Vaccinated staff in FCSD to get additional pay
$200 stipend in place through April
The vaccination rate for staff in the Forrest City School District is over 80%, and those employees will soon be rewarded for their decisions to take the shots.
The district’s board, meeting in special session on Monday, approved a resolution allowing the district to pay an additional $200 each month to every teacher and employee who has been fully vaccinated.
"As a result of the board taking such an aggressive action, we went from around 50% to around 86% vaccinated," FCSD Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Hardrick told the board.
"I think that is awesome," said board member Larry Devasier.
Board member Annie Norman suggested the board consider offering an additional incentive to the first district campus to achieve a 100% vaccination rate for its employee.
"I think that is a good idea," agreed Devasier.
"Central would love that because they are at 99% right now," Hardrick said.
Hardrick suggested the board wait until the ESSER plan is submitted and approved for the district next month before bringing extra incentives forward.
According to the resolution, staff would have to voluntarily initial paperwork and provide copies of their vaccination cards to the district in order to receive the additional pay, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 15 and end in April 2022.
The board also passed a resolution for a digital learning plan for the 2021-22 school year
Hardrick explained that the plan has to be approved through the Arkansas Department of Education.
"If a student chooses to go virtual, they have to meet criteria from last year to show they can be successful in a virtual environment," said Hardrick.
In other business, the board approved a contract with ABCD Speech Consultants through May 31, 2022, for speech therapy services for students in the district according to their IEP (Individual Education Plan). Brandy Yarbrough will be responsible for providing complete evaluations and paperwork for school and Medicaid requirements, along with goals and objectives for completion of IEPs as well as
some additional speech therapy services.
On a recommendation from Hardrick, the board approved the contracts upon grant review and final approval for the district.
Also with personnel, the board approved new hires for the 202122 school year at Central, ALE, ABC, High School and other positions in the district.
For Central, the district hired Cheryl Dukes as secretary, Denise Watson as an aide and Michael Tharp as speech therapist. At the ABC School, the board approved Raquel Gates as paraprofessional, and Antoinette Carter, Perlean Barnes, Syretta Pitts and Jeanette Hutchieson as aides. At the ALE site, Tampiana Manning was hired as a secretary. At the high school, James Millbrooks and Shantoria Carter were hired as substitutes and Dorothy Phillips was hired as a substitute at the junior high. Also joining the district’s staff is Samuel Williford as bus monitor and Regina Brewer as a bus driver.
"I would like to also welcome home Trey Thompson," said Hardrick. Thompson will be working as the assistant senior basketball coach and a teacher at the high school.
Thompson, originally from Madison, is a district alumni.
"He played Mustang basketball," said Hardrick, adding that he helped lead the Mustangs to a state championship. "He attended the University of Arkansas and played basketball there as well as receiving his degree in education,” she said.