Atkins Board solves nurse problem
By Ginnie Tyson
The Atkins School Board changed the salary schedule concerning school nurses at Monday night's regular meeting. The district has been unable to hire a registered nurse at the starting salary adopted at last month's meeting. On the recommendation of Superintendent Boyce Watkins, the board raised the RN starting salary to $22,681. It would top out at $26,000. Watkins told the board that school nurse is now a specialty, so those qualified can demand a better salary.
The board also gave Watkins authority to pay a long-term substitute licensed practical nurse for the coming semester at the regular salary schedule. The regularly-employed practical nurse will be on family medical leave.
After an executive session the board voted to hire Shellie Maggard, registered nurse, and Lisa Chambers as temporary licensed practical nurse.
They also voted to hire Reggie Saucier as bus driver and moved Tracy Brown, who is also head girls softball coach, from assistant volleyball coach to head volleyball coach.
Watkins told the board he had scheduled Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. to begin interviewing architects about building an elementary facility. He gave board members copies of proposals by six firms and asked them to narrow those down to three firms to interview. He did not mention the purchase of land for the project.
Gladys Vint, counselor, gave the board a general presentation about the district's results on the Iowa and Benchmark tests, which showed significant gains in almost every grade. She and administrators were particularly pleased with math scores. Many Atkins math scores are the best in the county. And for the second year in a row all 8th grade algebra student scored advanced on the Benchmark. Vint listed the strengths and weaknesses displayed by the Iowa test results. (See an article about the Benchmark results in the Aug. 8 issue of The Chronicle.)
Vint talked about the focus exams that are now given during the semester to check on the progress of learning, the advanced placement courses that give students some college credit, and the ACT. She expressed satisfaction with the improvement in scores from one year to the next, saying the district is moving closer to reaching the goal of No Child Left Behind, which mandates that within a few more years every child must attain a proficient rating.
Board member Philip Haney said, "We couldn't be more proud of our results."
Board member Carl Warren said, "The teachers are proud too. . . . A lot of hard work goes into those results."
Watkins said, "We had a speaker today that reminded us there is a lot more to education than test scores. Of course, we also need to look at the other needs of the child."
The board agreed to accept the bid of the Barton-Lexa school district to purchase the two tympani the Atkins band has had since the 1930's. The $600 sale will presumably help pay for the purchase of a new 5-tympani set.
The board agreed to hire Jim Killer of Environmental Safety and Compliance, Inc. of Dover to oversee safety matters at Atkins schools. For $2,800 for the school year he will conduct safety meetings, work with OSHA when necessary, meet with maintenance and transportation employees and display the necessary stickers and posters.
The board also
* approved a tuition agreement with Counseling Associates to provide counseling to students
* approved the transfer of Violet Purcell from Atkins to Russellville and the transfer of Malachi McDaniel from Russellville to Atkins
* approved a contract with Universal Fire Equipment Co to provide fire and safety service (fire extinguishers, etc.)
* heard Watkins read a letter of thanks from the Northwest Regional 4-H O'Rama people, who brought more than 700 people to use the auditorium, the fine arts building, the home ec building, both gyms and the practice field for their meeting this summer
Watkins told the board the balance of money in the operating fund at the beginning of August was $1,273,300. He pointed out that July is the month when the district receives no money from the state.
Members of the board present were Paul Wayne Duvall, president, Carl Warren, Stevie Duvall and Philip Haney. Gary Simmons was absent because of family health reasons.
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