Members of the Macon County Education Association (MCEA) appeared before the Macon County School Board during their regularly scheduled July meeting on Thursday, July 10, to request a meeting to finish contract negotiations before school started.
The teachers association and the negotiation board have been going through contract negotiations since before the end of the 2002-2003 school year. One item in the contract remains to be agreed on before the contract can be closed.
Shelia Cochran, representing MCEA, told the board, "We want to get the contract closed before school starts. We would like to vote on the contract on the administrative day."
"We want to start the year thinking about the kids," Cochran continued, "not the contract."
Board member Ronald Birdwell, who is also a member of the school board negotiation team, stated that he would contact the other committee members and then contact Mrs. Cochran to arrange a negotiation meeting for the week of July 14.
Another issue brought before the School Board by the MCEA concerned the methods used to fill positions at Central Elementary and Macon County Junior High.
"We would like to request that the 2nd grade position at Central and the 7th grade position at Macon County Junior High not be filled," Cochran told the board. "We would like to reach an agreement (on how positions are filled) that is acceptable to all. We ask that the positions not be filled tonight."
"If they are, MCEA may file a grievance on Article 13 concerning vacancies, transfer positions, and reassignments."
Cochran further stated that MCEA wanted to support what would "benefit most concerned".
A short recess was taken during the meeting to review the contract one final time. Before the Director's Report was approved, Director of Schools Mike Prock removed the names of the two teachers placed in those positions from the list he presented to the board for acceptance.
The board meeting was put into recess at the end of the night, with Director Prock to contact the Tennessee School Board Association concerning the issue. When the meeting reconvenes on July 21, at 6 p.m., the transfers into the Central and Junior High positions will be discussed.
Other action taken by the Macon County School Board during the July sessionP:
- approving minutes of previous meeting
- approving school trip requests made by Mrs. Holshouser for CDC class
- accepted bids for surplus vehicles:
on buses bids were received from Rogers Truck Sales as follows: bus #60 - $355; bus #22 - $755; bus #44 - $755; and bus #47 - $455 for a total of $2,320; from Dean JOhnson from Franklin, KY, as follows: bus #60 - $107.77; bus #22 - $107.77; bus #44 - $601; and bus #47 - $1,028 for a total of $1,843. Board voted to accept Rogers Truck Sales bid.
on the car - Rogers Truck Sales had a bid of $50; Jackie Sircy had a bid of $250; and Carl Herrington had a bid of $310. Board voted to accept Carl Herrington's bid.
- no bids were received on portables located at Central office.
-two bids were received on paving at Westside Elementary - Sanders Paving submitted a bid of $10,780 on materials and labor and Arnold Tiff Paving out of Carthage submitted a bid of $9,888.75 on materials and labor. Board voted to accept low bid of Arnold Tiff Paving.
-three bids were received on modular building to be placed at Central Office. Bids were received from Modular Building Systems in the amount of $54,356, Commercial Buildings in the amount of $66,013, and Action Mobile in the amount of $54,878. The board voted to accept the low bid from Modular Building Systems.
- two bids were submitted for computer technology equipment, one from Systems Integration and one from North Central Computer Technology. Chairman Charles Cowan stated that in his opinion the submitted bid from Systems Integration did not meet spec sheets. "We asked for 512 M of RAM, they bid 256M of RAM. "I do not feel they bid to specifications." Cowan stated.
Board member Mike Marshall stated, "We only have one legal bid as far as I'm concerned."
"Since North Central Computer Technologies were the only ones to meet the specs," Board member Gene Carter stated, "I make a motion that we accept their bid." Board voted to accept the bid of NCCT for computer technology equipment.
-board authorized the posting of bids for occupational therapy/physical therapy services for the 2003-2004 school year.
-three bids were accepted for the demoloition of the old band house building and clean-up with, legal and proper disposal of waste. Bids were as follows: RC Kirby Backhoe - $18,567; Hunter's Construction - $11,800; TDS - $15,000.
After asking if Hunter Construction was insured, Board member Ronald Birdwell made a motion to go with Hunter Construction. Motion passed.
-Director of Schools Prock told the board that the school system would received $1.07 of the tax rate this year.
