The Weatherford Public Schools Board of Education voted to revise four district policies and terminate a contract with an employee during a special meeting Thursday evening.
The policy revisions were based on recommendations from the Oklahoma State School Board Association, who provides policy and legal services to member districts.
The first change was to Policy C-16, which deals with the disposal of surplus school property. Superintendent Jill Henderson said the additional language to the policy requires all personal information is removed from district computers before they can be surplussed.
The revision also adds language dealing with the surplus and disposal of leased property, which the district does not have at this time. However, OSSBA still recommended partner districts make the changes at this time.
The second revised policy is D-66, which deals with support personnel suspension, demotion and termination. The revision gives an additional cause for suspension, demotion or termination: failure or inability to perform the assigned duties or functions of the position.
The third policy, F-46, deals with bullying. The revision adds language stating the school is “not responsible to provide education services in a traditional school setting if a student has been removed from school by an administrator or judicial process” for bullying or threatening a student through “electronic communications.
The last change made was to Policy B-13, deals with the Health and Fit School Advisory Committee/Safe School Committee. The policy language changed from the committee “making recommendations regarding health education” to the committee “making recommendations to the implementation” of the Health Education Act of 2021. The act will go into effect during the 2023-24 school year. It requires social-emotional education, which the district already is providing through Project AWARE.
The board voted to terminate the employment of bus driver Tim Jefferson, who did not request a due process hearing. This termination will be preceded by an investigation and other due processes. Superintendent Henderson said she is unable to provide further information because it is a personnel issue.
The board approved a coffee mug fundraiser for the speech and debate team. The board also approved the hiring of Richelle Miller as the new transportation director and Dylan Melvin as a bus driver.