By Pat Culverhouse –
Deadline to submit applications for the next Webster Parish Superintendent of Schools is Oct. 23 and Nov. 16 has been set aside as the date to interview finalists for the position.
Current Superintendent Johnny Rowland announced his retirement effective Dec. 20 at the board’s last meeting.
Board member Charles Strong, who is term limited, asked whether the current school board or the newly elected board would be responsible for naming the new superintendent.
Strong pointed out that elections for school board would already be completed by the time interviews were conducted. He also noted that a majority of the board would be new, with five current members facing term limits and two others declining to run for re-election. One other current member remains undecided.
In addition to Strong, term limited members are board President Johnnye Kennon (Dist. 10), Ronald Rhymes (Dist. 5) Linda Kinsey (Dist. 7) and Jerry Lott (Dist. 11).
District 4’s Robin Guthrie, who was selected to fill the unexpired term of her late husband, Jonathan, reportedly will not seek election. And District 9 representative Jerri Lee has reportedly decided to not seek another term.
Kennon replied that current board members would make the decision on the new superintendent. “We’ve already decided that,” she said.
But, she added, those who ran successfully for posts would be welcome at the interviews.
“We should think about that,” Strong said. “We’re making a selection for what will be a new school board and they’ll have to live with our decision,” he said later.
In other business Monday, school board members:
- Recognized Rachel Miller, employee at Central Elementary, as Employee of the Month for October.
- Saw Andre’ Washington and Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver recognize Central Elementary for the attendance championship for month of September.
- Approved executive order stipend payout guidelines.
- Approved additional funding and guidelines for those excluded from executive order stipend payout.
- Gave OK for Minden High School Nature Club to visit Hot Springs, Crater of Diamonds National Park and other sites Oct. 30 through Nov. 2. Cost to be covered by students and nature club funds.
- Approved Minden High Nature Club visit to Petit Jean State Park Nov. 11-14. Cost to be covered by students and nature club funds.
- Approved travel by North Webster Upper Elementary students to SAU in Magnolia, Arkansas on Oct. 30 to watch musical, “Into the Woods.” Students to pay for tickets and transportation.
- Approved creation of one additional 12-month custodian and one additional 10-month custodian at Minden High.
- Approved district-level certified personnel evaluation tool.
- Approved special education job description for transition program assistant, special education.
- Agreed to contract with Yeager, Watson and Associates, LLC for architectural work associated with modifications of PreK rooms at J.L. Jones Elementary and to develop the David Raines health clinic at J.A. Phillips.
Board members also approved $758,154.39 in globo to pay invoices from various school maintenance and tax funds. Those include:
- Consolidated Dist. 3 Maintenance Fund: $67,940.54. Cost includes $26,171.92 to install wired sound system in high school gym at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $9,425 to repair original speakers at Lakeside Jr./Sr High; $8,942.99 to purchase updated technology for sound system for football stadium at Lakeside Jr/Sr High.
- Dist. 6 One-half cent Sales Tax Fund: $128,929.19. Major payments include $29,600 to install new compressor and two motors at Webster Jr. High; $26,750 to purchase eight-seat scorer’s table for Minden High School; $17,157 to replace condenser pump at Minden High; $13,900 to install two three-ton mini-splits in two T-buildings at Richardson Elementary.
- Minden Building Fund: $130,209.93. Payments total $96,936,77 to install security cameras in new Minden High School multipurpose building; $21,360 to strip, refinish and deep clean 11,200 sq. ft. of floor space at J.L. Jones Elementary; $11,913.16 to install four door access control panel and multi-format proximity card reader in new Minden High School multipurpose building.
- Doyline Maintenance Fund: $293,589.68. Payments include $247,000 to demo VRV system and replace with 18 mini splits at Doyline High; $24,854.68 to install 16 Vape Detectors around school at Doyline High; $9,850 for emergency weekend repair on unit at Doyline High; $5,800 to change compressor and add 410A in AC unit on north end of building at Doyline High.
- Sarepta Maintenance Fund: $9,619.25. Payments include $4,634 to replace fuses, compressor, drier, contractors and motors on AC unit at North Webster Jr. High; $3,339.10 to add three vandal proof cameras in specialty class and sensory room at North Webster Jr. High; $1,250 to change filters in cooling system at North Webster Jr. High.
- Shongaloo Building Fund: $100 to replace belt on AC unit at North Webster Lower Elementary.
- Springhill Maintenance Fund: $39,916.80. Major payments include $27,400 to replace chiller compressor on roof at North Webster High School; $4,507.65 to replace section of clay pipe with standard PVC and jetting to clean at Brown Upper Elementary.
• Springhill Building Fund: $87,849 to fund change order for various modifications on projects at North Webster High and McMahen Park.
