North Clay Administration Takes Time to Say Thanks

The North Clay School District administration took time at Wednesday's meeting to say thanks to those who helped in the aftermath of the school scare there in recent weeks.

Administrators recognized students, staff members, parents and grandparents, and others in the community for their patience and cooperation during the difficult times. Three school students have been questioned and two have been expelled for threats made that led to classes being cancelled one day. Thanks were also offered the Clay County Sheriff's Department law enforcement staff for "being there whenever we needed them" at the school "as they made it a priority".

The Board also heard about an 8th grade speech competition created by students on inventions. Madison Jones won the competition. There was also information on North Clay's "Walk up, not Out" event on March 14, the day when student walkouts regarding gun violence took place in other districts. The effort was spearheaded by North Clay junior Madison McKinney.

North Clay board members learned that the Sports Boosters are not going to dissolve after all; four new officers are to be announced at a later date. Those officers contacted the district office Wednesday afternoon and said they would prefer that the class sponsors take over the concessions at extra curricular events, as had been requested by the sponsors at a previous meeting. The Board voted to let the sponsors take over operating the concessions stands.

The Board accepted the resignation of Aimee Moore as an elementary teacher at the end of the school year, rehired all other certified teaching staff for next school year, accepted the resignation of Bambi Hall as paraprofessional retroactive to March 6 and to grant the administration permission to hire an additional paraprofessional, hired Ashley Delks as a paraprofessional, and approved a maternity leave for mayana Blair. Also approved was an amended calendar for this school year and a calendar for next school year. Desired handbook revisions were discussed but no action was taken. The Board renewed a joint food purchasing plan, approved an overnight trip to a state leadership conference in Springfield in April for students, renewed membership in the IHSA, and approved a student teacher for this fall.

The North Clay board also renewed co-op agreements with Clay City school district for high school baseball, high school girls basketball, high school cross country, and high school softball, and discussed the possibility of a junior high girls basketball co-op with Clay City.