Canton Public School District board approves $60,000 security access contract, personnel hires and multiple policy revisions

The Canton Public School District Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 approved a suite of contracts, routine financial claims, personnel recommendations and multiple policy revisions during its regular meeting at McNeal Elementary School.

Board Chair Johnny Brown called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and led the invocation. The board approved the meeting agenda on a motion by Trustee Glen Lacey, seconded by Vice-Chair Lenderrick Taylor; Dr. Shivochie Dinkins was recorded absent for the meeting.

The board approved a bid from Security Services to install access-control systems across all district sites in an amount not to exceed $60,000. The motion to accept the bid was made by Mr. Glen Lacey and seconded by Mr. Peter Brown; the motion passed by majority vote. The board also approved three service agreements: cafeteria floor cleaning with The Monarchs FMG, LLC (not to exceed $15,000), a renewal of JAMF Pro mobile device management and support (not to exceed $42,000), and DMAD Consulting Services, LLC for professional services to the Office of Exceptional Services (not to exceed $48,000).

Finance staff presented routine financial items. Mr. Tony Foster reviewed Claims Dockets #25705–25891, #25702–25704 and #25683, the activity fund report and the district financial statements for August 2024. After discussion, Trustee Glen Lacey moved to approve the consolidated financial items; Trustee Peter Brown seconded. The motion carried, with Trustee Lenderrick Taylor recorded as the lone Nay on the consolidated financial approval and Dr. Dinkins absent.

The consent agenda included donations to the athletic department (Brown Legal Group $2,000; Vertas Federal Credit Union $1,500; Premier Living Realty $2,000), approval of the district and school crisis response plans, updated homeless and foster care procedures, purchase of Educational Materials Specialists (Pathways) for secondary division (not to exceed $11,000), approval for Canton High School’s girls basketball trip to the S.T.R.O.N.G. Dandy Dozen event, and the creation of a Communications Assistant position for the 2024–25 school year. The board approved consent items 11.1–11.13 on a motion by Mr. Peter Brown, seconded by Mr. Glen Lacey.

The board voted to revise a set of policies covering driver training (IDDE), student health services (JGCD-R), various professional personnel policies (GBA, GBD, GBJ, GBP, GBRI, GBRJ) and student records (JR). The revisions were presented with highlighted changes as exhibits; Mr. Lenderrick Taylor moved to approve items 11.14–11.22 and Mr. Peter Brown seconded. The motion passed by majority vote.

On personnel matters the board approved leaves of absence, resignations and recommended hires. Notable recommendations approved included Dr. LaShandra Hodge-McClure as Director of Exceptional Education and TaPreikah Sutton for the Communications Assistant position; the consolidated personnel motion (items 12.1–12.16) passed with one Nay (Mr. Lenderrick Taylor) and one absence (Dr. Dinkins).

Mrs. Beverly Luckett presented student, teacher and staff of the month awards during the acknowledgment and celebration portion of the meeting. The board reviewed its schedule of regular meetings for the coming months and recorded that no executive session was taken. Trustee Peter Brown moved to adjourn; Trustee Glen Lacey seconded and the board adjourned with all present voting in favor.

Meeting documents and exhibits referenced during the meeting included attendance and utility reports, claims dockets, contract exhibits and marked policy revisions; those exhibits are to be attached to the official minutes.