EMPORIUM — Cameron County School Board members accepted the resignation of vice president Richard Harrier at Monday’s meeting.
Kristine Umble was the only member nominated to fill the seat, and she earned a unanimous vote to take over as vice president.
In other personnel matters, three retirement notices were accepted.
Elementary teacher Jackie Guido will retire on Friday after 27 years of service in the district. Principal Lynn Newcomer will leave at the end of the year, having served 32 years as a high school teacher and administrator at Cameron County. Maintenance director Jim Markum announced his retirement at the end of this year, as well. All three are taking advantage of a retirement incentive being offered this year which has been extended through the end of March.
Meanwhile, a number of teachers and parents attended the meeting to express their concerns over the board, administration, teachers and parents working together to strengthen the district.
A number of committees are being established by the board to address the concern, with committees to be established for parental involvement, curriculum, budget and policies. The three latter committees will be reserved for board members, while the parent committee will hold a mix of board members and district parents.
The meetings will be open to the public and teachers are also invited to attend. Schedules will be advertised.
Reports were given by the Discovery Partnership being developed by the Community Education Council of Elk and Cameron counties, the McClure Co. on energy savings construction, progress on Project Pearl Harbor and a proposed co-op program with the Austin School District for sports programs.
Approval was also given for the Northern Tier Community Action Head Start Program to rent a classroom at Woodland Elementary School. The move will bring all publicly-educated children in the district under one roof. Northern Tier will pay the district $800 per month to use the space, with all utilities included in the price. Rent will be paid year round.
The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 31 in the high school library. The meeting was originally scheduled for committees, but it has been changed to a voting meeting to deal with some issues that must be resolved prior to the regular meeting scheduled for later in April.
