Schools Hire Personnel

The Timbo School Board hired personnel, approved Freedom of Choice applications and chose First Service Bank to hold school district funds among business at a meeting May 18.

Following an executive session, the board approved a list of certified and classified personnel recommended by McCleary. Shelia Mitchell will continue as principal. Scott Flippo was hired as bus driver in a separate motion, also on McCleary’s recommendation.

A list of students who live outside the district boundary who request to attend Timbo School under Freedom of Choice was approved, as was a list of four students within the Timbo district requesting to attend Rural Special School.

The board received five banking proposals from local banks and the various aspects were discussed with board president Melissa Sutton abstaining from voting or comment because she is employed by Stone Bank.

Following each proposal’s interest rate and other offers being read aloud, McCleary ranked the banks in order of interest rate, with First Service Bank offering the highest. In addition, First Service offered $20,000 in contributions over two years toward district expenses in exchange for signage with the bank logo. The board approved the bank’s tiered rate option that offers 4.6 percent the first year.

Board members expressed their appreciation for support of all local banks. McCleary noted that the decision was not a personal one but one based on the best financial outcome for the district.

In other business, the board:

• was notified that the school will host an Arkansas Game & Fish “Fishing in the Natural State” professional development session for teachers on June 9.

• engaged attorney Scott Richardson as the district’s legal representative on the same basis he had worked for the steering committee. He told the board the next step is to get the shared management contract with Searcy County School District in place so that McCleary can be hired. The district must have a bank account and a superintendent in place before notification can be made to Mountain View School District that the district is ready for the transfer of funds.

• approved personnel policies as well as certified and classified salary schedules and stipends. All had been approved by personnel policy committees.

• approved Acting Supt. Valorie McCleary as representative to the Northcentral Educational Service Cooperative board of directors for a two-year term, with Principal Shelia Mitchell as designee.

• acknowledged recent student achievements, including a student qualifying for National Beta Club competition.

• noted that the next scheduled meeting is June 2 at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose room.

The Rural Special School Board has accepted 51 school choice requests, most of whom are already attending the school, according to Superintendent Delena Thompson. The paperwork is required since a new school district is being established.

June 1 is the deadline for students to apply to attend a district other than the one in which they reside.

Also during the board’s regular meeting May 18, all positions were filled with the exception of technology coordinator and school resource officer.

Additional personnel policies regarding sick leave, personal leave and family medical leave were adopted.

“We are attempting to finalize all personnel policies prior to teachers beginning work in August,” Thompson told the Leader.

Reports were presented to the board stating that the district is set up to receive funds for the state, that a summer maintenance list is being created and that buses currently on campus are being inspected.

Next month’s meeting was set for June 11. Meetings are held at the Little Fox Trotters preschool building across from Rural Special School, beginning at 6 p.m.