Harrison resigns from school board
by BOB WRIGHT
(Posted 3/11/2010 09:07 am)
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Bert Harrison, citing “personal and health reasons,” abruptly resigned from the Mexia School Board just after trustees had come back from their second executive session Monday night.
Harrison, who had served almost five years, had a year and three days remaining on his current three-year term of office. He told The Mexia News on Tuesday morning that his resignation is “effective immediately.” After he resigned, he walked out of the meeting.
Citing his reasons, Bert had this to say: “Maybe I can now get my blood pressure down and keep my sanity.” He said part of his reason for his resignation was what he perceives was happening on the board. “We gave the Superintendent a task to do, and he did just the opposite,” he said without further elaboration. He had told Dr. Jason Ceyanes in a previous board meeting that “We told you to foster a better relationship between the school district and the community, and you haven’t done that.” Tuesday morning, he told the newspaper by telephone, “If the Superintendent is going to run the board, then he doesn’t need me.”
In other action, trustees did the following:
•Approved several budget amendments.
•Adopted CSCOPE as the district-wide pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 as the curriculum, “The district administrators identified curriculum as our primary area of concern last June, while we were reviewing our state assessment data. The curriculum committee looked at two curriculum processes - CSCOPE and CCAP. The committee also discussed writing our own curriculum. Based on all of the discussions, the district feels as if CSCOPE, through the Education Service Center, Region 12, is the best way for us to meet our curriculum needs,” explained assistant Superintendent John Turpin.
•Approves extension of the JR3 Retire/Rehire Program for Margaret Jackson, a Special Education Transition Specialist for Mexia Independent School District. This is a program which benefits both the employee and employer, said Dr. Ceyanes. “The employee is able to retire and draw retirement from the Texas Retirement System and then is able to contract with JR3 which in turn contracts with the school district,” he explained. Margaret’s contract was extended for the 2010-2011 school year.
•Approved a trip out of the state for the Mexia High School DECA students, who will be in national competition at Louisville, Kentucky, on April 23-28. Wendy Simmons made a brief presentation just prior to the board’s approval. Dr. Ceyanes highly praised the students for carrying out the goals of DECA, and recommended that the board approve the trip.
•Heard from Art instructor Enrique Crosby, then declared March as Youth Art Month. “This is something which during the month promotes quality art education programs in schools and in the communities,” Crosby told the board. One facet of the celebration will be a district-wide art show at Mexia High, with the opening night activities to start at 6 p.m. and end at 8 o’clock on March 25. McBay Elementary and Mexia Junior High will also submit work for viewing. Snacks and drinks, and live music will be provided.
•Adopted the 2010-2011 school calendar.
•Approved contracts for the ensuing school year for teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians and diagnosticians.
All trustees attended the monthly session, held a week earlier than usual due to next week’s Spring break. Trustees are Brian Johnson, President, Bert Harrison, Larry LaRue, Culetta Beachum, Steve Trantham, Willie Herring and Richard Duncan.
by BOB WRIGHT
(Posted 3/11/2010 09:07 am)
Harrison, who had served almost five years, had a year and three days remaining on his current three-year term of office. He told The Mexia News on Tuesday morning that his resignation is “effective immediately.” After he resigned, he walked out of the meeting.
Citing his reasons, Bert had this to say: “Maybe I can now get my blood pressure down and keep my sanity.” He said part of his reason for his resignation was what he perceives was happening on the board. “We gave the Superintendent a task to do, and he did just the opposite,” he said without further elaboration. He had told Dr. Jason Ceyanes in a previous board meeting that “We told you to foster a better relationship between the school district and the community, and you haven’t done that.” Tuesday morning, he told the newspaper by telephone, “If the Superintendent is going to run the board, then he doesn’t need me.”
In other action, trustees did the following:
•Approved several budget amendments.
•Adopted CSCOPE as the district-wide pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 as the curriculum, “The district administrators identified curriculum as our primary area of concern last June, while we were reviewing our state assessment data. The curriculum committee looked at two curriculum processes - CSCOPE and CCAP. The committee also discussed writing our own curriculum. Based on all of the discussions, the district feels as if CSCOPE, through the Education Service Center, Region 12, is the best way for us to meet our curriculum needs,” explained assistant Superintendent John Turpin.
•Approves extension of the JR3 Retire/Rehire Program for Margaret Jackson, a Special Education Transition Specialist for Mexia Independent School District. This is a program which benefits both the employee and employer, said Dr. Ceyanes. “The employee is able to retire and draw retirement from the Texas Retirement System and then is able to contract with JR3 which in turn contracts with the school district,” he explained. Margaret’s contract was extended for the 2010-2011 school year.
•Approved a trip out of the state for the Mexia High School DECA students, who will be in national competition at Louisville, Kentucky, on April 23-28. Wendy Simmons made a brief presentation just prior to the board’s approval. Dr. Ceyanes highly praised the students for carrying out the goals of DECA, and recommended that the board approve the trip.
•Heard from Art instructor Enrique Crosby, then declared March as Youth Art Month. “This is something which during the month promotes quality art education programs in schools and in the communities,” Crosby told the board. One facet of the celebration will be a district-wide art show at Mexia High, with the opening night activities to start at 6 p.m. and end at 8 o’clock on March 25. McBay Elementary and Mexia Junior High will also submit work for viewing. Snacks and drinks, and live music will be provided.
•Adopted the 2010-2011 school calendar.
•Approved contracts for the ensuing school year for teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians and diagnosticians.
All trustees attended the monthly session, held a week earlier than usual due to next week’s Spring break. Trustees are Brian Johnson, President, Bert Harrison, Larry LaRue, Culetta Beachum, Steve Trantham, Willie Herring and Richard Duncan.
