VILONIA Salary increases for school district employees and lower millage rates for homeowners were topics at the Vilonia Board of Education meeting held Monday night.
Board members sat quietly as Dr. Frank Mitchell, superintendent of the Vilonia School District, advised them there is going to be a millage rollback regarding real estate.
"It's rather small," Mitchell said, but significant to the school's revenue. However, he said, it's "probably a fair thing."
The whole idea of the rollback, Mitchell told the board is "to keep people's taxes from going up a lot."
The current millage is 39.2 and the rolled back millage is 38.9 mills reflecting a decrease of three-tenths of a mill.
On the heels of that discussion, the board approved a salary increase of $300 for full time employees including certified and classified to be paid out of the operating funds. Half-time employees will receive $150 as well as bus drivers will receive $150.
"This is not a bonus or insurance money," Mitchell pointed out. "This is just a raise."
He estimated the raise to cost the district about $101,188. Recommending the board approve the raise, Mitchell said, the amount is more than "we have to do" under state mandates but "well within what I budgeted."
In other business, the board approved some changes to the student policy handbook. It was said the majority of the changes were made as a means to "state them in a little more concise manner."
"Nothing is really new," Mitchell said. "We are just cleaning up and making things more concise."
Some changes or clarifications to the policy include:
Under residence requirements, a sentence was added saying "if either parent resides within the district , the child is eligible to attend regardless of who has custody or where the child resides."
Under school attendance, it was noted that parents, legal guardians or other persons will be required to sign a statement under oath attesting to his or her residential address or to provide other proof that a student is a resident of the school district. Any person who knowingly gives a false address for purposes of public school enrollment is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of $500.
Under entrance requirements, it was spelled out that a student may enter kindergarten if they will attain the age of five on or before Sept. 15, of the year in which they are seeking initial enrollment.
Also, it's a requirement that it be indicated on school registration forms whether a child has been expelled from school in any other school district or if involved in an expulsion proceeding.
Also, under admission of exchange students, the limit in the district is four.
Under home school students, parents who have provided home school for their child must present a written list of subjects taught and textbooks used to the principal at the time of enrollment. Also, the school district will not award a diploma to any person who has not been in attendance during the last semester of the senior year.
On another matter, the board briefly discussed the memorial kiosk project where those who have been "important "to the district may be remembered through photos and stories posted via television at the gymnasium. Donations are being accepted for that project.
In other action:
Following an executive session, the board voted to expel an eighth grader. The reason was not discussed in the open meeting.
The board accepted the resignation of bus driver Keith Covington.
The next board meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the school administration office.
