By Pat Culverhouse
Johnny Rowland will be leading the Webster Parish school system as superintendent for four more years after his contract was renewed by parish school board members Monday.
Rowland’s approval came following a more than one hour executive session by board members for performance evaluation.
Details of his new contract will be negotiated by the board’s attorney and board leadership. Under his current contract, records show Rowland is paid $135,952 annually plus a $6,000 annual vehicle reimbursement and supplements.
Rowland was first appointed superintendent in 2017, replacing Dan Rawls who retired.
During Monday’s meeting, board members also approved, in globo, invoice payments from several school maintenance and sales tax funds. Those included:
• $62,088.15 from the Consolidated 3 maintenance fund. Top expenditures were $28,500 to paint counselor’s office, two classrooms, teachers’ work area and replace carpet in counselor’s office at Lakeside Jr./Sr. High School and $23,613.62 to purchase lockers for varsity football team at Lakeside.
• $37,020.58 from the District 6 one-half sales tax fund. Two items were withheld for approval pending further study. Those were $51,500 for concrete pad quote for basketball court area on playground at Richardson Elementary, and $29,012.70 for basketball court overlay kit for the playground.
• $9,690.28 from Doyline maintenance fund, including $6,200 to install new compressor at Doyline High School.
• $3,496.87 from Springhill maintenance fund to purchase 13 laminate activity tables for Brown Upper Elementary.
Board members also:
• Approved the Minden Press Herald as official journal.
• Approved travel to the Annual School Nutrition Association Conference in Boston, MA for Food Service Coordinator Candiss Sheppard and Food Service Field Manager Andrea Bourn.
• Approved revision of school system polices governing student health services, administration of medication, education of students with exceptionalities and corporal punishment.
• Agreed to add girls’ volleyball at Doyline High School as an LHSAA sanctioned varsity sport.
• Accepted the two-year renewal term from Midwest Employers for period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026 for excess worker’s compensation. insurance coverage.