By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Paris Special Schools District is ready for the Solar Eclipse on Monday with “Fun With No Sun” activities for students. Director of Schools Dr. Norma Gerrell said the eclipse glasses that will be used by the students “are NASA approved and certified and we feel very confident in what we have received”.
(Benton County Schools announced Monday they are cancelling school on Monday because of a snafu with the eclipse glasses they received).
Classroom activities will center around the eclipse on Monday, Gerrell said, and permission slips were sent home with the students this week for parents to approve watching the eclipse. Those students whose parents do not approve it will be shown virtual eclipse footage in the classrooms.
After the eclipse is over, students will be Skyping with students from other schools in our area who also viewed it.
A reception for new teachers was held at the outset of the meeting, as building principals introduced them. At Inman, new teachers are Sarah Hampton, special education; Zuleyka Valdes, math and Spanish; Emily Hoffman, social studies; Justin Stutzman, intervention and boys’ basketball coach. At Rhea, Jenny Hudson, first grade; Colleen Dunn, pre-k; and Paris Elementary, Julie Webb, third grade.
The Paris Special Schools District board of education approved the 2017-2018 budget which calls for a two percent raise for employees.
The budget calls for a general purpose fund balance of $699,340, which includes the two percent raise, one percent bonus, possible additional Rhea construction, estimated health insurance increase and the sport court gym flooring at Rhea.
Ending fund balance in general purpose is $6,658,558.
Board President Richard Edwards said it’s the goal of school officials that future PSSD budgets be approved earlier. He noted that other governmental entities approve theirs in July and that he’d like to see the PSSD budget approved earlier than August.
Architect Ben Whitt reported that he, Contractor Cary Henson, and former Director of Schools Mike Brown did a walk-through at Rhea School “and came up with a list of miscellaneous items” that still need to be done in the building project and met to discuss the next phase of the project.
Photo: Special Education Supervisor Sherry Wagner, Business Manager Mandy Hudgins and technology Director Joey Brush serve cake and punch to new teachers. (McFarlin photo).
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