Winters resigns from school board

Winters had one more year in his three-year term. His position is up for election next year.

"I hate to see him not serve on the board," said Superintendent Curtis Turner. "In the six to seven months I've been here, I've enjoyed working with him."

Board president Charles Templeton also expressed his regrets to Winters at Thursday's meeting.

"I'll miss you a lot. You have been a real counterpoint to me. You have been a great service to this board."

Winters said after the meeting, "It's time to go. My kids are going to different schools, and there will be a lot of driving back and forth. I want to spend time with them."

His daughters will be attending school in Hot Springs, he said, the oldest at college and the younger at the Math and Science high school.

Winters said his family is not moving to Hot Springs but is staying in Holiday Island, where he lives.

"I was promoted to captain on the fire department, and I want to get more involved in the Holiday Island community," he said.

In other matters, the board:

* Approved awarding the bread bid to Harris Baking Co., the district's current provider. The board had tabled the decision at its regular meeting last month when it learned there may have been more than one bid submitted under deadline. The other bidder was IBC Sales Corp.

* Approved the high school handbook, with a couple major changes. Students who receive an "F" grade in any core class and whose semester GPA is below 2.0 cannot compete in competitive activities, but they may make up class credit by completing an accredited course online or by correspondence, with the school's approval. The GPA, however, we will stay the same. Also, students who are suspended for behavioral offenses will be suspended from extracurricular activities for five days for every day of suspension, to start immediately upon their return to school. Suspension of activities will carry over to the next school year if they are not completed by the end of the current year. Any student suspended for a criminal offense will be suspended from activities until released by the court from probationary status.

* Returned from executive session to approve the hire of John Kesley as transportation director, Leah Weaver as school nurse and Cathy Sisco as cook, to be supervised by another staff member, as she is related to the kitchen director. The board also accepted the resignation of first grade teacher Jennifer Roach, who has accepted a position with the Huntsville School District.