State Funding Reduces
State Funding Reduces
Burden On WV Parents
By David Howell
Editor
Beginning the 2007-2008 school year, parents will have a little less strain on their pocket books during the August back-to-school time.
The Water Valley School Board accepted a proposal by Superintendent Sammy Higdon to eliminate most fees at the district’s schools. These fees include lab fees, books fees, arts fees, registration fees and others. The decision was made Monday night at the regular-scheduled meeting.
Higdon also said the supply lists that are sent home at the beginning of each school year has also been trimmed.
Higdon presented a supply list from each grade at the elementary school, which showed than many items that parents have been responsible for purchasing were eliminated. An example, the kindergarten list, was trimmed from 20 items to 13 items.
An example of items that remain on that supply list back pack, pencils, crayons, folders and glue. Items that had been cut from that list that the school will purchase include paper, ziploc bags, tape, soap and others.
“This is a big step, I get the most complaints from parents abouts fees and the supply list,” said board president Ray Hawkins.
“I commend you, August is a tough time for parents,” board member Cayce Washington echoed.
“The only fees we would have is a parking fee,” Higdon said, adding that this is a privilege for students.
Higdon said the MAEP money will compensate the fee-generated money the school currently receives.
This move came after state lawmakers voted to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) during the General Session earlier this year.
MAEP is the funding formula used to establish adequate current operation funding levels necessary for each school district in the state. It is the most contentious topic each session as state lawmaker work to balance the budget. MAEP had not been fully funded for four years. This year, Higdon said the district will receive $386,000 more state funding than last year.
“It is highly possible that we are the only district in the state that will not charge fees,” Higdon said about the decision.
In other preparations for the 2007-2008 school year, school board members went into executive session to look at personnel recommendations as teachers and staff are hired for the upcoming school year.
Higdon said slots vacated by staff members will again be minimial this year – the district will lose one person at the elementary school and five or six at the high school. One vacancy will be the assistant principal slot, after Jerry Holt announced he will retire June 30. Higdon also told board members that he will retire when his contract expires, which will be in two years.
Teachers and staff members hirings approved Monday night include:
Elementary School:
Kindergarten Teachers
Shelia Benoist
Carmille Hovious
Ashley Kehoe
Charla Stark
Dawn Williamson
First Grade Teachers
Donna Barnes
Lori Gore
Christy Lowery
Brendi Sparks
Pamela Taylor
Rebecca York
Second Grade Teachers
Donna Blake
Melissa Burrell
Lou Ann Holt
Tracy Kisner
Christie Noel
Third Grade Teachers
Collen Craven, Math
Renita Fox, Language Arts
Jill Hill, Language Arts
Vickie Person, Language Arts
Alana Reed, Math
Renee Thompson, Math
Fourth Grade Teachers
Valerie Burgess, Language Arts
Rebecca DeLoach, Math
Lisa Edwards, Math
Kristen McCaslin, Math
Katie Naron, Language Arts
Pat Ray, Language Arts
Fifth Grade Teachers
Vietta Booker, Math
Alina Harges, Math
Maggie McDaniel, Math
Sharman Norwood, Language Arts
Brandy Russell, Language Arts
Whitney Yount, Language Arts
Sixth Grade Teachers
Will Anderson, Language Arts
Amy Daniels, Math
Ashley Harrison, Language Arts
Angela Landry, Math
Trenisha Tallie, Math
Rose Willingham, Language Arts
Special Education Teachers
Madistean Cooper
Lisa Dettor
Robin Fielder
Cissy Griffin
Cheryl Harris
JoBeth Alford, Enrichment
Shane Brown, Physical Education/Coach
Heather Card, Speech Pathologist
Grace Dickerson, T.S. T. Coordinator
Haley Fairbanks, Speech Pathologist
Hugh Gurner, Librarian
Tammy Nix, Enrichment
Suzanne Reed, Lead Teacher
Linda Williamson, Counselor
Mary Freeman, Elementary Music
Leasie Gilley, Secretary
Gloria Jackson, Special Ed. Secretary
Teaching Assistants
