Timbo School To Submit Waiver Requests

The Timbo School Board agreed June 2 to submit waiver requests to the state education department for three positions: part-time superintendent and part-time counselor (positions shared with Searcy County School District) and library media specialist with teaching duties.

The district has hired a full-time mental health clinician, Marita Dowdy, for the Timbo campus, and plans to hire a K-12 aide whose duties would include providing access to the library during times when the certified staff member is teaching.

In other business, the board agreed to contract with Aliza Jones for facilities consultation and as certified school safety officer. The contract will be for $5,000 per year and will include a six-year facility master plan, drafting partnership or financial agreements if needed for construction projects, a system for monitoring and implementing repairs, active shooter training, inspections and more.

Acting Supt. Valorie McCleary told the board that Jones works with school districts throughout the region and has consulted about the Timbo campus for the Mountain View School District in recent years.

A letter was approved to be sent to the state designating Jones as the district’s facilities coordinator.

Also at the meeting:

• the board discussed the school choice deadline having passed June 1, and board president Melissa Sutton asked if students can still transfer. McCleary explained that any transfers taking place after that point would be initiated with the school district of residence and would require action by both boards.

• in response to a question, McCleary reported that she had received no communication from Mountain View School District regarding items removed from the cafeteria. She was informed that a hand-held radio and charger (used for communication because there is no phone in the cafeteria) was also missing. She said she would inquire about it when following up on the other items.

• it was announced that the district was expecting it’s first payment of isolated funds, which was the last payment Mountain View would have received for the school year. The amount is $17,000.

• it was announced that the next meeting would be held June. 22.