CELINA-The Clay County school board granted tenure to seven teachers and awarded several more contracts in a very busy June meeting. 

The board also recognized several “early responders” in a recent bus accident–the sheriff’s department, rescue squad, Corps of Engineers and ambulance service. Recognition was also given to the bus driver and several students who were on the bus. 

Tenure was awarded to six teachers and reinstated for one by the board. Those awarded tenure were Richard Boswell (central office–reinstated), Derick Upchurch (Clay County High), Roy DePolitte (CCHS), Amy Dodson (CCHS), Cherese Kaslikowski (Celina K-8), Cassondra Abbott (K-8) and Josh Price (CCHS–pending licensure). 

Several bids awarded

The following bids were awarded:

• to Sara Lee for various bread products,

• to Flavorich for various milk and related products,

• to Mixon Nollner for gasoline and diesel,

• to Randy Copeland for oil and antifreeze,

(An earlier motion to award gasoline/diesel to Mixon Nollner, motor oil to Twin Lakes and antifreeze to Freeman Apple was voted down, as was a motion to award gasoline/diesel to Jack’s Quik Shop/Freeman Apple). Board members and transportation director Jerry Strong discussed the gas/diesel, oil and antifreeze bids at length. 

• to Tri-County Propane for propane,

• to Tamara Beckman for the annual school activity audit ($3,500),

• to Turner Roofing for a roof on the Hermitage Springs cafeteria and classrooms ($82,700),

• to Rich’s Heating and Cooling for HVAC units for Hermitage Springs cafeteria ($38,300), and 

• to Randy Copeland for bus maintenance ($41,000) on a 5-4 vote,

(An earlier motion to award the bus maintenance contract to Donnie Long ($40,000 bid) was voted down 4-5). Cherry, Donaldson, Hammock, Annette Smith and Roberts voted for Copeland’s bid and against Long’s, while Boles, Dillehay, Anthony Smith and West voted against Copeland’s bid and for Long’s.  

Other action

In other action at the meeting, board members:

• voted to request bids for ovens at Celina K-8 (to be funded through the ARRA stimulus package) and a dishwasher at Maple Grove, 

• voted to transfer funds within any major classification to the general purpose budget to meet obligations by June 30,

• approved schools director Donnie Cherry as legal representative to handle all business for four school programs,

• approved two school group trips,

• voted to schedule food service payroll at the same time as the Board of Education payroll (once a month instead of twice),

• approved policy updates on first reading for personal communications devices, school calendar and attendance,

• approved elementary and high school handbooks for the upcoming school year on first reading,

• reviewed board policy 4.502 and took no action, and 

• discussed the rental agreement dealing with the factory building owned by the school system across from the central office.