LIBERTY — Amite County school superintendent Scotty Whittington is concerned about the absentee rates of teachers in the district.
Whittington on Oct. 13, gave school trustees a report on enrollment numbers and absenteeism rates.
He said the high school’s absentee rate for teachers is 3.8 percent, while the elementary school’s rate is 5.8 percent.
“It’s too much; it’s that simple,” Whittington said. “But teachers have the days, and they’re going to take them.”
Meanwhile, student absenteeism has been 4.3 percent at the high school and 3.3 percent at the elementary.
As for enrollment, student numbers at the elementary school were 617 at the end of the previous school year and were about the same this year, at 615. Numbers rose at the high school — from 408 students enrolled last year to 443 this year.
Whittington said there are 44 teachers at the high school, as compared to 46 teachers last year. At the elementary school, the numbers went from 52 to 50.
Having a lower number of teachers, he said, will save the district money.
In other matters, the board:
• Approved making Bruce Baker powerlifting coach, Cavadas Nunnery assistant boys varsity basketball coach and Takeya Felder assistant varsity girls basketball coach for the school year.
• Hired Patrece Griffith as a high school certified teacher for the year and approved the following America Reads tutors at the elementary school: Michele Carter, Krystal Montgomery, William Murphy and LaTrevian Wells
• Accepted the resignation of teacher assistant Christine Jackson.
• Accepted numerous donations to the district, including items to the elementary school and its teachers lounge and for outdoor landscaping.
• Accepted the 16th Section hunting and fishing lease bid on 475 acres from sole bidder Randall Pervise for $12 per acre, or $5,701.08
• Accepted the sole 16th Section hunting and fishing lease bid from Daniel W. Jackson on a 194-acre tract at $12.10 per acre, or $2,347.40
• Awarded the high bids of $230,000 for timber sales on 105 acres of school lands to Lance Smith Logging of Brookhaven. The company also was the highest bidder, at $288,000, for a 105-acre tract. Both sections of land call for clear cutting 95 acres and thinning the remaining 10 acres.
• Approved the release of three students from Amite County schools to other unnamed schools.
• Heard that parents have been sent letters informing them of renovation work at the elementary school, high school and vocational-technical building. The work will be done after 3 p.m. and on weekends and holidays to avoid disruption of student classtime. Work is expected to be finished in July 2017.
• Heard from Whittington, who announced that the district will be dropping softball, as have other schools in ACHS’s competitive class. The reason was at least partly financial. “Softball brings in no revenue,” Whittington said.
He noted that the school is looking to add girls volleyball to its roster of sports.
