The age-old debate over teacher numbers and central office staff continued at the May meeting of the Winn Parish School Board as members looked as to how to proceed into the upcoming school year.
At issue was the position of Chief Technology Officer which was listed on the agenda as “Consider Elimination.” Amy Seward who holds that post is retiring, with her last day being July 22. The board in committee session a week earlier had discussed the possibility of cutting that position and distributing the responsibilities among central office supervisors.
The board asked Seward to explain the role of the technology officer. She pointed out that the trend over the past decade is towards all-technology. “When I began 12 years ago, tests and work was all done on paper. Today none is. Every student uses a Chromebook.” She went on to describe the myriad of equipment parishwide that she has to oversee and ensure maintenance. If all is not working correctly, serious problems can occur (she cited nonpayment of TOPS monies, as an example).
She confirmed that she is retiring at the end of this year. She mentioned that should the board decide to farm out the duties of the one officer to various central office staffers, it was their choice.
Joe Llaine Long emphasized “We need a technology person.” Joe Lynn Browning added “I think this is one position the board doesn’t need to cut. This is not a supervisory position.”
Lance Underwood complained “We can’t cut our teachers” (to stay within budget). Long came back that teacher numbers are dictated by student numbers which continue to decline in Winn. Supt. Alfred Simmons agreed that it is the number of students enrolled that generates the money that the district runs on. “It’s a brutal process.”
The board agreed to table the issue on eliminating that position until more information is available. But when Long brought up a question of advertising for a new Chief Technology Officer, discussion again debated the hiring practices policy now on record placing that duty with the superintendent. The board has asked for a rewritten policy. Browning asked Simmons the status of that and heard it is being written for board consideration.
In other action, the board approved action to advertise for sale the vacated Winnfield Primary School buildings which they’d previously declared “surplus.” They also declared the Atlanta High School complex as surplus and agreed also to advertise it for sale. Simmons pointed out that there is a legislative process for such public sales that includes minimum bid percentages at each step of the way.
In a roll call vote, the board unanimously agreed to join in support of the State of Louisiana in its lawsuit opposing the controversial “Final Rule” of Title IX regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. That federal rule is entitled “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.” The board believes this Final Rule will be detrimental to students, parents and employees as well as running contrary to both state and federal law.
