By John Howell
South Panola School District Trustees during a recessed meeting Monday had a reaction that is likely similar to most students and parents when they hear it: “School starts three in weeks.”
As trustees assembled in the meeting room of South Panola’s Parenting Center on College Street, Superintendent Tim Wilder reminded them of the first day of school on August 4.
The trustees moved quickly through a consent agenda, approved personnel resignations and recommendations and considered student transfer requests.
Trustees also greeted the new assistant superintendent and new federal programs coordinator to their first board meeting.
Chad Spence has served in an administrative role for the past 10 years, the last four as assistant superintendent of the Houston School District.
The Corinth native has spent 16 years in the education field, serving as a teacher for five of those years and as a principal for seven years.
Spence’s wife, VerLena Holmes Spence, is originally from Courtland. The couple has two children – Christian and Kyoshi.
Federal Programs Director/School Improvement Officer Tammie Skelton has more than 25 years of experience in the education field as a teacher and administrator.
Skelton obtained her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College before getting a master’s at Delta State University and education specialist from the University of Mississippi.
She and her husband, Don Skelton Jr., have been marred for 27 years and the couple has a 20-year-old son, Trey, who is a student at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
The consent agenda included an eight-page crisis management plan that listed members of a Crisis Response Plan Committee composed of more than 30 school officials and community first responders. Trustees approved the plan with no discussion and by unanimous vote. The plan also includes procedures for use in school evacuations and detailed job descriptions for key personnel in emergencies.
Trustees also approved a change in attendance policy for certified employees that allows accrual of additional personal days for perfect attendance and also allows certified personnel with a minimum 10 years’ experience more discretion about when they can choose to take personal days.
Wilder also presented suggested revisions in the district’s policy compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Trustees will consider the superintendent’s recommendations defining employees’ overtime compensation, what constitutes an employment relationship with the district, schedules and overtime compensation.
Trustees accepted by unanimous vote Wilder’s recommendation to accept resignations from teacher/coach Lee Woolridge, food service and manager Melissa Nola. They voted to accept for employment, pending certifications, teachers Virginia Clark and James Miller and also plumber Phillip Morrow.