With just four more regular business meetings before the fall semester begins, the Lakeland School System – like other new municipal school districts in Shelby County – is working through a long list of decisions and activities.
Board chairman Kevin Floyd said he’s confident the district will open school on time in August, and the school board worked through a two-page agenda on March 17 to work toward that goal.
Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell won board approval to sign contracts obtained through the E-rate program, which gives schools access to pre-negotiated discounts on essential services and supplies. The program can give discounts of about 40 percent on telecommunications costs, he said.
Horrell also made several employee announcements:
- The website now has an online application process for educators. Those who are interested in teaching at Lakeland Elementary School in 2014-15 or who would like to be part of the substitute teacher pool there can complete applications now in order to be considered as soon as jobs begin posting later this month. See the online employee application portal.
- A district secretary has been hired and will start April 1.
- Lakeland will share a special education and accountability supervisor and one clerk with Arlington schools.
He also said Lakeland and other municipalities are working with Shelby County Schools to finalize the inventory and address some discrepancies on what should be in the buildings. He also reported on progress with requests for proposals (RFPs) for custodial and maintenance needs.
Board member Matt Wright updated the board on state legislation to delay Common Core and PARCC testing implementation for two years; that bill passed the House, 82-11, and as of the March 17 school board meeting had not yet been scheduled for the Senate. Another bill to watch would require the teaching of cursive writing starting in the third grade.
In other business, the school board also approved 23 routine school district policies, many of them statutory requirements, that covered topics including school visitors, the school calendar, emergency closings, financial reports and records, audits, bids and quotations, admission of suspended or expelled students, special education students, and more.
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or carolyn.bahm@journalinc.com.
