Smackover-Norphlet opts out of polling for school board election
SMACKOVER — The Smackover-Norphlet School Board adopted a resolution to opt out of polling places during this year’s school board election.
District Superintendent Dave Wilcox said, “Basically we have one candidate for school board. No one is running against Mr. (Damon) Goodwin so I’m recommending that you adopt the school election resolution as presented. What that means is that we do not have to have an election, since there’s one person … This just keeps us from opening up a poll for him to go vote for himself. He can do it (during) early voting.”
The vote will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 12-15 and Sept. 18 at the Union County Courthouse, according to a public notice. Last month, the Strong-Huttig School Board adopted a similar resolution.
District Technologist Lyn Jackson conducted a tour of the district’s new website and recommended website and content policies during the meeting. The board unanimously approved a five-year contract with Little Rock-based company Apptegy in March to renovate the district’s website, create an app and provide technical support, according to a
previous News-Times report.
Jackson said that the policies include guidelines for content, a photo permission form and Americans with Disabilities Act specifications for the website’s various web pages. She’s worked with the Office of Civil Rights to ensure the website is in compliance.
“We’ve got to make sure that web content is accessible to those who have impairments, so I’ve been working to make sure we’ve done that … The video I’ve had to add closed captions for the hearing impaired,” she said.
The board approved the administration’s recommendation to hire third grade teacher Sophia Goode, fifth grade literacy/social studies teacher Cynthia Tassin, in-school suspension paraprofessional James Wisinger and cafeteria worker Jessica Born; and accept the resignations of Norphlet Elementary third grade teacher Heather McKinnon and high school paraprofessional Griselda Dorman.
Addenda were approved for Smackover Elementary math interventionist Clarice Long to serve as an assistant principal and coach Cody Cranford to be placed on the master’s degree pay scale. The board approved a custodial services contract with GCA Services Group for the amount $355,497.48 plus tax, pending Arkansas Department of Education approval.
Board members also approved special programs director Teri Philyaw’s policy recommendations, most of which align with Arkansas School Boards Association policies and state law, and two transfer requests out of and one into the SmackoverNorphlet School District.
“We’ve given away a lot of kids the last two or three years and think we really, really … have to stop the door, shut the door,” board member Chris Long said.
The SmackoverNorphlet School Board’s next meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21 in the district central office boardroom.
Brittany Williams may be contacted by email at bwilliams@eldoradonews.com. Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook @ BWilliamsEDNT for updates on Union County school news.