penalizing those who have accumulated more years of service. Baldwin said "I felt as if I had been slapped in the face when I read those steps."

Baldwin then read a letter from Carol Beddingfield, high school math teacher, which addressed the same issue.

Following Open Forum the Board went into Executive Session to discuss options for a New Septic System. Upon returning to open session the Board voted to install a new septic facility on site.

Business manager Jamie Wilson presented the Investment Report. Quarterly interest received is $135,734 which puts the district on tract to earn $364,103 for the year. Taxes collected are currently at 97.89%.

July 13 was set as the date for the budget workshop. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be before the July Board meeting.

Coach Keith Sitton asked to have his assistant coaches placed on an eleven month work year. They are currently on 10 months and 10 days and this will provide additional income making the job more attractive to prospective hires. Sitton assured the Board that the coaches already work the extra ten days with training and football practice. The Board approved the request and voted to include all coaches who are in similar situations as well as the band director who begins band practice early in August.

Superintendent Jay Winn made a request for a Music/ Art teacher for the elementary school. Winn said that Elementary School Principal Dana Anderson had made the request saying she wanted to see some type of Fine Arts presented to the students. Winn said they would hire only one person with the hope that the teacher could teach both music and art. If not, only one of the two would be presented. The Board approved the request.

Schmidt then read two resignation letters. Kim Brown resigned as of 7-17-09 and Sarah Seale resigned as of 6-1-09.

Superintendent Winn asked the Board to consider hiring one additional maintenance worker. He said that he would ask for a skilled person with plumbing and/or electricity expertise. The Board said since the school was so far behind in this matter, two maintenance workers should be hired.

There were several moments of heart felt discussion from some staff members who said that the current janitorial staff of two were underpaid and needed to have their salary evaluated. The principals gave their reports as follows: Junior High closed the year with enrollment of 155 and attendance at 96%. High School had enrollment at 206 and attendance was 95.58%.