By ALICIA LEONARD
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS FL -The Walton County School Board (WCSB) changed things up a little due to a Monday holiday, holding their first regular meeting of the month Thursday evening, July 7, 2016 with an insurance workshop starting out at 3:30 p.m., and regular meeting starting at 5 p.m.
Tina Pinkoson, coordinator of professional development for the Florida School Board Association presented the board with a plaque for their efforts to stay on top of school board law and issues with 22 hours of educational Master Board training completed this year.
Pinkoson traveled from Tallahassee to present the board with the honor and praised them for their commitment to local students and residents.
With no items on the consent agenda the board moved onto the action agenda approving an agreement with Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Inc. for children that present with special needs.
Personnel recommendations as well as job descriptions were approved 5-0, along with the approval of state contracts for fuel purchases for the upcoming year.
A request for architectural and engineering fee reduction for services rendered on the Walton High School Athletic Complex plans was approved. Representatives for EMI Architects told the board that the scope of work on the project was less than expected due to some changes and so their fee was reduced.
The board discussed the wording in some student handbooks about parents being able to request that their child have the option to change teachers if their teacher was not “teaching in their field.”
A request was made for the Curriculum and Instruction Department to look over and verify Florida Statutes concerning the class transfers. Walton District Superintendent Carlene Anderson told the board that she would meet and discuss any possible issues with school principals as well as request their feedback over any changes the procedure or the time allowed to request it, and it’s impact on classes and teachers
The board approved paying the annual dues to the Florida School Board Attorney’s Association for board counsel Ben Holley.
Board secretary Laura Smith received praise and thanks from board member William Bill Eddins Jr., and other board members for her assistance with documents and tight timelines.
Prior to the regular meeting, the board spent almost two hours discussing the pros and cons of different benefits of health care plans with David Ford from the Florida Retired School Employee Rates Consortium.
The board expressed the need for the decision to be made cautiously and only after the district’s human resources department held informational meetings between the retirees and the health care companies in order to maximize choice, minimize costs and be the best fit for the former employees that would be using the medicare gap coverage policies.
Around 30 or less employees are thought to be effected by any changes and will be contacted when dates are set for their informational meetings. Ford said it might be possible that even retirees that had no connection to the district any longer might be eligible for a one time open enrollment, possibly saving hundreds or thousands of dollars on medicare gap coverage.
The next WCSB meeting and workshops are scheduled for July 19, 2016 at South Walton High School in the media room with a workshop beginning at 4 p.m., and the regular meeting starting at 5 p.m.
To see more about district news, meetings, and past minutes, go to www.walton.k12.fl.us.
WCSB approves contracts, personnel, looks toward new budget process
By ALICIA LEONARD
The Walton County School Board (WCSB) met for a special meeting the afternoon of June 30, 2016 at 5 p.m. to discuss contracts, budget amendments and time-lines, as well as personnel recommendations. All members were present with the exception of Mark Davis.
The board quickly moved through the agenda before them, approving contracts and agreements between them and professional services, electrical services for the new Freeport Fueling station, food services, and coaching services for South Walton High School and Walton High School.
Under finance, the board received the outline for dates pertaining to the new budget year. Taxable values certified by the County Property Appraiser office were due July 1, 2016. The Florida Department of Education second calculation of Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) on certified values including Local Required Effort (LRE) has been delivered to the district mid month in July for the past two years. The preliminary budget for board approval is scheduled for July 19, 2016 and no later than July 24, 2016. Advertisement to adopt the budget and millage are scheduled for July 24, and July 28, 2016. The public hearing on the tentative budget and millage is scheduled for Aug. 2, 2016. Notice to the property appraiser is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2016 and the mailout from that office including date of final hearing is to be no later than Aug. 24, 2016. The final public hearing to adopt the millage and budget is scheduled for Sept. 6, 2016. The earliest date for that last hearing to be held is Sept. 3, 2016 by statute.
The next meeting for the WCSB is scheduled for July 7 at the DeFuniak Springs office with a workshop to begin at 3:30 p.m. and the regular meeting to start at 5 p.m. To see past meeting notes and agendas as well as future information go to www.walton.k12.fl.us.