School adopts plan to help retiring teachers

School Board members adopted a resolution accepting an Employee Severance Plan by the Educators Preferred Corporation. Assistant superintendent Keith Martin said 20 employees would be affected and were queried about it. He said 19 people thought it was a good idea.

“This will help them transition into the next phase … and puts the district in a better financial situation in the future,” Martin said.

After a half-hour executive session, board members agreed to extend the contracts of superintendent Rick Neal and assistant superintendent Keith Martin for another year.

School principals announced 13 students enrolled in the Middle School and seven additional students enrolled in the Special Education program.

In other business, the board:

• Hired Michelle Vandiver, Special Education para professional; Joanne Campbell, Intermediate teacher; Laura Baker, Intermediate instructional aide; Elizabeth Scott, High School social studies/ English; Charles Alldredge, bus driver; Tina Shirley, food service; and Bobby Dotson, fifth-grade literacy/social studies.

• Transfered John Crider from fifth-grade teacher to seventh- / eighth-grade science teacher.

• Accepted the resignations of Carolyn Armour, Intermediate School teacher; Lauren La Douce, High School social studies/English; and Kyle Eubanks and Tim Ledbetter, bus drivers.

• Approved the out-of-state trip for the baseball team to Purdy, Mo., on March 19-20.