Audra Ashford
Kim Baker
Heather Brown
Ophelia Buford
Heather Bynum
Suzanne Cofer
Darlene Fleming
Bettina Hammond
Crystal Magee
Lisa Murrell
Anita Phillips
Sherry Phillips
Patricia Reed
Cathy Sartain
Kristy Tatum
Mercy Turner
Title One Aides
Nicole Eubanks
Pamela Harris
Bennie Faye Phillips
Rochelle Southern
Special Education Facilitators
Theresa Chandler
Irene Judson
Jackie Harmon
Lee S. McMahen, Elementary School Teacher
Alternative School:
Trea Higdon
High School:
Debra Anderson, Computer Discovery
Doug Anderson, Visual Arts
Byron Beard, Building Trades
Allison Black, Special Needs
Beth Black, Language Arts
Jeani Black, Mathematics
Mary Bonner, Technology Discovery
Jeff Byrd, Social Studies
Jennifer Carwile, Science
Sammie Cobern, Mathematics
Gary Drewery, Physical Education/Health
Patsy Edwards, Librarian Education/Health
Patsy Edwards, Librarian/Media Specialist
Clint Faust, Mathematics
Steve Ford, Science
Linda Glidewell, Special Needs
Brenda Gulledge, Special Needs
Amanda Goodwin, Mathematics
Karen Hamilton, Mathematics/Band
Trent Hammond, Science
Elizabeth Hawkins, Special Needs
Brad Hayden, Language Arts
Diana Hinton, Language Arts
Pam Ivey, Career Discovery
Amanda Jennings, Language Arts
Edith Kennemore, Special Education
Jo Ann King, Business and Technology
Jo Ann King, Business and Technology
Donna Lane, French I and II / Language Arts
Shane Linzy, Social Studies
Dana McConnell, Counselor
Suzanne McCullough, Physical Education/Health
John Mistilis, Social Studies
Valerie Morgan, Family and Consumer Science
Doug Robbins, Social Studies
Shelly Rotenberry, Language Arts
John Sherman, Drriver’s Education
Anna Smith, Science
Victor Steen, Band/Music
Billy Thacker, Agriscience
Kathy True, Language Arts
Terri Turner, Sepcial Needs
Tracey Varner, Mathematics
Nancy Wooten, Special Needs
John Walker, Social Studies
Nancy Wooten, Special Needs
Support Staff (Non-certified)
Reeda Cofer, Secretary Tech Prep
Deneice Fowler, High School Secretary
D.A. Hervey, Support Staff Technician
Angie Hoskins, Special Education Facilitator
Cathy Patton, Special Education Facilitator
Annette Reynolds, Special Education Facilitator
Susan Shaw, Bookkeeper
Extra-Curricular Activites:
Will Anderson, Assistant Softball Coach
Shane Brown, Softball
Melissa Burrell, Cheer Coach
Colleen Crave, Cheer Coach
Gary Drewery, Athletic Director
Clint Faust, Assistant Football Coach
Trent Hammond, Head Football Coach
Trea Higdon, Assistant Football Coach/Track Coach
Shane Linzy, Head Girls Basketball Coach, Head Volleyball Coach, Assistant Track Coach
Suzanne McCullough, Junior High Giurls Basketball Coach, Assistant Volleyball Coach
Bryant Mix, Assistant Football Coach/Assisant Junior High High Football Coach, Assisant Track Coach/ Junior High Track Coach
Doug Robbins, Head Baseball, Assistant Junior High Football Coach, Junior High Baseball Coach
John Sherman, Head Boys Basketball Coach
John Walker, Head Junior High Football Coach, Head Junior High Basketball Coach, Assistant High School Football Coach, Assistant High School Baseball Coach
Jason Langdon, Para-professional/Coach
Substitutes:
Alana Causey
Jarrod Dickey
Michael Fonte
Rick Glidewell
Jerry Helms
Kalinda Jenkins
Jonathan Jernigan
Jennifer McMinn
Delice Reece
Food Service
Hazel Alexander
Karon Alexander
Stephanie Alford
Lillie Buck
Rickie Cox
Annie Ellis
Mary Harden
Dorothy Jenkins
Dewayne Neal
Hattie Polk
Mae Ruth Rucker
Loretta Smith
Lavern Willingham
Bus Drivers
Byron Beard
Larry Carr
Murry Dixon
Gary Drewery
John Dunn
Cynthia Harmon
Leroy Harris
Rolen Hoskins
Hugh Lawson
Tammie Maclin
Suzanne McCullough
Butler McLeod
Bryant Mix
Hosea Rockette
Bubba Simmons
Jane Snider
Lorriane Turner
Substitute Bus Drivers
Lewis Camp
Jr. Camp
Chester Drewery
Clint Faust
Shayne Linzy
Mario Weekley
Full-time Janitors
Linda Bailey
Willie Sayles
Terrell Daniels
Part-time Janitors
Enos Conard
Teresa Crawford
Richard Morgan
Student Workers
Melinda Jenkins
Marvelle Hervey
Tremaine Rowsey
Yoshika Sayles
Yashunda Rosey
Terrell Daniels, Jr.
DeMarcus Wilson
Higdon said that the board approved all of the people on the list recommended. Currently the district has only six or seven staff members leaving at the end of the school year.
Hirees for the 2007-2008 school year.
