Amy Heckethorn, Sherrie McElrath, Nettie Thomas and Joe Yates are sworn into office by Judge Lee Moore at the Dyersburg City Board of Education meeting on Monday night. [Click to enlarge]

The first order of business was the swearing in of new and returning board members: Amy Heckethorn, Sherry McElrath, Nettie Thomas and Joe Yates. Officiating the swearing in was Judge Lee Moore.

Next, Mark Johnston was recognized with a plaque for his many years of service on the school board. Superintendent Lloyd Ramer noted how great it was having an attorney on the board.

Tara Jones, the Northwestern District Director with the Tennessee School Board Association, presents Dr. Randy Prince (representing the board) with the Board of Distinction award. [Click to enlarge]

"Thank you, it's been great and I commend you to continue and encourage them (students) to excel in character and scholastics," said Johnston.

Also, Ramer acknowledged a rare occurrence.

"Since 1895 we have only had two occasions where we have had a father-daughter and a father-son to serve on the (Dyersburg) school board," said Ramer.

Mark Johnston poses with Dr. Randy Price at the board meeting. Johnston was recognized for his many years of service on the Dyersburg City Board of Education. [Click to enlarge]

George Yarbough is current board member Amy Heckethorn's father, and Billy Yates is current board member Joe Yates' father. Both Heckethorn and Yates received plaques to commemorate this extraordinary legacy.

Former Superintendent Sam Reed spoke about George and Billy's service to the board and the school system.

"George and Billy served during the most strenuous times in the history of this state and this nation and this city, it was the year that we integrated," said Reed. "The main thought among the board was to treat everybody fairly. George was always the sound one and making us be sure we do it right and Billy was always figuring it out how to do it. They were trusted by the people and willing to go out on a limb."

Tara Jones, the Northwestern District director for the Tennessee School Board Association, then recognized the Dyersburg School Board with the Board of Distinction Award.

"I know you've put in a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of effort and a lot of responsibility," said Jones.

Dr. Randy Prince accepted the award on behalf of the board.

Next, the board voted to approve the minutes from the Aug. 4 board meeting and the compliance report. The motion carried unanimously.

Then the board, noting their achievement, recognized the student successes.

Following the student successes, Heckethorn made a motion to accept the board's Four Year Plan from 2008 to 2012. Yates seconded the motion, and it was carried by a unanimous vote.

The school calendar was then up for discussion. "The only thing that is different about this calendar than past years is that it calls for a Sunday afternoon graduation," said Ramer. "We went through advisory committees and would like to try it for a year and see how it works." This policy will be in effect for the 2009 graduation.

Hubert Jones made the motion to approve the 2009-2010 calendar and Thomas seconded it. The motion carried unanimously.

Also, during the last school board meeting the board passed a differentiated pay plan the state did not accept.

"Our problem all along was the fact was they want us to have a plan but they don't want us to fund it, which I think is interesting," said Ramer. "The plan they accepted is a plan that says if we have difficulty finding teachers two years in a row, then we're allowed to pay them a bonus, but once again that is not funded. I hope at retreat we can come up with one a little better than this."

A board member then asked if the differentiated pay plan was passed in the state legislature.

"The law says you have to have a plan, you just don't have to pay for it," said Ramer. Heckethorn made the motion to accept this second pay plan, it was seconded and carried unanimously.

Next came the board policies for approval.

The School Support Policy was up for approval on its second reading.

"The brand new law says we have to monitor booster clubs, so booster clubs now have to file with the state and the superintendent's office has to approve their fundraising and they have to give us a beginning total and an ending total. We've had really good success. Our clubs have really tried to follow the law and do what they are supposed to do, and so far I've been pleased even though I think it's a stupid law."

A motion was made and seconded to approve the School Support Policy on the second reading. The motion carried unanimously.

Ramer then asked that since board members have only had the new policies for one week, they pass them on the first reading and at the next meeting they would go over them policy by policy.

The policies being accepted on first reading are:

- Acceptable Computer Use for District Staff

- Energy Management Conservation

- Code of Ethics

- Effective Boardsmanship Standards

- Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement

- Extended School Day/Year Programs and School Age Childcare (change)

- Registered Sex Offenders (change)

- Private Vehicles

- Interscholastic Athletics

- Use of the Internet

- Parent/Family Involve-ment

- Parent Organizations/ Booster Clubs (delete policy)

- Personnel Records (change)

- Student Discrimination/ Harassment and Bullying/ Intimidation

- Prohibition of Corporal Punishment

A board member brought up the issue concerning prohibiting corporal punishment.

"Last year we did away with corporal punishment, but what I forgot to do was let you all approve, that we did away with corporal punishment. ... We have not been paddling any this year ... it is not in our best interest to paddle kids and has not been."

A somewhat reluctant Yates voiced his concern about the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment. Heckethorn made a motion to approve everything on the first reading with the understanding the policies would get discussed next time. It was seconded and passed unanimously.

Ramer then acknowledged that Thomas had been elected to the All-State School Board.

Next, Dr. Prince mentioned a publication that was partly the reason the state is beefing up the requirements for schools. An organization went through and determined the strength of state proficiency standards. The report said that Tennessee was the only state that got Fs all across the board. "This is one of the reasons the state is working on beefing up the requirements because our proficiency is at a 40 percent level," said Prince. He then cited an organization called Education Next had given Tennessee the "cream puff" award, on the grounds that Tennessee's standards were so low.

The board then discussed their schedule of upcoming meetings, conventions and retreat:

- TSBA annual convention Nov. 14-18

- Regular Board Meeting Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.

- Retreat Jan. 24, Feb. 7

- NSBA Convention in San Diego, Calif., Apr.4-7

Ramer then welcomed Sherry McElrath and told her he was looking forward to working with her.

Ramer also noted that at the next board meeting, the 21st Century grant would be discussed.

Heckethorn asked about the Learning Center, and Ramer said it is going well with nearly 100 students there.

Also, a newly started program called "Thank the Ranks" was announced. Forms are made available to everybody in the city school system asking people to nominate others that have gone out of their way to do an exceptional job. The recipients will be recognized at board meetings and anybody can be nominated, from janitors to teachers.

No further business was conducted and the meeting was adjourned.

The next Dyersburg City School Board meeting will be held on Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.