Washington Parish School Board Meeting October 13, 2022

The Washington Parish School Board began their meeting Thursday (October 13, 2022) with presentation of awards. ASVAB Awards were presented to Pine and Mt. Hermon High Schools and the Franklinton Junior High School MAD Club, the Franklinton High School FFA, and Mt. Hermon School students in the Upward Bound program were recognized. See the video for the presentations and details on the programs.

The Board then addressed other items on the Agenda, beginning at 26:00 into the video. The Agenda (click here for the Agenda) included matters regarding: Superintendent evaluation form, financial statements, fiscal agency contract, withdrawal priviliges on bank accounts, a retirees' insurance offering, Board meeting schedule for 2023, sale of surplus equipment, a resolution concerning the design and construction of a Washington Parish Event Center, conveyance of property to the Town of Franklinton intended for a playground, and revision of several policies. The Board approved recommended policy revisions related to Special Education Advisory Council, cameras in Special Ed classrooms, child abuse, patriotic organizations, employment of retired personnel, separation of employment, and public school choice. An Agenda item was added to consider revisions related to operation costs for bus drivers

Consideration of the conveyance of property to the Town of Franklinton was not acted on after Mayor Route advised the Town was no longer considering obtaining the property.

Revisions approved to operation costs for bus drivers was approved to the benefit of the bus drivers at a cost to the system of $23,300.00 for the fiscal year and effective August 1, 2022. (See video at 37:20)

The Board approved the Personnel Report and Transportation Adjustments, 

During the Superintendent's Report (beginning at 50.00 into the video), the Board was provided information from Tricia Smith on the Reach Program, a partnership between WPSS and Reach University designed to “grow our own teachers” and give support staff employees the opportunity to become  bachelor level certified teachers at a very low cost and within four years.

Following comments by Board Members and a closing story by Attorney Wayne Kuhn, the meeting was adjourned.