by Kathy Foster
Two county residents spoke to the Board regarding issues.
The first was Travis Mask who objected to a book brought home by one of his children. The book dealt with witches and was approved by the Florida Department of Education. Mast wanted to know why students couldn’t bring Bibles to school, but were allowed to read about witches.
The second was Darrin Johnson who was concerned that the Washington County schools weren’t closed last week during warnings about very bad weather expected to impact the area. He noted that several Panhandle counties closed their schools, but Washington County did not. He said he feels the School Board endangered the students and staff at the schools by not closing the schools. He said he had no problem with using the schools for shelters, but not for holding students in dangerous situations.
The following presentations were made a Monday night’s meeting of the Washington County School Board:
- Florida Special Olympic winners were congratulated for bringing home three Gold and one Silver medals.
- Washington County winners in recent FBLA competition were introduced.
- District Spelling Bee winners were introduced.
- Washington County Sunshine State Scholar Issac Berry was recognized.
- Take Stock in Children was presented a check for $7,500 from Townsend Building Supply.
- Former Washington County student Trent Forest was recognized for his many accomplishments throughout his school career.
The following agenda items were also approved by the School Board:
- Payment of monthly bills.
- Minutes of the Jan. 13th School Board meeting.
- List of substitutes and volunteers.
- Update to the Florida Panhandle Technical College catalog.
- Out-of-state travel for Roulhac Middle 8th graders to travel to Southeast Worlds of Work Career Fair in Dothan, Alabama on Feb. 20th.
- Partnership agreement with Valdosta State University.
- Out-of-state travel for Vernon Athletic Director Gerald Tranquille and Kodi Russ to attend the American Football Coaches Association National Conference.
- Out-of-state travel for Vernon Middle School AR Students to travel to Dothan, Alabama on March 19th.
- Out-of-state travel for Vernon Middle School Educational Field Spring trip to Atlanta, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee on March 16-20.
- Revisions to the FY 2019-20 Salary Schedule
- One year contract extension with Information Transport Solutions, Inc.
- Florida Panhandle College marketing contract with WTVY effective Feb. 11th.
- Out-of-state travel for the Chipley High School Baseball team to attend the ‘Hits for Heros’ baseball game in Dothan, Alabama on Feb. 25th.
- Out-of-state travel for the Chipley High School Baseball team to the Emmanuel Christian Baseball Game in Dothan, Alabama on Feb. 25th.
- Out-of-state travel for the Chipley High School and Vernon High School seniors to travel to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Force and Hartford on May 12-16.
- Out-of-state travel for Chipley High School students to attend the Beta National Convention in For Worth, Texas on June 15-17.
- Student Agreement with Peru State College.
- Out-of-state travel for Kate Smith Elementary AR students to AMC Theaters Pavilion in Dothan, Alabama on March 17th.
- Resignation of Mariah Dodd, Behavior Analyst
- Employment of Shawn Harrison at the Florida Panhandle Technical College.
- Resignation of Cassandra Beltran at Kate Smith Elementary School.
- Employment recommendation of Dominique Everett, paraprofessional at Kate Smith Elementary School.
- Employment recommendation of Tierra Patton, paraprofessional, at Kate Smith Elementary School.
- Tutor for the ‘2020 After School’ program at Roulhac Middle School.
- Resignation for Harmony Spencer, paraprofessional at Vernon Elementary School.
- Resignation of Brandy Smith, paraprofessional, at Vernon Elementary School.
- Employment recommendation of Tammy Cosson, paraprofessional at Vernon Elementary School.
- Employment recommendation of Shawna Owens, paraprofessional at Vernon Elementary School.
- Employment recommendation of Hannah Gibson, paraprofessional at Vernon Elementary School.
- Employment recommendation of Kimberly Farrar, paraprofessional at Vernon Elementary School.
- Employment recommendation of Kevin Womble, teacher at Vernon High School.
- Resignation and release from contract for Keith Curry, teacher, at Vernon High School.
- Leave of absence for Becky Dickson, assistant principal at Vernon Middle School.
- After School Tutors.