"This year, each penny is estimated to bring in $20,682," Prock told the board.
- The Tri-County Vocational School Board met on July 3, the local contribution will be $21,881, taking $8,294 out of TVA Revenue. The board agreed to reduce the TVA revenue for 1 year.
-bids accepted for food service for the upcoming school year were as follows:
- Milk and Dairy Products - Two bids were received: US Gold - did not meet bid specs and Southern Belle - met specs and delivers every day.
"I talked with the federal government," Director of Schools Prock told the board,"and they told me we could go with Southern Belle since they delivered every day."
The board voted to accept the bid from Southern Belle.
- Bakery Items - board voted to receive only bid received from Sara Lee Bakery Group.
-Pest Control - Two bids received Plateau Termite in the amount of $25,000 and Blankenship in the amount of $30,000. Board voted to go with Plateau Termite.
-Ice Cream - only one bid received - Purity Dairy. Board voted to accept the bid.
-Food Wholesale Items-only one bid received. Board voted to go with IWC.
-Cafeteria Maintenance Supplies - bids received from Blue Ribbon Maintenance Supplies and IWC. Board voted to go with cafeteria managers suggestion of Blue Ribbon Maintenance Supplies.
-Beverages -board voted to go with Coca-Cola.
-Potato Chips, crackers, wafers - Board voted to go with Lance.
-Cookies - Board voted to go with Otis Spunmeyer
-Barbecue Foods - Board voted to go with BB Foods BBQ.
-Director Prock told the board they had recently had a presentation of a computer program that helps keep up maintenance, work orders, supplies, etc. The program called schooldude.com would cost the school system, $3,745 the first year, which includes personal training, and $3,000 a year after that, with this amount including updates each year. The board had been discussing a system like this for the past year. It helps keep track of the system's needs, including inventory, transportation, and maintenance. The program will be purchased for the school system.
-approved the following Director's report (with transfers in question removed from the report and not listed below):
-Since the last board meeting, the following personnel have been employed (contingent upon completion if all pre employment requirements and satisfactory background report):
Posted vacancies school year 2003-2004 - Jason Hudson - K-6 Behavioral Intervention/MCJHS Football Coach; Holly Carter - Physical Science MCHS; Ken Roark - At Risk/AG; Beverly Shoulders - MCHS Golf Coach; Mike Duncan - Assistant Band Director and Music MCJHS.
-Substitute teachers (pending completion of OSHA training and/or fingerprinting: Codey Baskett, Erthon B. Krantz, Jennifer Dillon, Eugene Wilson, Alma Jenkins, Ralph Bryant, Patricia Phillips, Heather Tale, Christan Davenport, Sherry Fleming, Esther Stidham, Karen Salyer, and Eller King (sub teacher/teacher aide)
-substitute cook/teacher aide - Jonda Bailey, Kim Farley, Vickie Barber-teacher aide, Debbie Sequin - sub teacher/teacher aide/ cafetreia/janitorial, Jeff Fleming - sub custodian, and Amanda Fleming-sub custodian.
-Full time 2003-2004 non certified position - Melba Wilson - MCJHS teacher aide.
-Substitute bus drivers - Daniel Smith, Troy L. Brawner, Henry Phillips, Don Stevens, Michael Evetts,Wendell Scott, Sammie Morgan, Jerry Bilbrey, Kent SMith, Scott Brewer, Wayne Deering, Willie Strong, Barbie Summers, Rosie Venegas, Gary Carter, and Donnie Steen.
Before the meeting was recessed, Director of Schools Mike Prock, on the request of County Commissioner Billy Bransford, asked the board if they would be open to looking at refinancing some 9-year notes they had in the amount of $245,000. There is a good possibility the notes could be refinancing at a lower interest rate, which would save the county money.
"I'll be glad to make the motion," County Commissioner Bransford stated, "if ya'll give us the authority to do it. It would save $5,500 or so."
The board indicated they would be in favor of refinancing at a lower interest rate.
The July 10 meeting of the Macon County School Board was recessed until Monday, July 21, at 6 p.m. in the MCJHS auditorium.
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