School board accepts 5 resignations

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany school board accepted five resignations and hired one teacher at their May 9 meeting.

The resignations of four teachers and one staff person were accepted “with regrets” on a motion by Joe Tidwell.

Teachers resigning included Kevin Hill, Andre Raymond, Lauren Peacock, and Robbin Westmoreland. Staff member Shelia Hogan’s resignation was also included.

The board also unanimously accepted the recommendation to hire Kassiah Hudson for a secondary teaching position in the 2022-23 school year on a motion by Ginny Ivy. Hudson is currently teaching at the Moran school district.

The board also extended the contract of teacher Brittani Lefevre to 10 and a half months.

The board also voted on officers for the next year, electing Robert Montgomery to serve again as president on a motion by Ginny Ivy. Ivy was then selected as the vice president on a motion by Matt Bellah.

Board member Kalico Leech was re-elected to serve again as the board secretary.

The board approved a small increase in their contract with Eichelbaum Wardell to serve as the district’s legal council.

A report was presented by elementary principal John Gallagher as a member of the SHAC committee to adopt a health science book for seventh graders for the next school year. On a motion by Tidwell, trustees approved Texas Health Skills for Middle School by G-W Publishers.

It was noted that the committee selected the book because it was the only curriculum approved by the state so far as completed, and because sensitive gender and sexual preference information is separated in an accompanying ancillary booklet and is not part of the main textbook, giving the school the option about presenting such information.

The board heard a report from dyslexia specialist Kristie Smith as the annual update of the program. It was noted that beginning with the coming school year, all students receiving dyslexia services will fall under the special education program as required by the state.

She presented a report on the results of the Dyslexia Screeners for the school year now ending.

Smith was commended by Gallagher for strides that have been made in the district’s dyslexia program under Smith’s supervision.

The board also agreed to continue the use of the company providing drug dog searches periodically, along with a 10 percent increase of fees to $330 per visit.

Superintendent Jonathan Scott noted that the district’s taxable valuations are dropping by about $14 million to $309 million for the current tax year according to preliminary evaluations from the Shackelford County Appraisal District.

Scott said that he is also working on a proposal for pay increases for district teachers and staff, hoping to have it ready to present in June.

He noted that employee health insurance premiums are decreased by about 11 percent due to medical cost averages in the Region 14 area that is now used to establish premiums.

Scott noted that there are still ESSER funds available to offer as retention stipends.