North Clay School Board Further Discusses Athletic Policy

The North Clay School District athletic policy was again a topic at Thursday's meeting of the North Clay Board of Education.

Part of a seven-hour meeting was discussion of further changes in the policy and questions over why earlier changes were made.

Athena Van Dyke was back to ask questions about the earlier changes and asked each board member to respond individually to her questions.  Some did, and some board members responded with reasoning behind recent actions.  Van Dyke then presented the athletic policy used by the Robinson school district and asked the Board to consider using it as a model.  There was some discussion on a recent decision being somewhat patterned after the Effingham school district.

Local resident Jeff Cox also spoke on the decision to change the athletic policy recently and how he disagreed with the decision.

A long discussion followed on the status of the current policy, ramifications from the public, division of the community, and ongoing conflict.  North Clay Superintendent Monty Aldrich drafted a new policy for the Board to review.  Board members came up with several ideas and potential conflicts and loopholes in the new language.  The Board directed Aldrich to make further language revisions to bring back to the December meeting for further consideration and possible eventual adoption.

In other action Thursday, the North Clay board seated their new member Jenny McKinney who will fill a vacancy until the Spring 2015 election.  Also, a propane-powered bus was purchased for just over $94,000...Abbey Schnepper and Megan Pierson showed a PowerPoint presentation on recent FFA officer activities...and a tentative fiscal year tax levy totaling $1,254,150 was placed on file for public inspection with a hearing on the measure and a vote planned at the December meeting.  The Board also heard a report on the school district report card from the State for last school year...voted to renew property and casualty insurance coverage for just over $63,000 along with an umbrella liability policy for just under $7,300...approved Jeff and Amy Walker along with Tonni and Mike Micklautz as this year's senior trip chaperones...and discussed changes to the Christmas Program in December, but no action was taken.

There was also discussion regarding the amount of fundraisers and the community impact of "being hit up a great deal".  All of the various fundraisers this month were approved, though.

Board members also approved spending up to $10,000 in North Clay Academic Foundation funds to replace the grade school computer lab.

After a closed session, the North Clay board accepted the resignation of Spanish teacher Seferina VanPelt at the end of first semester...accepted the resignation of Donna Bible as a custodian and hired her as a substitute custodian...accepted the resignation of Kyla Hall as junior high assistant volleyball coach...approved maternity leaves for DeDe McElravy and Jade Huber...hired DeeAnn Hronec as substitute bus driver...and hired Kim Harrison as junior high head volleyball coach and Arnita Fender as junior high assistant volleyball coach.