Conversion charter status not renewed in Gentry

GENTRY — In addition to giving the annual report to the public, the School Board, at its Sept. 29 meeting, declined to renew its conversion charter status and adjusted some salaries to comply with Act 1120.

Gentry High School Conversion Charter has returned to its former status as simply Gentry High School, but that does not spell the end of the school’s career training programs.

The school’s charter, which expired at the end of the last school year was not renewed because law changes since Gentry’s application for the charter status no longer make the charter necessary.

Recent law changes allow for the waivers needed for the school to offer career and technical training, using non-certified staff members with specialized training and experience in career fields such as nurse-aide and diesel mechanic training — two of the career training offerings in the district.

It was reported that to renew the district’s charter (which would have been due by Sept. 30) would just require additional work with no additional benefit to the district.

The board approved the hiring of Natalie Johnson as a primary school teacher and Karen Williams as an intermediate school teacher. Krystal Harrington was hired as a classified employee.

The board accepted the resignations of Quinn Simmons and a special education paraprofessional and Tim Richardson as a custodian. Also approved was the retirement of Sheila Hart, effective Dec. 31.

A number of memorandums of understanding were reviewed and accepted by the board for continued services in the school district.

A number of salary adjustments — some increased and some decreased — were made to comply with Act 1120.

The board received information relating to curriculum alignment for each grade level.

The School District’s annual report yo the public was given and may be viewed on the School District’s website under School Board material and under State Required Information.

One item reported to the board was the lack of people signed up to receive free and reduced-price lunches. According to information reported, the district stood to lose close to $1 million in funding if not enough students are signed up.