City seeks school board nominees


Thursday, September 20, 2007
Community \| Obits \| Editorial & Columnists \| Society \| Sports \| Education \| Classified Ads \| Calendar of Events \| Features \| Newsbriefs \| Legals \| Archives \| Subscriptions \| Photo Gallery

City seeks school board nominees

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen is seeking nominees to serve on the board of trustees of the city school district, with two positions to be filled.

Mayor Andre’ DeBerry, at the September 4 meeting, said he thinks more trustees are needed on the board who have children in the school system; however, one alderman said problems can arise when there is a situation at the school with a child of a trustee.

Alderman Russell Johnson urged that trustees be selected, at least in part, on the basis of their judgement.

“I agree with you to a point,” Johnson said to DeBerry. “But we also need someone who can handle the responsibilities of the school board. Our school district is in a critical, critical situation. We need people with (good) judgement.”

With no further appointments likely to come up until year 2008-2009, DeBerry pushed further for selecting a parent.

“First of all the person must be competent and capable,” he said. “If we’re looking at (a person with) a slight edge, I think we would need someone with a vested interest (a child in the school).”

Johnson said the school board needed balance.

‘We need a female and a white person,” he said. “We are an open community and nothing should be all white, all black, all female, all male, to represent the make-up of this community.”

At this juncture, alderman Nancy Hutchens nominated David Childers and Tim Liddy seconded.

Hutchens said Childers had expressed an interest in the position “and is very interested in the school system.”

“David has been on the board once,” said DeBerry. “There’s a need to include others. I find it quite interesting I ask for a set-aside for parents and a set-aside for race is considered first.”

Hutchens withdrew her nomination of Childers to provide more room for discussion.

David Beckley with Rust College agreed with DeBerry that more trustees should have children in the system.

The list of potential nominees had grown to seven since discussions began several meetings back - Marion Talley, dean, Rust College; Fergenia Hood, retired teacher at the intermediate school now with ICS Head Start; Angela Mayfield, a parent working with Head Start; David Childers, veterinarian; and Wanda Pegues, educator/teacher with Northwest Community College; and Jesse Jackson, retired teacher; and Sherna DeBerry Stone, daycare operator.

Liddy asked if the list of potential appointees could be interviewed.

“I know it’s urgent, but could we interview them if we haven’t met them?” he asked.

“No problem,” DeBerry said adding that he wanted the process to be constructive.

“I will set up appointments, but at some point in time we have to have a school board who has a working knowledge, kinship and ownership in the school district.”

Johnson pointed out again that the child of a board member can have an issue with the school that can spill over into the board of trustees.

“Someone who can make a contribution (to the school board) is the key thing,” he said.

“There’s no question Tally would bring mountains of experience,” DeBerry said. “Ms. Hood with Head Start would bring much, but I’m trying to keep a flavor of parental involvement on the board.”

DeBerry said competent people are needed on the board of trustees.

“It’s a thankless job that doesn’t pay much money,” he said.

Other business

At the August 21 meeting, the board of aldermen:

• approved an emergency order for $20,900 to repair a collapsed force main sewer line on Hudsonville Road and West Street. The emergency resulted from a heavy rain that undercut the sewer line. The erosion was missed due to accumulation of kudzu.

• approved printing costs of $1,178 for $3.254 million in bonds handled by Watkins, Winter, Ludlum & Stennis.

• approved IMS Engineering of Jackson as contractor for the Hill Crest Cemetery and Chalmers Institute grant through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. IMS was the sole bidder. Alderman Tim Liddy voted nay saying he wanted more time to review the proposal before bringing the motion to the floor.

At the September 4 meeting, the board of aldermen:

• opened bids for a knuckleboom trash loader truck. Bids were taken under advisement.

• held a public hearing for the Indiana Finance Authority for the issuance of $15 million in revenue bonds to finance renovating, remodeling, equipping and furnishing Hollyview Apartments on MLK Drive.

• heard proposals from Ken Robinson, director of Information Technology.

Robinson said IT is developing classes for welding and forklift drivers. The welding class will be a project with Northwest Community College, he said.

• passed a motion to contract with Neil Bain and Sons to extend water and sewer at the Holly Springs Commons to the clinic and hospital sites. Bain was low bidder at $198,585. Phase II of the project will extend water and sewer service from the clinic area up to West Boundary Street.

• adopted an ordinance to allow outdoor serving of alcoholic beverages at set events sanctioned by the city of Holly Springs.

Report News: (662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
Questions, comments, corrections: south@dixie-net.com
©2004, The South Reporter, All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced in any way without permission.
The South Reporter is a member of the Mississippi Press Association.

Web Site managed and maintained by
South Reporter webmasters Linda Jones, Kristian Jones
Web Site Design - The South Reporter

Back | Top of Page