Mineral Springs School Board approves 2025–26 plans, transfers $161,166.76 to cover food-service deficit

The Mineral Springs School Board on July 30 approved a slate of 2025–26 plans and personnel actions and authorized a $161,166.76 transfer to cover a negative balance in the district's food-service fund.

Board President William Dixon opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the MS Administration Building. District Treasurer Frankie Tollett presented the financial statement showing a legal fund balance without certificates of deposit of $935,955.97, a legal fund balance with CDs of $1,008,973.24 and an all-fund balance of $1,939,426.07. After noting the food-service shortfall, Tollett recommended an interfund transfer; the board approved moving $161,166.76 from district funds to the food-service fund on a 6–0 vote (motion by Xavier Vaughn, seconded by Barnado Thomas).

Superintendent Amerson reported the parking-lot paving is complete except for a remaining drainage ditch and said rubber flooring will be installed in the fieldhouse to address water damage. He led the agenda through multiple approvals, including the district's 2023–24 purged fixed assets and two food-service vendors (Ben E. Keith and Tankersley) for 2025–26; the board also approved the milk bid from Raulerson Distributing LLC. All routine motions on bids and asset disposal carried 6–0.

The board approved the Elementary and High School Improvement Plans for 2025–26. The elementary plan focuses on attendance and engagement, routine blended learning, raising the number of students reading at grade level each assessment period, incorporating STEM for grades 5–6, and continuing data-driven RTI for math and literacy with tiered support. The high school plan aims to move students reading below grade level up at least one grade level during 2025–26, strengthen basic mathematics skills, improve student engagement, increase ACT participation and expand career and technical education participation. Both plans were approved unanimously.

Trustees also approved policy updates for 2025–26, the Technology Handbook (which raises fees for damaged iPad lockers and iPads), the Parent/Student Handbook (which the superintendent said reflects state law on cell phones and applies progressive discipline for phones, smartwatches and earbuds from first bell to last bell) and the Employee Procedures Handbook (which includes revisions to maternity leave and limits access to the time clock to on-campus use). Each handbook and policy change passed 6–0.

On personnel matters, Superintendent Amerson said an earlier hire for the RootEd advisor position declined the job and recommended Maci Mcjunkins as a replacement; the board approved hiring Mcjunkins 6–0. The board accepted the resignation of Brittany Kuykendall, also by a 6–0 vote. Amerson also proposed an administrator card system through Farmer's Bank with a $10,000 umbrella and four cards that would carry $1,500 each for administration, teachers, coaches and staff; the board approved the arrangement 6–0.

K-12 Principal Stacey Gaddis said she and Mrs. Jackson are finalizing junior- and senior-high schedules. She announced open house on Aug. 14 from 3–6 p.m. in the cafeteria with ESS-Sub and Cornerstone attending, and media day on Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. in the ALE building.

President Dixon called for adjournment at 6:59 p.m.; the motion to adjourn carried 6–0.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (June 24): carried 6–0 (mover: Ricky Gamble; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve financial statement: carried 6–0 (mover: Xavier Vaughn; seconder: Barnado Thomas) - Transfer $161,166.76 to food-service fund: carried 6–0 (mover: Xavier Vaughn; seconder: Barnado Thomas) - Approve purged fixed assets 2023–24: carried 6–0 (mover: Ricky Gamble; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve food bids (Ben E. Keith; Tankersley) for 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Ray Hawkins; seconder: Ricky Gamble) - Approve milk bid (Raulerson Distributing LLC) for 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Ray Hawkins; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve Elementary SIP 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Ray Hawkins; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve High School SIP 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Ricky Gamble; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve policy changes 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Barnado Thomas; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve Technology Handbook 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Ricky Gamble; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve Parent/Student Handbook 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Xavier Vaughn; seconder: S. Kay Munson) - Approve Employee Procedures Handbook 2025–26: carried 6–0 (mover: Ray Hawkins; seconder: Barnado Thomas) - Approve new hire (Maci Mcjunkins): carried 6–0 (mover: Ray Hawkins; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Accept resignation (Brittany Kuykendall): carried 6–0 (mover: Ricky Gamble; seconder: Xavier Vaughn) - Approve administrator card system (Farmer's Bank, $10,000 umbrella): carried 6–0 (mover: Xavier Vaughn; seconder: Barnado Thomas)

Next steps: routine implementation of approved handbooks, procurement with the selected vendors, completion of drainage work on the parking lot and scheduling of open-house and media-day events announced by Principal Gaddis.