Board deals with agreements

PRESCOTT – September’s meeting of the Prescott School Board mostly dealt with agreements.

At the board’s meeting Tuesday night, it approved the district’s minority recruitment plan, which states the district will do all it can to recruit qualified minority applicants to work with the PSD.

Superintendent Robert Poole said 37 percent of those hired last year were minorities and the district has a good blend.

The board was told the district is moving in the right direction and reminded this isn’t a quota system as the district works to find the most qualified applicants for open positions, regardless of their race, but does work to make sure minorities are represented.

The board also agreed to an amendment of the lease with Independent Case Management/Flywheel Pies for the use of the fifth and sixth grade building at McRae Middle School. The agreement can be cancelled by either party with a 60-day notice and automatically renews if neither party does anything.

An interlocal agreement between the district and Organization for Youth Education in Agriculture was tabled, as a clause in the deal appeared to give the organization control over school property for 20 years, even if the deal was terminated. This was a memorandum of understanding between the district and OYEA, which stated those working on the barn being built are independent contractors and the district is not responsible for anything that may happen to them.

The idea is for OYEA to have a barn and pens for animals on 10 acres of school property for students interested in agriculture to get hands-on experience, as well as to try and raise the interest in agriculture of those not familiar with it. The organization has raised money to build the barn, and is the brainchild of Fred Harris and Darren Neal. The agreement stated either party could opt out with six months notice, but appeared to give OYEA control of the property and structures for a total of 20 years regardless. This is being checked into and will be addressed at the October meeting.