By ALICIA LEONARD
South Walton—-The Kiwanis Club of Freeport – South Walton presented to the Walton County School Board(WCSB) a donation of $1,000 for the fifth grade students in Walton County to provide transportation to travel to the Mattie Kelly Art’s Center in Niceville, Fla. to attend a performance.
At the school board’s July 19 meeting, Walton School Superintendent Carlene Anderson told the crowd that around five years ago when the district was going through leaner times that the group stepped in and provided the donation to help the kids continue to go to a performance to enjoy the arts.
Wanda Pitts, along with Jim Pitts and Jennifer Nick, thanked the board, staff and others that helped make the donation happen for their dedication to the students and that they appreciated partnering with the district every year.
The board moved on to regular business with all members present except for Jason Catalano. Vice Chair Kim Kirby chaired the meeting in his absence. The board then passed the adoption of prior meeting minutes. Kirby called for public comments and with none forthcoming moved onto an action agenda item.
The board moved to hear and discuss school handbooks first to allow other staff to go home that were there specifically for that item. Anderson asked to discuss the issue of teacher transfers teaching out of field. Anderson noted there wasn’t anything in the statute saying that a parent could request a transfer for students only during the first two weeks of the new school year. Anderson added that most principals ask that the requests come in the first two weeks due to “upheavel” for students and teachers and they hoped parents would agree, but it was not limited to that time period.
Board member Mark Davis noted that some schools had student identification cards. “I just don’t understand what they’re doing,” Davis said. Anderson responded that it was similar to wearing a school shirt for identification, and they were trying to make sure only students that should be on the property were there. Davis also opposed schools charging students for a school parking decal. Cost varies from $5 to $20 according to when issued. “I had no idea we were charging,” Davis remarked. Davis voted nay on the Freeport High student handbook after the exchange.
The board approved five handbooks for different schools in the district 4-0.
The board then moved to approve contracts and agreements with Northwest Florida State College, and Panhandle Area Education Consortium (PAEC) 4-0.
The board approved the tentative 2016-2017 budget and advertisement of the tentative budget. Chief Financial Officer Debra Noyes told the board there was a reduction of the Required Local Effort of .157. Rollback rate from state and local standpoint equals .49274. Noyes said “our millage, even though it is a reduction in the millage, the rate is more than the total rollback rate so it has to be advertised as a tax increase.”
The board then moved to approve personnel recommendations and job descriptions 4-0.
Under insurance the board approved Florida Blue health insurance for the 2016-2017 school year. The cost was a negative 1 percent or a savings of $76,000 for the district.
The board approved the district bus stops and transportation zones for the upcoming school year. Anderson praised Jim Hicks and the transportation department for the job they do every year handling the bus routes.
The board also moved to approve food service bids and a CHELCO right-of-way easement for the Freeport Bus Parking and Fueling Facility.
The board approved to establish a boys and girls lacrosse team that will play teams in the Gulf Breeze area. The sport is being considered as well in Okaloosa County and the teams will compete in the spring. Staff told the board around 30 boys and 36 girls were interested and it would also improve gender equality in sports at South Walton High School. They added that colleges are hurting for female lacrosse players so scholarships might follow.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 2, 2017 at 5 p.m. in the DeFuniak Springs board room. To see more on the district go to www.walton.k12.fl.us.