Terry Appointed As Trustee For WV School District

Terry Appointed As Trustee For WV School District

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley school board started the new year with the selection of officers and the appointment of a replacement for Cayce Washington, who stepped down last month after winning a seat as District 1 Supervisor.

In a 4-0 vote, trustees appointed Chris Terry to fill Washington’s vacated slot for District 5 in the Water Valley School District. Terry has previously served as trustee in District 1, but resigned after moving out of District 1 in 2013. Terry now lives in District 5, the district vacated by Washington.

Terry will serve the final year of Washington’s five-year term and the slot will be on the ballot in the November General Election. 

Also during the Jan. 19 meeting, Taylor Trusty was re-appointed as President in a motion by Lamar Burgess that included Pierce Epes as vice and Bryan Gilley as secretary. This marks the start of Trusty’s second year as board president, following five years of Burgess leading the board.

In a statement to the Herald after the meeting, Trusty reported that Terry was selected because he had been previously elected and has already attended state mandated school board training. Trusty also said the decision was made with input from Washington, who suggested Terry as a possible appointment to fill the remainder of the term. 

“Our board hates appointing someone to fill a vacated seat on the board, Trusty said. “We all feel that our board should be filled with people elected by the people,” Trusty added. 

“I would like to thank Mr. Terry for his willingness to step in and serve the children of our school district in this capacity,” Trusty added.

Other business discussed at the meeting included:

• Recognized district business manager Randy Goodwin for receiving a certificate from State Auditor Stacey Pickering for a clean audit for the previous fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

Pickering commended Goodwin and the school district for maintaining high standards of financial reporting. The basis for the award followed the completion of a favorable audit with no material findings, weaknesses in internal control or exceptions. The certificate was presented to Goodwin after it was read in the meeting.

• Recognized Lillian Lindsey, Brian Fox and Blayne Clark for having straight As  and perfect attendance for the first semester. 

• Recognized teachers and students at DES for raising $642.64 for the Marshall County/Holly Springs Disaster Relief Fund, the Junior High Beta Club for raising $500 for the fund, and students at the Water Valley High School for raising $1,217.64 and a large number of backpacks and school supplies. The money and supplies will help the schools recover from the Dec. 23 tornado. 

“We all know what this does to a town, I think this is a great deal,” Gilley added. DES teacher Vickie Person organized the fundraiser.

• Recognized second year teacher Chasity Logsdon as the teacher of the month for January. Logsdon is a Water Valley native and is married to Riley Logsdon. She teaches kindergarten at DES.

“She works very hard every day to ensure her students receive the attention, care and quality teaching they deserve,” Gilley said about Logsdon.

• Recognized Andrew McNeese for implementing the PBIS in Water Valley High School.

• Approved the claims docket.

• Recorded several policies into the board minutes as part of the instructional management plan. Super-intendent Dr. Michael McIn-nis explained the policies are already in place, and the vote at the school board meeting would prepare the district for an upcoming audit.

• Heard the superintendent’s report. McInnis reported the new code of conduct implemented at the schools has been successful. McInnis cited statistics with 42 harassment/bullying infractions and 23 fighting infractions reported during the 2014-15 school year.  In the current school year, there have been three harassment/bullying infractions and six fighting infractions to date.

“That tells us the code of conduct is working,” McInnis said, adding that the lower number of problems in the current school year means more kids are in the classroom.

“We want to thank everybody for their part in it, but we want to especially thank the teachers because I know we put a lot on them with this,” Trusty said. 

• Entered executive session to discuss the appointment to fill Washington’s successor, the superintendent evaluation and three hiring recommendations.