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New lights for athletic fields and a new
playground for elementary students. The
West Carroll school system is planning about
$176,000 worth of upgrades to recreational
facilities after votes by the school board
October 2.
The West Carroll Special School District
Board of Education OK'd two projects during
the board's regular monthly meeting at the
central office in Atwood.
Attending were Chairman Jimmy Halford,
Sam Inman, Jim Pirtle, Mike Foster, Greg
McClain, and Director Eric Williams. Lester
Scott was absent.
The board also indicated they plan to
give 140 system employees - teachers and
support staff - bonuses in addition to
bonuses of about $288 that will be funded by
the state this year to certified teachers.
Athletic field lighting
Holton Electric Co. of McKenzie won a
contract to install lighting at the West
Carroll High School baseball and softball
fields at a cost of $148,800. Holton won out
over higher bids from Techline Sports
Lighting ($175,000) from Austin, TX and
Golden Rule Mechanical ($214,000) of Milan.
The contract will include a standard
warranty for the parts and labor required.
"We're local and we'll take care of you,"
said Ronnie Doster, Holton representative.
"We appreciate the opportunity to do it."
He estimated that the six light poles
would be needed at the baseball field and
four at the softball field. The work is to
be completed by the end of the year. Holton
is also installing lights at the Univ. of
Tenn. Martin.
The WC athletic fields have not been
equipped with lighting, resulting in West
Carroll teams having to play some games away
from their home fields. The new lights will
allow West Carroll to start games at a later
time and will allow the school to host
district tournaments.
New playground
Travis Carter, principal at West Carroll
Elementary School in Trezevant, presented
plans to build a new playground for fifth
and sixth graders at a projected cost of
approximately $28,000. The board authorized
requesting bids from three contractors.
Design plans submitted by a playground
firm call for the new facility to be 90 ft.
by 36 ft. in size and include a 20 ft. by 20
ft. outdoor basketball court with a
rubberized concrete surface. Other areas
would have recreation equipment and a
treated mulch surface. The playground would
be located in a shady area of the campus.
The existing playground is in full sun, said
Mr. Carter.
"This is geared toward the older kids but
all the kids could use it," said Mr. Carter.
Bonuses for teachers
The WCSSD board approved giving all 140
school employees bonuses of $288 each that
will be partially funded by the state. The
board also indicated support for awarding
additional bonuses that will be locally
funded.
The state will fund bonuses of $288.77 per
person ($157 after taxes) for West Carroll's
89 certified employees at a total cost of
$25,844. But the West Carroll board has
appropriated funds to pay similar bonuses to
custodians, aides and cafeteria employees.
These bonuses will be awarded in October.
Thursday night board members indicated that
they want to award additional pay bonuses
paid for with local funds to all 140
employees. No decision was reached on the
amount of the local bonuses. The board plans
to make a decision in November and award the
additional bonuses in time for the Christmas
holidays.
Board members said that holiday gift
cards of $100 that had been presented in the
past would be subject to taxes by each
individual. Board members indicated they
might award bonuses instead of gift cards.
Board members were presented with cost
estimates for varying bonus amounts. A
matching bonus of $288 per person (above the
state funded bonus) would cost the school
district $46,000 while a bonus of $500 per
person would cost $80,000. School Director
Eric Williams said WCSSD has funds for the
bonuses. The school district expects to have
about $37,800 in unanticipated revenues due
to cost savings and funds that were not
spent.
Other actions by the board:
Consent agenda - Approved Financial
Report and Cafeteria Report, approved
minutes from the Sept. 4 meeting, approved a
2008-09 school system compliance report, and
approved a textbook selection committee.
Federal programs - The Board approved
final budgets for federally funded programs:
Title I ($351,953), Title II A ($66,220);
Title IID ($3,423); Title IV $7,673), and
Title VI ($33,302).
School support groups - Approved policies
for School Support organizations that
requires clubs to register with the state,
submit bylaws, and keep financial reports
and minutes of meetings on record for four
years. Support groups are also subject to
being audited by the state.
TSBA state convention - Board members are
invited to attend the state convention in
Nashville Nov. 16-18. Director Eric Williams
said the convention has some "good points,"
but cost of attending, as much as $8,000 for
some school boards, is preventing some
boards from going to the conference, said
Williams.
Special Ed grant - Supervisor Betty
Wallace said she has received a grant of
$25,000 to improve performance by students
in Special Education programs. The funds
will be used to acquire new technology
including white boards.
District school board meeting - Eric
Williams thanked board members for attending
the fall District Meeting which was hosted
by West Carroll for the first time. Special
appreciation was expressed to the Culinary
Arts students and teacher Linda Black who
prepared and served meals to about 110
school board members from West Tenn. |
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