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The Morehouse Parish School approved two policy additions and set its annual millage rates in Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The board approved a new policy in which military children may be granted excused absences to visit parents or legal guardians who have been called to active duty, are on leave from active duty, or have returned from deployment to a combat zone.
The policy is in compliance with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, as adopted by the state legislature.
The board also approved revisions to its policy on mandatory suspensions. Among the changes is the provision that a school administrator may “reasonably suspect” a student to be under the influence based on observable symptoms, in which case the parent or legal guardian will be contacted and a drug/alcohol screening will be requested.
A revised version of the student dress code was slated for a vote in Tuesday’s meeting, but returned to “first reading” status after board member Ricky Smith proposed further changes.
The revised dress code adds a prohibition against students have designs “cut or made” in their eyebrows or hair. Smith asked the board to consider amending the code with regard to hats.
The current policy allows students to wear “hats, caps, or headdress” only during inclement weather or for medical reasons. Smith proposed adding “religious practice or belief” to the circumstances in which a head covering may be worn, citing the free exercise clause in the U.S. Constitution.
In other business:
The board adopted tax millage rates for the year 2011. The rates are the same as last year’s millages.
Board members approved the recommendation of the Building and Properties Committee to locate a greenhouse at Delta Jr. High School for agricultural education. Committee chairman Louis Melton said the pre-fab greenhouse will cost about $6,000 and will be assembled by volunteers.
Smith asked the board to discuss and consider changing school district employees’ payroll schedule from monthly to biweekly, as “a way to improve morale among teachers.”
Business manager Renee Hinton explained the reasons behind the monthly payroll, and some of the problems that could arise from going to a biweekly schedule.
“We would be the first system in the state, that I’m aware of, to have such a system,” she said. “I don’t think that’s a good idea at the moment.”
Board member Ronald Vollmar said a biweekly payroll would a actually result in teachers taking home less after taxes.
Smith said he wanted to bring the issue up for discussion after talking to employees who find it difficult to budget with a monthly paycheck.
“If we have something in our means to improve teachers’ work experience, we should do that,” said Smith.
The Morehouse Parish School approved two policy additions and set its annual millage rates in Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The board approved a new policy in which military children may be granted excused absences to visit parents or legal guardians who have been called to active duty, are on leave from active duty, or have returned from deployment to a combat zone.
The policy is in compliance with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, as adopted by the state legislature.
The board also approved revisions to its policy on mandatory suspensions. Among the changes is the provision that a school administrator may “reasonably suspect” a student to be under the influence based on observable symptoms, in which case the parent or legal guardian will be contacted and a drug/alcohol screening will be requested.
A revised version of the student dress code was slated for a vote in Tuesday’s meeting, but returned to “first reading” status after board member Ricky Smith proposed further changes.
The revised dress code adds a prohibition against students have designs “cut or made” in their eyebrows or hair. Smith asked the board to consider amending the code with regard to hats.
The current policy allows students to wear “hats, caps, or headdress” only during inclement weather or for medical reasons. Smith proposed adding “religious practice or belief” to the circumstances in which a head covering may be worn, citing the free exercise clause in the U.S. Constitution.
In other business:
The board adopted tax millage rates for the year 2011. The rates are the same as last year’s millages.
Board members approved the recommendation of the Building and Properties Committee to locate a greenhouse at Delta Jr. High School for agricultural education. Committee chairman Louis Melton said the pre-fab greenhouse will cost about $6,000 and will be assembled by volunteers.
Smith asked the board to discuss and consider changing school district employees’ payroll schedule from monthly to biweekly, as “a way to improve morale among teachers.”
Business manager Renee Hinton explained the reasons behind the monthly payroll, and some of the problems that could arise from going to a biweekly schedule.
“We would be the first system in the state, that I’m aware of, to have such a system,” she said. “I don’t think that’s a good idea at the moment.”
Board member Ronald Vollmar said a biweekly payroll would a actually result in teachers taking home less after taxes.
Smith said he wanted to bring the issue up for discussion after talking to employees who find it difficult to budget with a monthly paycheck.
“If we have something in our means to improve teachers’ work experience, we should do that,” said Smith.
