By ALICIA LEONARD
On April 15, the Walton County School Board (WCSB) met for the first time in many years at the South Walton High School at the request of parents and community members. The board agreed at a prior meeting to split the twice a month meetings between the DeFuniak district offices and the South Walton High School. Many years past, the meeting had been split as such, but poor attendance after a few meetings and an increase in costs for personnel and media equipment used for the meetings led the board to bring both monthly meetings back to the district’s home office.
A large crowd of parents, community members, union representatives
and more rounded out the crowd for the new meeting spot, held in the high school’s media room.
There were no opening announcements by board members, and the board
passed the opening agenda items unanimously. A few corrections were requested on prior minutes, before the board called for public comments. With none forthcoming, the board moved on to the consent agenda.
Consent agenda items included purchasing requests, transportation
requests for students, and disposition of property. The consent agenda was passed unanimously by the board.
Action agenda items came before the board next. The board approved
5-0 for a contract services agreement for Robert L. Teitelbaum M.D. P.A. to perform bus driver physicals in April and August of 2014. Board members Mark Davis and Sharon Roberts voted nay on the next proposal for a contract with Ethica LLC that proposed help with compliance and technical assistance for five Title One schools, questioning why employees in that position were not handing program compliance rather than outside contractors. The recommendation still passed 3-2.
Personnel recommendations were passed unanimously, as well as student progression plans, student codes of conduct, notice to advertise, food service agreements and plan specifications for a new parking lot area, as well as a new physical education track at Paxton School. Both of the last items were budgeted from prior years, but site plans had not been approved.
Under job descriptions, the board passed 3-2, approval of job descriptions for a network security engineer. Board members Faye Leddon and Roberts were the nay votes on the issue. Leddon expressed the requirements for the position were too stringent as to allow employees of the district to apply for the position, and she wanted them to have a chance at the job, before looking outside of the district.
The board then moved 5-0 to approve the hiring of an attorney for
Superintendent Carlene Anderson, due to the impasse the board
and the teacher’s union have reached over teacher raises. Anderson will require separate legal representation.
Under closing items, Leddon and Roberts thanked retiring employees
with the district and Anderson requested and received approval for multiple workshops to be held at future dates. Upcoming meetings and workshop dates can be found at www.walton.k12.fl.us.
