Supporters present petition for Mason as athletic director
By: Toni Walker
Editor of The Steel Country Bee
The Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD met for their regular monthly meeting on Feb. 15. Following the invocation and pledge, the board heard comments from a community member during the Public Forum.
Mrs. Amelia Williams addressed the board with support for current Daingerfield assistant coach Michael Mason. Williams came with a petition to the board to promote Mason to the position of athletic director. After listing several of Mason’s qualifications, Williams went on to say “We the parents respect him, and his dedication to our students. Coach Mason deserves and has earned the right to have this position.” Following her three minute allotted speaking time, Williams presented Superintendent Sandra Quarles with her comments, along with a petition, signed by 250 members of the community, supporting Mason. Williams was joined by others from the community, as well as several students who were in attendance to show support of Mason.
Following the Public Forum, the board considered the financial reports from January. Superintendent Quarles spoke for business manager Jeff Chambers, who was absent due to illness. She did state that student enrollment was up 28 students from October. A motion to accept the January Financials was made by member Mike Alcorn, seconded by Miguel Larsen, and unanimously approved by the board. The board then considered the minutes of the Jan. 19 meeting, which were also unanimously approved following a motion by Larsen, which was seconded by Jerry Stoermer.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Quarles updated the board on the superintendent search. Quarles stated that they had received over 100 applications, and that a committee of eight had been going through the applications. “I can tell you they are working diligently, and taking this very seriously,” said Quarles, in reference to the committee. She also stated that they hoped to have someone in place by March 1. Following the Superintendent’s Report, the board considered item seven on the agenda, Action Items. Their first item to consider the approval of the Joint Election Agreement, was approved unanimously following a motion and second by Stoermer and Larsen, respectively. The board also unanimously approved the Notice of Election-2016 Trustee Election, following a motion and second by Stoermer and Marie Skipper.
The final action item of the evening was to consider the adoption of the 2016-2017 district calendar. Mrs. Martha Campbell explained to the board that she had presented the teachers in the district with three options, and the one they had was the overwhelming choice. Campbell also explained that the State of Texas has changed the way school days are measured, using minutes instead of days. Students now must attend school for 75,600 minutes each year. Those minutes are broken down and Campbell used West Elementary School’s current schedule, as they are in school the least amount of time each day. Campbell explained that, on the new schedule, the students will have 173 school days, and that teachers will still be required to work 187 days. In case of bad weather, Campbell explained that minutes can be added to the remaining school days to make up for bad weather, but also that she did schedule one Bad Weather Makeup day, as well. Following a motion by Larsen, and a second by Skipper, the board unanimously approved the proposed schedule.
Following the final action item, the board entered closed session, where they discussed administrator contractors. Following their return to open session, the board entertained a motion by Skipper to renew all administrator’s contracts, which was seconded by Maurice Tigert. Following the unanimous vote by the board to approve the motion, they were reminded that the next regular meeting would be on March 21. The meeting was then adjourned.
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