By ALICIA LEONARD
South Walton – Superintendent of Schools Carlene Anderson opened the Aug. 16 meeting of the Walton County School Board by telling the board that student population had grown by about 600 this year in Walton schools. She added that the first day of school, thanks to all the parents, staff, teachers, and drivers, went off very well and they had been able to accommodate everyone without issue.
The board approved the agenda before it for the Aug. 16, 2016 regular Walton County School Board( WCSB) meeting held at the South Walton High School in the media room. Next came approval of the adoption of minutes for prior meetings and a closed expulsion hearing. No public comments were forthcoming when called for by the board for that portion of the agenda.
The consent agenda was next and the board approved finance and transportation requests before moving on to the Action agenda items. Under those the board approved the first four items concerning contracts between the board and health services, sports medicine and other universities.
The board approved 4-1 a contract with Whole Brain Teaching with Board member Mark Davis being the nay vote. Davis said he had searched and could not find any peer review related research that supported the training.
Under resolutions the board approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of real property of the Tivoli school gym to the Tivoli Historical Society for the property to be used as a community center. The board later approved the quitclaim deed from the school board from the board to the Tivoli Historical Society. If the property is not used for community functions at some time in the future it will revert back to the board.
The board then moved to adopt the resolution to execute tax anticipation notes for the school year 2016-2017.
The board also approved 5-0 personnel recommendations.
Under employee benefits the board discussed a possible new insurance policy. All retirees that would be eligible for the plan were contacted and all saw savings. One couple saw their monthly health care costs cut from $1,200 to $600 a month. The board adopted the new policy 4-1 with Davis casting the nay vote.
The next meeting of the WCSB will be held on Sept. 6 with workshops starting at 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and the regular meeting being held at 5 p.m. at the DeFuniak Springs board room.