MonticelloLive

The Drew Central School Board met in their regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The summary of the financial report was that the district spent less in August 2008, than in August 2007.  Expenses of over $25,000 show up now, but will be re-imbursed through a vocational grant.

An 18 year old school bus, that has 300,000 miles on it, had a motor blow up.  The bus in being repaired in Little Rock, and upon it’s return, will be used as a back-up bus.  The year fleet-wide start-of-school bus maintenance has now been completed.

The board approved the certified and classified policies, and salary schedules.

The new football stadium has been named Pennington Stadium, in recognition of a $50,000 financial contribution from Mike Pennington. 

The football field is estimated to be 95% complete at this time.  The bleachers are in, the scoreboard is installed, the clock works, the press-box is installed, and everything works, electronically.  Friday night’s game against the McGehee Owls will be the year’s home opening game.

Construction bids were recently opened, and estimates are currently being sought to fill the needs that didn’t receive bids.

The board went into executive session.  When they came out, 1 resignation was accepted, 1 person was hired, and a list of after-school tutors was approved.

A grandparent had asked to be on the agenda, but preferred to have someone else speak on her behalf.  In question was the district’s hiring policy for temporary and/or substitute bus drivers. 

Wayne Fawcett, superintendent, responded to her comments by stating that everything dealing with the issue was acceptable, and was performed by the required procedures, but that a certain amount of time is required to received replies from background checks.

Fawcett added that the Southeast Arkansas Educational Co-operative will be discussing an alternative means to have background checks performed in a more timely manner.

The specific issue the grandmother had wanted to discuss could not be brought before the board in public,  because it dealt with a specific employee, and therefore would be a personnel issue.  The employee is no longer with the district.

The board voted to call a special meeting on Sept. 18, to accept or decline the construction bids, and also consider the yearly budget.