(The Pierce County Board of Education discussed and/or voted on the following during their monthly work session, Thursday, October 3 and their regular monthly meeting Monday, October 7.
Closed session and personnel: The board adjourned into a four minute closed session to discuss personnel at Thursday’s meeting. Following the closed session, the board approved the hire of Shelly Hyers as a special education/ early intervention paraprofessional at Blackshear Elementary, Brit Williamson and Patti Wilson as paraprofessionals at Midway Elementary, Shontell Johnson and Amanda Reynolds as school nutrition assistants at the high school and Veronica Cribb as a bus driver. LaCharles Pringle was approved as assistant boys varsity basketball coach/ junior varsity head coach at the high school. The board also approved the resignations of school nutrition manager Jackie Wingate at Midway Elementary, school nutrition assistants Sarah Handley at Blackshear Elementary, Alexis Bell at Midway Elementary and Diana Martenn at the high school and Theresa Bryant as a bus driver. The board also approved a medical leave request.
Old PCHS gym adjustments: The board approved additional changes to the locker room and flooring at the Old PCHS gym at their meeting Monday night. The old gym is currently under renovation. Ryan Tyson of R.H. Tyson Construction, the contractor for the work, gave board members an overview at Thursday’s work session of changes to improve the masonry, plumbing, flooring and lighting at the facility. The changes will cost $125,676.35 and will come from contingencies built in to the contract. There will still be about $67,000 remaining in the contingency line item after these adjustments are made.
Two positions: The board approved a 49 percent math position and a new school nutrition assistant position, both at the high school. The part-time math teacher will help to cover classes left when a full time teacher opted to go part time. The school nutrition position will help to cover increases in work load caused by more breakfast participation at the high school.
Consent agenda: The board approved field trip requests under the consent agenda. They include approval for Blackshear Elementary’s fourth grade visiting the Jacksonville, FL Zoo and Patterson Elementary’s second grade visiting the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, FL, both on Nov. 20, the high school girl’s wrestling team participating in a tournament in Ponte Vedra, FL Dec. 12, Patterson Elementary’s third grade visiting the Jacksonville, FL Symphony Dec. 13 and the middle school band going to Sea World in Orlando, FL, Jan. 6, 2025. All out-of-state field trips require board approval.
Reports: Finance Director Melanie Helms did not give a monthly summary as the system is still currently in the process of closing out the books from fiscal year 2024. She reported the system’s sales tax revenue was $245,899 in August, up about $7,100 from July. The board approved the financial reports as presented.
Public participation: There was no public participation.
Minutes: The board approved minutes for last month’s meetings.
Information: Superintendent Dara Bennett announced fall break will be October 14 and 15 for students and staff. Students will have October 16 as a holiday, but staff will have a professional development day. Report cards will be issued November 28. Nov. 22 will be an early release day and schools will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays Nov. 25-29.
Next meetings: The next monthly work session will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, November 7. The regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 11. All meetings will be at the BOE office.
