Issues split Baker board
BAKER — Members of the Baker School Board clashed Tuesday over issues ranging from proper procedure to meeting times.
The bickering began during discussion of the student handbook for the 2012-13 school year.
Board President Elaine Davis said that staff should create a quick guide for parents and students highlighting the most-used portions of the handbook.
In response, board member Troy Watson asked board attorney Winston DeCuir whether board members should address school system staff during meetings.
“Direction should be toward the superintendent and not the staff,” Decuir answered.
In another personnel issue, the board unanimously agreed to pay six contract workers up to $6,200 each for mentoring teachers under the district’s Supporting Teachers for Effective Performance program.
Board member Shona Boxie was absent during the vote.
DeCuir told the board that Act 1 of the 2012 state Legislature requiring school principals or the superintendent to hire certified teachers and personnel does not apply to contract workers and other staff members, such as custodians.
The School Board still must approve those types of hires, he said.
Joseph said that the STEP initiative was put in place in 2008 or 2009 after the state ended a similar program.
All new teachers in the system are required to participate in the program. Mentorship is provided by experienced teachers in the school district or from administrators with at least three years of teaching experience.
The inclusion of administrators as possible mentors was a part of a guideline revision the board approved in June.
After delaying consideration of revised regulations for teacher assessment and the student handbook, board members clashed over the date of the next meeting. The board agreed to meet July 31.
D avis proposed changing the date from July 17 to July 31, citing a conflict in her schedule.
“This is not fair. You told us last night that this was the date and now you’re saying you have a problem with your schedule? I don’t believe it. I think you are lying,” board member Doris Alexander said.
Alexander added that only Boxie had initially cited a conflict with the July 17 meeting date.
Davis banged her gavel. “You are out of order,” she said.