BoE approves personnel, annual bids
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During its June meeting, the Board of Education approved resignations, a retirement, new hires, substitute contracts, and annual bids in preparation for the new school year.
The Board unanimously approved a letter of intent to retire from fourth grade teacher Lori Blocker Bee, effective August 1.
Regarding resignations, the Board unanimously approved letters of resignation from Jessica Adams, Central Elementary School math coach, effective July 10, and from Janet Brown, elementary school TEAMS math teacher, effective July 31.
For new hires, the Board unanimously approved two certified recommendations.
With a recommendation letter from Central Elementary School principal Kara Forbus and Central High School principal Brandi Lee, respectively, the Board approved hiring Zykeivous Walker as an elementary school teacher and Logan Warren as a Central High School automotive teacher, both for the 2026-2027 school year and pending completion of requirements.
The Board also unanimously approved Superintendent of Education David Stover Jr.’s recommended job description for board certified behavior analyst.
Also, upon the request of Special Education Coordinator Wanda Young, the Board unanimously approved retired special education teacher Amy Carlton to provide homebound special education services with compensation at her hourly rate, plus mileage.
The Board also unanimously approved an extra-hour contract for paraprofessionals for the 2026-2027 school year.
Board members also unanimously approved numerous substitute contracts for the upcoming school year. Those included two custodian substitutes, 10 for lunchroom worker substitutes, 40 for teacher/aide substitutes, three for nurses, and four for bus drivers.
Separate from the substitute contracts, with a recommendation from Superintendent Stover, the Board also unanimously approved Tracy Lewis as a substitute lunchroom worker for the 2026-2027 school year.
In other business, the Board unanimously approved low bids from W.H. Thomas Oil for bus diesel fuel and heating diesel fuel, effective July 1 through June 30, 2027, with total bids of $3.7936 per gallon for bus diesel and $3.7953 per gallon for heating diesel, with a fixed profit of 18 cents per gallon for each.
The only other bids received for those two categories was Allen Oil. No bids were received from RK Allen Oil or Stephens Oil Company Inc.
For gasoline, however, the Board unanimously approved the low bid from Allen Oil, effective July 1 through June 30, 2027.
While Allen Oil’s bid reflected a 4-cent higher fixed profit over W.H. Thomas Oil, its variable tank price was lower, making it the lowest bid at a total of $3.4262 per gallon.
Those were the only two bids received for gasoline, with no bid received from RK Allen Oil or Stephens Oil Company Inc.
For propane the Board unanimously approved the low bid from Thompson Gas, also effective July 1 through June 30, 2027. Thompson had the low bid at $1.42 per gallon compared to the other bidder, Blossman Gas, with a bid of $1.45 per gallon.
No bids were received from Apex Gas, Area Propane, or Ferrell Gas.
For motor oil, the Board once again looked to W.H. Thomas Oil and approved its lowest bid at $14.81 per gallon, compared to Allen Oil’s bid of $14.95 per gallon. That bid is also effective July 1 through June 30, and those were the only two bids received, with no bids submitted from RK Allen Oil or Stephens Oil Company Inc.
In other business, on Superintendent Stover’s recommendation, the Board unanimously approved declaring a 1995 tilt skillet, used to prepare bulk meals in the cafeteria, as surplus equipment and no longer needed so that it then could be donated.
Following that action, the Board then also unanimously approved a request from Child Nutrition Program Director Deborah Abrams to donate the 1995 tilt skillet to TCR Child Care Corp.
The Board held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting yesterday, with an agenda focused on personnel matters once again, as well as standard business for a new school year, such as approving handbooks and salary schedules.
For personnel matters, the agenda included a bus driver’s retirement, two resignations and both non-certified and certified recommendations for new hires. However, names of the new hires will not be released from the Board until minutes are approved at next month’s meeting, at which time they will be reported on.
Following yesterday’s meeting, the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Board of Education will be held at 4 p.m. August 27.
