MOUNT VERNON — On Monday, during the public participation portion of the Mount Vernon City Schools Board of Education meeting, Bob Brayton, Dewey Morrow and George Balish said they are not against the board, but are in disagreement with the board’s decisions regarding John Freshwater.
Freshwater, a middle school science teacher, is on unpaid leave pending a hearing. An investigation by an independent firm, completed in June, found that Freshwater used an electric device, intended for use in experiments, to burn a cross into a student’s arm, and intermingled religious views and practices with his academic teachings. Freshwater has denied the burning of a cross, stating that he simply made an “X.”
On Sept. 2, Freshwater filed a countersuit, claiming defamation of character and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Jeff Cline asked the board to review a long list of books he feels should be banned from the schools’ libraries due to pornographic and other objectionable content. A copy of the district’s book policy was available at the meeting for review, and contains a form parents can use to express their concerns about specific books.
High school student council representative Aubry Vonck gave the board an update on the activities of student government. She said they are already scouting out prom locations, planning the Powder Puff contest and working on homecoming. The theme this year is “A Walk in Venice.”
Vonck also said the ACE awards are back at the high school, and reported that the students like the opportunity to earn rewards for positive behavior.
Board vice president Margie Bennett talked about student achievement and discussed the results of a public opinion poll about education in the United States. She announced a revised version of the PSAT for eighth-graders, and suggested visiting the Learning First Alliance Web site at www.publicschoolinsight.org. Bennett also reminded the board and staff members that mock election season is here, and said that is a good way to get students involved in the democratic process. A reference site for that is www.nationalmockelection.org.
Regarding personnel, the board accepted the resignation of high school secretary Diana Durbin, effective Sept. 30. It also advanced a number of certified individuals on the salary schedule due to completion of requirements and/or changes in the negotiated agreements, made changes to the classified and certified substitute lists, granted a number of extra service supplemental contracts and stipends, and approved cheerleading and football volunteers. Scott Patterson was retroactively approved as a high school science teacher and Jacqueline Davis was approved as middle school cheerleading advisor. Kathy Bundy was named interim head cook, retroactive to Aug. 22, and the employment of the following classified staff members was approved on a retroactive basis: Sandra Finnell, library aide at East Elementary; Tara Shoro, middle school special education aide; April Stoler, Dan Emmett inclusion assistant and Stacy Williams, Twin Oak building technology aide.
Besides ratifying routine fiscal actions, the board accepted the following memorial book donations, “Dogs for Kids,” to East Elementary in memory of Lou Anne Walker, mother of Claudia Grove, retired East Elementary teacher; and “Jeff Gordon,” to the middle school in memory of Roger Swallow, father of middle school intervention specialist Renee Swallow. It also accepted items valued at more than $15,000 from the Band Boosters Club Inc. to the Mount Vernon City Schools, and a number of individual cash donations to the Mount Vernon High School girls tennis team and to the high school senior/freshman mentor program.
Also related to finances and business services, the board entered into an agreement with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for services provided by the department for the period Aug. 1 to July 31, 2009, approved an agreement with Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Mansfield for exclusive rights to supply the district with Coca-Cola products for the next three years, and awarded the 2008-09 ready-to-serve pizza contract to Papa John’s.
In other action, the board approved gymnastics as a club sport for the 2008-09 school year. It also clarified the language in the contract with the classified employees union regarding attendance incentives and approved an overnight field trip for the MVHS debate team to attend the John Marshall Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament at the end of October. It also approved the high school’s participation in the short-term placement program at The Alternative Center. The program is designed to provide an alternative to suspension that will involve academic work and community service. It is provided at no cost to the district and is supported by all Knox County schools, the Knox County Educational Service Center and Juvenile Judge James Ronk.
Prior to adjournment, the board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters. No further action was taken.
