LMSD School Board holds monthly meeting

The Winston County Journal

The Louisville Municipal Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting Oct. 13 and covered a lengthy agenda.

The board discussions begin as reviewing the claims docket for the previous month. Board member Bobby Moody questioned payment to architecture firm Thomas Jones and Associates and the progress on the district construction.

Superintendent William Wade explained that work at LHS, Noxapater and Fair was ongoing but was nearing completion. He noted that Jones' firm received a certain percentage of the contract and received that percentage on completion of certain phases of the project.

Moody noted that the sod work on the Louisville High School field looked terrible and the whole project "smelled to high heaven".

The board approved the claims docket with Jones' payment which was approved in a separate vote with board member Claire Crowell noting that the district had a contract with Jones and must live up to the district's side of the contract.

Tracy Luke, LMSD business manager, updated the board on the bank balances and collections so far this year. She also reviewed the 2008-2009 complete and amended budget noting that the previous term's budget did have more expenditures than collections due to the capital projects spending.

"We need to be very conservative with spending," said Luke.

Dr. Wade added that with another 5 percent cut possible from the state all spending should be carefully watched in the district.

Moody noted that he believed the cuts from the state were coming and "we need to be prepared." He requested Dr. Wade begin examining any possible cuts in the district.

Wade said he had began compiling a list of saving opportunities for the district.

In other business, the trustees:

¥ Heard from Dr. Terry Jayroe about the CAPPS grant received to help the students in the county. (See related Article CAPPS grant to aid local students in next week's edition).

¥ Approved payment to the MSBA Worker's Compensation Trust.

¥ Approved a survey on drug use to be presented to Eiland Middle School students. Wade noted it had been reviewed to insure age appropriate and other factors.

¥ Approved the 2009-2010 District Security Plan.

¥ Approved two staff personnel.

¥ Approved eight school bus turnarounds.

¥ Discussed the school's tardy policy with Wade noting that at present the policy was working and not causing a serious number of consequences.

¥ Reviewed and approved several 16th Section land issues.

¥ Discussed the raising and lowering of the flags at the schools. Moody requested that the flag displays begin to follow proper flag protocol. "If we are not following the correct procedures, we are missing an opportunity to teach students about the flag," said Moody.

In the consent agenda, the trustees approved getting rid of 67 junk items from the inventory list, and approved 10 additions to the substitute teachers' list.

¥ The board also discussed a request to have the H1N1 flu vaccine provided throughout the school district. Wade noted he was still gathering information on the proposal. The board recommended that if it was a possibility that it be an "opt-in" program with students with their parents choosing to be part of the program if the district did offer something along those lines.

¥ Discussed the many problems at the facilities across the district. Wade noted he would like to do a facility study at every school in the district and then put a plan together to address the issues including leaking roofs and other facility issues.

¥Scheduled the next meeting for Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m..

¥ Held executive sessions on zoning issues and personnel..