Johnston County
Board
of Education report from June 9 meeting |
 |
All board members were present:
Chairman Todd Sutton, Teresa Grant, Ronald Johnson, Terri Sessoms,
Peggy Smith (via remote hookup), Mike Wooten, Tracie Zukowski
Interim Superintendent Ben Williams
awarded $12,500 bonus as he exits
 Ben Williams thanks the school board for his bonus shortly before the close of Tuesday's monthly meeting, his last as interim superintendent. |
At his request, Dr. Williams accepted the interim position with his previous salary of $97,607 as an assistant superintendent in the Central Office.
Board member Terri Sessoms made the motion to approve the bonus "in recognition of his selfless service" during a difficult six-month period that included challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic as well as budget preparations for the year ahead.
"He did not ask for a pay increase even though he certainly took on a ton more of responsibility," Ms Sessoms said.
"That means a lot to me," Dr. Williams responded. "You didn't have to do that. Thank you so much."
The board's newly hired superintendent, Eric Bracy, begins work here July 1. He's finishing up six years as Sampson County's superintendent of schools.
REDISTRICTING WORK BEGINS AS NEW SCHOOL IS BUILT
The board authorized staff to take "the comprehensive approach" in working on new attendance districts that will have to be drawn with next year's opening of a new elementary school under construction on Lynch Road east of Flowers Crossroads. That means taking a look at the "ripple effects" on adjacent attendance districts for River Dell, Selma, Corinth-Holders, and Riverwood elementary schools along with possible changes for the region's middle-school attendance zones, explained Dolores Gill, the system's chief of operations and communications. The schedule calls for a first draft of the attendance plan to be presented to the public in August with revisions done in time for adoption by the school board in October. Ms. Gill said her staff will begin meeting with the affected school principals right away.
INSURANCE POLICIES TO COST AN ADDITIONAL $616,184
The board approved annual insurance policies at a total cost of $2,612,890 --- a 30.86% increase of $616,184 over the past year's expense of $1,996,706. A memo to the board said the increase is due mainly to higher insurance rates for properties and vehicles, workers compensation, and wind damage. The coming year's list of providers: Traveler's for property insurance, Liberty for vehicle insurance, National Union (AIG) for cyber insurance, American Bankers for National Flood Insurance, RSUI for excess flood insurance, Travelers for workers compensation, and Velocity for "wind buyback."
APPOINTMENTS TO COLLEGE'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The board re-appointed Mary Daughtry and appointed Antoan Whidbee in place of Haywood Watson as the school system's representatives on the Johnston Community College Board of Trustees.
COACHES' STIPENDS MADE CONSISTENT FOR ALL
Recommended by the school system's director of athletics, Brent Walston, the board approved a new schedule for stipends paid school employees serving as coaches that compensates classified employees (non-teachers) the same as certified employees (teachers). "Long overdue," remarked board member Ronald Johnson. "This just means they're all being paid the same for doing the same job," added board member Mike Wooten.
SEVERAL NEWLY WORDED POLICIES ADOPTED
The board approved several changes in policies, primarily to bring Johnston's in line with wording recommended by the N.C. School Boards Association and with recent changes in state statutes. Titles of rewritten polices approved on Tuesday: Responding to Complaints, Student and Parent Grievance Procedures, Remote Participation in Board Meetings, and Students' Use of Social Networking Sites, Blogging, and the Internet. The full text of those policies as well as a number of others presented for adoption next month are linked with Tuesday's meeting agenda posted on the school system's website>
CONTRACT FOR SYSTEM-WIDE INTERNET ACCESS OK'd
The board approved a $101,140 contract with ClassLink to provide "a one-click single sign-on solution that gives students access to all Johnston County Schools online learning resources and applications." Dolores Gill, chief of operations and communications, said the software "solves the problem of too many passwords and is accessible from any device." The expense is being covered by the federal CARES Act recently enacted by Congress for coronavirus-related relief.
The board awarded a contract to Franklin Baking Company of Goldsboro for breads to be served in the cafeterias of Johnston County's schools. The $157,000 contract includes $88,000 for hamburger buns, $46,000 for hog-dog buns, and $23,000 for loaf bread. All three products are "enriched grain."
SUTTON SAYS CLAYTON HIGH "CLEARED" OF VIOLATIONS
At the close of Tuesday's open session, Board Chair Todd Sutton sought to "clear the air" regarding last year's investigations of athletic eligibility and graduation credits at Clayton High School. He said former Interim Superintendent Jim Causby assured him he had "cleared" the athletic program of any wrongdoings and "honored" the graduates in question. "I apologize for the uncertainty" that has surrounded the episode, Mr. Sutton said, and "we look forward to Dr. Jones's leadership in the upcoming 2020-21 school year" --- a reference to Clayton High's Principal Bennett Jones, who was removed from that job last summer by former Superintendent Ross Renfrow and subsequently reinstated by Dr. Causby.
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