PW Board accepts resignations, hires six new employees

District receives approval to proceed with restrooms, concessions facilities

The Palestine-Wheatley School Board accepted six resignations and hired six new employees at their monthly meeting held Monday.

School employees Meagan Jumper, Heather Hawk, Andrew Parker, Lorinda VanderSpuy, Cynthia Graham and Renea Jumper each resigned from their positions with the school district.

The board hired four classroom teachers, one counselor and a new band director.

Annabelle Bartolome, Lauren Brookman, Brooke Hoggett and Melissa Guill were hired as classroom teachers. Amanda Holman was hired as a counselor, and Justin Baggett was hired as the high school music and band director.

In other business, board members heard an update on the progress of the new athletic fields, reviewed milk and bread bids, accepted the revised 202122 handbooks and renewed the district’s contract with the Monroe County Developmental Center.

Superintendent Jon Estes updated board members on the bidding process for construction of the new concession stands and bathrooms at the new athletic fields.

"Work is progressing on the fields," said Estes. "We finally got approved to build the restrooms and concession stands. We have the plans and we have started advertising for bids to do the construction. We will open the bids on July 22, in my office in a special called meeting. We normally do not have a board meeting in July, but because we will be receiving bids, we will have a special called meeting that month."

Estes reminded board members that each year, the district has to enter into a contract with companies for supplying bread and milk to the district.

"We have to advertise for milk and bread bids each year for companies to have the chance to supply those things to our schools," said Estes. "We received no bread bids and only one milk bid. Our milk bid came from Hiland Dairy. I recommend that we contract with Hiland Dairy for our milk for the next school year. In the case of not receiving bids, we look for the lowest contract price for bread,

(Continued from Page 1) and that is who we contract with."

According to Estes, policy changes require that the handbooks be updated and approved each year.

"The handbooks for our students have been updated and we approve them each year," said Estes. "I recommend that we accept the updated handbooks for the next school year. No drastic changes have made, but these updated policies keep us in line with the law."

Estes told board members that the district also needed to renew its contract with MCDC.

"The Monroe County Developmental Center serves most of our severely disabled students," said Estes. "We only have one currently going there, but I recommend that we renew our contract with them for the 2021-22 school year."