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The parent presented her issue but there was no motion from the board.
"I can't really discuss the issue right now, but I can say that nothing was done [at the meeting]," said Superintendent Jeff Bullock.
After reconvening into open session, the board heard reports from members of the staff.
Ashley McMillian, secondary principal, informed the board that the high school quarter final exams will begin next week. McMillian also stated that the junior high boy's basketball started yesterday, Oct. 9, and the girl's volleyball team will have a conference tournament from Oct. 14 through Oct. 17 at Cooter, Mo.
Jason Skelton, elementary principal, followed McMillian and told the board about some upcoming events. On Oct. 17, the high school Art Club will present a carnival for the elementary students. On Oct. 18, there will be a "Halloween Ho-down" for parents, teachers, and preschool students, as well as a Beta Club auction. Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Oct. 23.
After Skelton's report, Lisa Buchanan, special services director, informed the board that the school has began a tutoring program on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for students who are not proficient, according to the state specified level.
Following Buchanan, Bullock presented his report to the board. Bullock informed the board that he and other staff members are looking into creating a policy which would prohibit teachers from having contact with students outside of the school. This is being done in an effort to make sure that no teacher can be falsely accused of having anything more than a professional relationship with the students.
"[The policy] is going to protect our staff, as well as our students," Bullock said.
Bullock plans to have the policy ready by the next board meeting.
Bullock then informed the board that the school scored a 12 out of 15 on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Annual Performance Report. This is up from last year's score of 9 out of 15. Bullock noted that Richard Trout, DESE representative for southeast Missouri, told the school that they probably would not go up from last year's score.
"Going up three [points] when [Trout] expected us to drop one or two really shows how much hard work our staff put into last year," Bullock said.
In other matters, the board:
* Voted and approved the A+ Partnership Plan, which is unchanged from last year;
* Approved making up the missed day of Sept. 15, with Oct. 24, in which the students will attend until 12:30 p.m.
The board closed the meeting by again adjourning to executive session, in which no other topics were discussed.
Comments
In small communities there are a lot of teachers that teach their friends children. How could this possibly be monitored fairly?
It could not. I was a teacher in years past and I tutored many students at my home outside of school hours. This is an issue with a lot of gray area.
WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL SOME OF MY TEACHERS ASK STUDENTS TO STOP BY AFTER SUPPER AND THEY SPENT THEIR OWN TIME HELPING IN A ONE ON ONE SITUATION SO THAT STUDENT WOULD NOT FALL BEHIND.ALSO A ONE TIME MY TEACHER WAS ALSO MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.SOME OF MY TEACHERS TAUGHT THEIR OWN CHILDREN ALONG WITH THEIR OTHER STUDENTS.IF I REMEMBER RIGHT THAT WAS AT HOLCOMB. THE STAFF AND THE STUDENTS WILL NOT HAVE ANY SECURITY,HARRASMENT,OR MISCONDUCT PROBLEMS IF BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE PROPERLY MONITORED.
If a teacher has nothing more than a professional relationship with the students, then the students will learn very little from that teacher. Students do not care what a teacher knows until they know that a teacher cares. Some recent research points out the importance of teachers having a relationship with students and their families.
When I went to school in Senath almost 30 years ago, one of our teachers bought us alcohol so that we could do a good job on the senior float. It also is a pretty good bet that another teacher(gay), had an affair with some of his students(also gay and one now dead of aids) You people should feel pretty good about how far you've come.
In communities as large as even 3,000 to 5,000 residents, how can a teacher keep a professional only relationship with a student who attends the same church as they do? How can a teacher keep a professional relationship with a student who they've known since the day the student was born simply because they lived in the same neighborhood at one time or were very good friends with the parents? There are so many things that can happen in a small community that you simply can't avoid an outside the school relationship. I'll bet if the truth be known that the student did something and has exploited the incident to the point of trying to get the teacher in trouble or fired as a "get even" trick. I just hope the school board will realize that if some type of policy is set forth that they remember that the friendliness of their community to outsiders may be jeopardized along the way and that people who are considering moving into the school district will think twice and move elsewhere.
Unfortunately the innocent are being punished as a result of the guilty who more often than not go unpunished. I attended high school in the late 80's and I know of at least two occasions there were "relations" going on between teachers/students. And, it has gone on since then on several occasions. In today's world, just use some common sense. If your family already has an established friendship with a teacher, then so be it. If you don't and you suddenly find your child being invited, especiall alone and often to a teacher's home, then be worried, very worried. And teacher, you're human and enjoy attention as much as the students, so don't put yourself in a place to become vulnerable to temptations. Never invite ONE student ALONE. Invite their family or rather contact the family and offer to stop by their home when they are there if it is truly their grades you're concerned about. If you find the student alone, don't go in. And if your teacher invites you to his/her home alone, student, don't go. If you're innocent, you shouldn't mind going out of your way to make sure your actions are above reproach!
Doesn't the United States of America still have a constitution?