Board discusses lockers, backpacks

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The Cumby ISD school board met regarding the school's spring schedule and locker availability, among other items at their Feb. 13 regular meeting.

After opening at 7:03 p.m. with a prayer by Lily Campbell, no citizens were present to offer public comments. Elementary principal Doug Wicks introduced science fair regional qualifiers, which had "a lot of great projects turned in this year," he said. Students included: Hayley MacArthur, Easton Elmore, Josie Norris, Whitney Cummings-Green, Hunter McPherson, Sunny Pierce and Makayla Morgan. Wicks pointed out that all members of the Cumby ISD school board have science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.

Wicks then announced UIL participants, both teams and individuals, who had won first place in their respective events. Students included: J.T. Petty, Cason Robertson, Kinley Colfax, Luke Green, Easton Elmore, Sunny Pierce and Summer Smith.

Logan Miller and Fabian Camargo appeared before the board to present a trailer they had completed as part of their ag mechanics project.

"I love to do ag, and I love to pursue it," Miller told the board. "We're always looking to make new and better equipment." Board president Jason Hudson thanked the boys for being "servants for our community."

The board took a recess from 7:17 to 7:29 p.m. to look at Miller and Camargo's trailer. The board reconvened at 7:30 p.m.

The board unanimously elected not to enter into closed session.

The board unanimously passed their consent agenda.

Hudson asked Wicks to deliver his elementary report. Wicks stated the school was looking for volunteers on March 2 to "come in and read to the kiddos," for Dr. Seuss's birthday, and additionally that March 5 is public schools week wherein Cumby ISD will host an open house. March 9-13 is spring break, and March 30 begins the fourth school quarter, Wicks stated. April 1 will hold spring pictures, and STAAR testing begins April 7, Wicks said.

High school principal Jennifer Dracos provided updates about the feasibility of school lockers, which had first been discussed during the board's November meeting. According to Dracos, the heaviest backpack for a high school student would contain a laptop, but "all their stuff for athletics stays in their locker." Dracos said not as many students have laptops as most have school-issued Chromebooks, which are lighter.

Board member Kyle Pettit, who had originally inquired about lockers, asked if any students have ever asked about lockers. Dracos stated no, although a student once asked to use a rolling backpack.

"It's not in our policy that you can't," Dracos said. "They didn't purchase one, though."

Pettit asked if Dracos thought students would use lockers, and she stated, "When they're headed to the out-buildings, they're in such a hurry they wouldn't stop and put a combination in a locker."

"It's a safety thing, talking to Tony [Crouse, school safety officer]," Superintendent Shelly Slaughter said. "It's just more places for things to be hidden."

"It's not like when we used to have books," board member Marsha Krotky stated.

The board took no action regarding lockers.

Athletic Director Tom Dracos provided an update that there were "14 softball girls and 15 baseball guys," which Slaughter stated was "great." Dracos stated posters were up in the gym, and Krotky said they "look good." The board discussed

The board discussed further trainings in Fort Worth and whether or not such trainings could count towards their LoneStar Governance program. The board unanimous

The board unanimously voted to proceed with a spring bond election, dated May 2. (See related story in the Saturday, Feb. 15 edition of the News-Telegram.) After this, the board took another recess from 7:57 until 8:08 p.m.

From 8:08 p.m. until 8:58 p.m., the board discussed progress tracker reports. The board adjourned at 8:58 p.m. with no further business.