COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER

VOLUME XXIII October, 2007 Number 4

REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, OCTOBER 15, 2007

The Board of Trustees:

· Approved minutes of previous meeting.

· Adopted a resolution authorizing the district to borrow funds (renewal of 3 mill levy) and authorized the issuance of the notes.

· Received the monthly financial status report.

· Heard a report on district plans for renovating the Columbia Primary School and a renovation/addition to the field house at Columbia High School.

· Approved the claims docket for payment of current accounts.

· Received monthly reports on bus repairs/expenses and the use of school buses for special events.

· Accepted cash donations totaling $1,400.00 to be placed in the Columbia High School Positive Incentive Fund.

· Approved the following fundraiser activities: CHS Baseball/Diamond Girls to host a ball drop and sell catfish/chicken strips dinner plates November 2, 2007, and sell coke products November 7-26, 2007; CHS Basketball Booster Club to host a Little Wildcat Basketball League December 1-15, 2007, to continue after the holidays January 12-26, 2008, and host a Summer Basketball League on Tuesdays and Thursdays May 27 – June 27, 2008, in the CHS gym; JMS Student Council to sponsor a Halloween Dance for JMS students October 26, 2007; and CES PTA to sell World’s Finest Chocolate beginning November 1, 2007.

· Approved requests for permission to travel out-of-state to attend workshops.

· Authorized the 2008 senior class and chaperons to travel out-of-state to Hammond, LA for the Louisiana Renaissance Festival on November 13, 2007.

· Approved the Title VI Rural and Low Income Schools Grant Application in the amount of $54,486.00 and the accompanying statement of assurances.

· Gave second approval of the job description for Special Education Personal Care Assistant.

· Approved the 2007-2008 District Test Security Plan and accompanying statement of assurances.

· Tabled revisions to School Board Policy LEC “Booster Clubs and Other Support Groups”.

· Approved the request to charter a Junior Historical Society Club for Jefferson Middle School students and the proposed guidelines for membership.

· Authorized the district to enter into a service agreement with The NTI Group (Connect-ED®) which enables school administrators to send personalized voice messages to inform students, parents, staff members, and board members of emergency notifications, student absences, school events such as statewide testing, open house/PTA meetings, etc.

· Approved a request from Daktronics for permission to photograph the recently purchased Columbia High School football scoreboard and use it for their advertising purposes.

· Accepted employment resignations.

· Authorized the District to submit an application for a one-year interim certificate for a Day Treatment teacher at Columbia Elementary School for the 2007-2008 school year.

· Approved the employment recommendations.

· Received a copy of administrative staff meeting minutes, schedule of upcoming board development workshops, and was informed of the district’s assessments for the first six weeks.

· Discussed fiscal and personnel matters in executive sessions.

· Heard a report from the Superintendent on the development of a Community Education Program survey.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

CENTRAL OFFICE

Aleise Henry, October 6

Marietta James, October 16

COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL

Gayle Alford, October 7

Donna Bass, October 9

Monica Lewis, October 1

Bruce Ratcliff, October 21

JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Grace Beard, October 24

COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Linda Kennedy, October 8

Renee Riley, October 3

Heather Singley, October 30

COLUMBIA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Joy Breland, October 23

Jeannette Hutchins, October 31

Gus Maily, October 3

Debra Manning, October 28

Donna Mobley, October 3

Jessica Poirier, October 25

Melissa Robbins, October 12

Rene' Sims, October 25

Valerie Wesley, October 27

Jan Williams, October 17

FOOD SERVICES

Dessie Moses, October 20

MAINTENANCE

Johnny Edwards, October 15