Trustees approve Beaty's evaluation, contract
BY CHARLOTTE SMITH Editor

Troup board members show off the gifts they received at Monday's meeting. January is School Board Appreciation Month and the trustees received many tokens of appreciation, incuding Troup Tiger hats. Pictured are (front) Melissa Young, Bill Lacy, Keith Lindsey, (back) Homer Jones, Johnny Johnson and Joe Paul McElroy. Kent Lindsey was not present.

Troup Independent School District trustees met for their regular monthly meeting Monday. In addition to a few equipment related-agenda items and student of the month presentations, the board approved a contract evaluation for Supt. Marvin Beaty.

Prior to the meeting, trustees gathered for a board recognition dinner in conjunction with January's status as School Board Appreciation Month. After a meal in the elementary cafeteria, trustees convened at the board room where they received a variety of gifts and tokens of appreciation from TISD staff.

Members of the Troup school board are President Joe Paul McElroy, Bill Lacy, Melissa Young, Homer Jones, Keith Lindsey, Johnny Johnson and Kent Lindsey.

Following the call to order, pledge and prayer, the meeting began with student and employee of the month presentations. Filling in for Derek Driver, assistant principal Brian Clements recognized Jake Johnson as the high school student of the month. Clements praised Johnson for his politeness and willingness to do anything asked of him. Johnson is a member of the varsity football and basketball teams.

Middle school principal Ava Johnson presented Shay Wimberly as her student of the month. Calling her a "great eighth-grader," Johnson said Wimberly was a unanimous choice among her teachers. Wimberly is in the band and is very involved in Young Farmers.

Elementar y principal Debbie Moxley's recognition of her student of the month was simple and direct: "I've been told she absolutely does everything right," said Moxley of first-grader Tiffany Lacy.

Dewayne Brown, the directer of support services for Troup ISD, presented the paraprofessional/ auxiliary employee of the month award to Mozelle Massey, manager of the elementary cafeteria.

Massey has been with the district 16 years and has been in her current position 10 years. Brown said he was very proud to present Massey and that she had done an outstanding job for the district.

Although unable to attend the meeting, Linda Salgado was presented as teacher of the month by middle school principal Ava Johnson.

Following these presentations, the board heard a variety of administrative reports. Brown updated trustees on renovations to the softball complex and said the field should be ready for practice on Monday, Jan. 21. Although not yet complete, the remaining work, such as bleacher installation, won't prevent use of the field.

Brown also told the board that an upgrade to the fire suppression system at the elementary and high school campuses, approved at December's meeting, was now complete and met state requirements.

Brown also said that two new speed bumps had been added to the visitors area parking lot at the football field to prevent speeding in that area.

Jennifer Stewart's financial report indicated tax collections were up from last year. As of Dec. 31, she said the district was 33 percent through the school year and 71.8 percent of the revenue was realized.

In two action items, the board approved the purchase of two washer/dryer sets for the high school gymnasium and replacement equipment for a high school kitchen freezer. Both items required budget amendments, with the $13,212 for the washer/dryer sets coming from the capital outlay funds and the $7,790 for the freezer equipment available in the food service fund budget.

After approval of the consent agenda, trustees met for a lengthy executive session. The only recommendation from the board upon reconvening was to approve Beaty's evaluation and contract and compensation.