Donayle Ashworth

The agenda for the regular session includes several action items, such as revisions to the agenda and approval of the minutes from the January 8, 2026 meeting. The Finance & Operations Committee report requires review and approval of minutes from its January 22, 2026 meeting, followed by the approval of a revised salary schedule for the 2025-2026 year. Additionally, several policies are presented for review, covering topics from Board Committees and Purchasing to Employee Conduct and Behavioral Health Support for Students. Key action items involve considering approval for the revised instructional calendar for the 2025-2026 school year and the instructional calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The meeting will also feature recognition for Support Staff, Teachers, and Principal of the Year, as well as reports on attendance awards.

The meeting commenced with an invocation, including remembrance for the Coburn family, a former maintenance department retiree. The agenda featured recognition of Students of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year across elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as honoring the December Employees of the Month (Support Staff, Teacher, and Leader). The November attendance challenge winners were also celebrated, noting that the district surpassed its goal of 95% attendance, achieving 96% for November. Financial matters included the approval of minutes from a previous session and the Finance and Operations Committee report, which involved authorizing the sale of a southwest property and approving a $1,500 one-time supplement for eligible current employees, payable by December 18th. Public comment focused heavily on the recent transition of Medicare supplement plans for retirees from UMR to the Human Group Advantage Plan, citing concerns over access to care, lack of transparency, and insufficient notice. Policy items included approval of policies related to the education of students with exceptionalities and a review of the policy concerning Body Worn Cameras in classrooms. Additionally, an informational report was presented regarding the district's recent 'A' rating and school performance scores for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Finance Committee Meeting included updates on several financial and operational matters. Sales tax receipts for November were reviewed, showing a decrease compared to the previous year but remaining above budget projections. Reports on self-funded insurance plans for December indicated a monthly gain in medical plans despite a year-to-date loss, with medical claims down 25%; the dental plan also showed a monthly loss with claims down 8%. Reimbursement grant reports indicated delays pending the approval of a budget revision. Operationally, updates covered preparations for impending cold weather by shutting off water to non-main campus buildings, and reports on technology service requests and transportation efficiency. Food services noted a slight dip in meal counts due to illness in December. Project updates included successful occupancy at Loganport, temporary occupancy at Mansfield High School, progress on baseball/softball facility repairs, and planning for summer interior gutting at the middle section of Lower. Additionally, the committee reviewed and approved a revised salary schedule for 2025-2026 to correct discrepancies related to the change in the performance pay scale.

The board meeting featured several recognition segments, including honoring a new Teacher of the Month from Nashville High School and recognizing a Leader of the Night who was absent. A presentation was made regarding the Zearn math program, detailing a Louisiana study supporting learning acceleration over remediation, and recognizing schools and administrators for their performance metrics, such as consistent usage and improvement in on-grade-level lessons. Following this, the board approved minutes from the Finance and Operating Committee meeting held on December 18th. Action items approved included the insurance desk schedule, a park and debit agreement, and a budget revision to the capital project fund. The board also discussed the upcoming collection of input for the 2026-2027 academic calendar. Furthermore, a policy regarding the use of recording devices in special education classrooms was presented for approval. Finally, comments were made regarding the recent dismissal of a long-standing desegregation case, emphasizing the district's focus on fairness and high expectations for all students. The meeting concluded with the election of the President for the calendar year 2026 and the appointment of members to the Finance and Operating Committee for 2026.

The finance meeting provided updates on various operational areas. Discussions included forecasting related to sales and property taxes, which is scheduled for a follow-up conversation in January. A detailed report on dental insurance for November showed a surplus, with lower claims than previous periods. A significant agenda item involved updating the retiree health insurance vesting schedule, effective January 1, 2026, requiring 10 years of employment for retirement insurance eligibility. Operational updates covered maintenance work order closures, technology hiccups related to computer updates, and progress on several construction projects: Mansfield project finalizing, North Dakota furniture ordering and slab pouring complete, Middle School framing ongoing, Logan Sports facility updates (gym front mid-January, office July 4th week), and installation of new sports field lighting. Other reports included transportation maintenance status, food services bidding process, and a cooperative endeavor agreement review with the sheriff regarding the Crosby Street property, which involves property monitoring and renovations.