DeWitt School Board Meets

The Board Members of the DeWitt School Board, along with principals and teachers, met on April 14th, in the Administration Boardroom.  There was a Call to Order, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Invocation.  Mrs. Bobbie Lynn Steeland gave her interpretation of the DS Interim Data Comparison.  For 3rd graders, this was their first time to test on Chromebooks. Intensive Math Skills for the Fall of the Year gave math schools a 2%, and Science was at 3%, but raised to 31% in Winter.  The teachers are focusing on Writing Workshops, Reading Comprehension, Teaching High Leverage Reading and Writing Strategies, and Boot Camps.

With this being a serious year for intrusive intervention–Level 1– these students are given the opportunity to retest after Memorial Day.  Students who also can’t pass the 3rd grade restrictions will have a 5 Week Summer School,and if they score well, they will be promoted to 4th grade.  There are 10 students projected at a Level 1–they will have a meeting with parents, have met a Parent Teacher Conferences, will have before and after school tutoring.  The very negative part of these ATLAS Tests is that these young students are Tested on Standards that they have never seen before–seems pretty unfair to both students and teachers.

The Minutes of the Regular Meeting on March 10th were approved, and as well the March Financial Reports.  This past month was a good month on tax collections, and expenses were down vs. last year.  

Last year’s Superintendent Dr. Nick Hill developed a report for projections.   There are 1078 students carrying a figure of $8,037 per student giving the district a decline.  Teacher Equality Funds give $185 per student for a $36,000 salary which will be phased out next year.  The State will pick up some health insurance.

In New Business, the Health Special Rick Student/Athletic Insurance supplemental policy will have supplemental insurance in case a student has an accident for the 2026-2027 School Year with a cost of $12,347.00

The Auditor came last month and all in all everything turned out well

The Board then needed to discuss and renew Contracts:

Occupational Therapy Contract for Heather Horton was renewed

Educational Examiner Contract was renewed

Speech Therapy Contract with Meagan Capps was renewed

Physical Therapy contract with Ashley Relyea was renewed

Braille Services Contract Abigail Jones was renewed.  

DeWitt Students and Parents will be pleased to know that the supplies will be covered from costs to the district as well community donations. The price for the supplies is around $46,000.  Please let the District know how appreciative you are–this is quite a large expense.

Right now the district is in search of hiring a Junior and Senior High Cheer Sponsors.  In order to find the right people, the District will be adding 5 days to contracts which will add $1315  to compensate for their time and expenses.

In the Superintendent's Report, there are 1077 students, 8 students gone.

May 1st Class Day

Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8

Graduation is May 8 at the Football Field

DES Field Day  May 7

DES 3rd Grade Fishing Derby is May 14

Athletic Banquet  May 11

Underclass Awards May 14

DMS Awards Day is May 18

Mr. Dupuy sent the board into Executive Session and came by Resignations and New HIres.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL MAY 20!!!!!!!!!

PERSONAL ACTIONS:

Classified Resignation—-Maribel Medina (DES ESL Para)

Certified Resignation—Rachel Oliver DES Teacher, Jaclyn Kulbeth (Softball) Terran Henderson–Jr. Class Sponsor

Certified New Hire–Lily Deviney—DES Teacher

Drew Leder—DHS Band Director

Jennifer Poston–DHS Special Education Teacher

Temporary Contract—Bobby Peeks–Soft Classified Contraction Extension

The Next Meeting is set for May 12 at 7:00 at the Boardroom.

The meeting was then adjourned.