LMSD Tackles Election of Officers, Drug Policy, School Lunch Prices

The Louisville Municipal School District's Board met on Tuesday evening and covered multiple items including the election of new officers: Single nominations were made for each position and all votes were unanimous: Bobby Moody - Board Chairman, Betty Byrd - Vice Chairman and Cathy Edwards - Secretary.

The 2012-2013 budget was approved and a slight reduction in millage was possible. Board Chairman Moody commended Superintendent Wade and his staff for their efforts in controlling costs. The previous mil levy for the school was 53.75 mils. The new levy will be 51.54 mils. If a property's valuation remains the same as last year, the school tax on the property will actually reduce slightly. Other taxing authorities apply mil levies as well so the overall effect is yet to be determined.
The Board also approved the personnel and the alternate school handbook without any changes from the previous year, responded by letter to NAACP concerns raised previously, approved two student transfer request and took a third under advisement. All transfers involved the Noxapater and Nanih Waiya schools.

The Board approved the continued drug testing program already in place with the same policies as the previous year. The policy requires random testing, retests on a monthly basis for those who test positive and includes all students who participate in extracurricular activities. Assistant Superintendent McMullan indicated that no females had tested positive in any previous random tests.

Superintendent Wade informed the Board that the Department of Agriculture policy of school lunch reimbursement will unfortunately cause an increase in school lunch prices in the upcoming school year. Lunches will go from $2.00 to $2.25 and adult lunches will increase from $3.25 to $3.50. Board members and administration wanted the public to know that this increase is not coming from the school district but from the federal government. Failure to increase prices could eventually lead to loss of federal reimbursement.

The Board also approved the food service policy for the upcoming year, met with Forestry Commission personnel on programs for timber management on 16th section lands and cancelled and/or advertised several 16th section leases.

The Board's attorney indicated that in reference to 16th section leases, their office could find no incidents of school boards not following the advise of the Secretary of State concerning lease terms and advertisement. There is some local concerns over three remaining residential/agricultural leases and their renewal procedures.

The Board entered into executive session to discuss personnel matters, a specific student transfer issue and the approved substitute teacher list.

The next board meeting is scheduled for August 14th at 5:30 pm.