The Fayette County Board of Education approved new student codes of conduct that expand the definition of bullying to include cyber-bullying and include information about suggestive text messages. C.W. Campbell, the school system's safety director, said he often gets calls from parents concerned about bullying comments made on social networking sites. While the school has no authority over what is done on home computers right now, it will become the school system's concern next school year when high school students will be given e-mail accounts through the school.
Campbell said cell phones continue to cause disciplinary problems at schools. While the problem was once limited to the high schools, Campbell noted that cell phone troubles are common in middle schools and being seen more and more at the elementary level. The new code of conduct suggests that parents talk to their younger children about inappropriate text messages. The code for secondary students says parents should warn their children that suggestive messages, or "sexting," is a crime if a minor is involved.
The total number of disciplinary actions in the high schools rose by 200 incidences this past school year, Campbell said, adding that that was a number he could live with. The number of tribunals held was down last year. He said 87 more incidences of misconduct in elementary schools were reported.
A request to contract with Global Teaching Services met with a 2-2 vote. Human Resources Director Reanee Ellis explained that the school system had sometimes used outside companies to help them fill positions that were difficult to find good candidates for such as occupational therapists, teachers for hospitalized and homebound students and teacher for advanced sciences. But in the case she presented Tuesday, the position to be filled was drama teacher at McIntosh High. Ellis said there have been five teachers and long-term substitutes in three years. She said the principal had interviewed seven people, but had not found someone who met her needs.
However, teacher Tracy Gruber, a citizen of Australia here on a visa, has volunteered at Whitewater High. She is registered with Global Teaching Services and interviewed successfully at McIntosh. Ellis was asking the board to enter into a contract with Global so Gruber could come to work at McIntosh this year. The school system cannot hire her since it does not hire employees on work visas.
Ellis said Global originally wanted a $10,000 administration fee, but she had talked them down to $8,000. Still, even with the fee, the school system's savings on this employee would be $5,900 since the school system would not be paying for Gruber's benefits.
Ellis said Gruber would not be a school system employee, but would be evaluated like any other employees. Her salary would be approximately $36,000.
Hiring a teacher through an outside firm is rare, but not unprecedented in Fayette County, Ellis noted. "This is another tool in our recruitment kit."
Board member Marion Key, who with Bob Todd voted against the contract, said she was not given enough information to make a decision. She said she did not realize the school board had used a company to hire teachers before. "I think it would be bad for morale with the other teachers. This just does not sit well with me. I have nothing against the teacher in question."
Key also said she did not understand the need to go outside the accepted channels for hiring, especially since so many teachers have lost their jobs in Georgia in recent months.
Lee Wright was absent from Tuesday's meeting. Janet Smola and Terri Smith voted in favor of the contract. Key said she was sure the matter would be brought back up at a future meeting.
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