Charlotte Morgan, first grade teacher at Stafford Elementary, was recognized Monday evening as October Employee of the Month at the monthly meeting of the Italy School Board of Trustees.

Jimmie Malone, superintendent, said Morgan was a highly valued, deserving individual. He described her as a very mature, focused teacher. He said the Milford High School graduate attended Navarro College, Hill College and graduated from Baylor University.

She is a mother of three grown children – Brian, April and Jessica.

“We are glad you are here.” He added, “Keep up the good work.”

Malone said he met Morgan at a luncheon after taking over as superintendent. He said, “You made a good first impression. You are the mother hen of the first grade.”

Malone presented Morgan with an apple and gift card for the honor.

In other business, the board approved the minutes from the September meeting and accepted the resignation of Kristi Dollar.

Malone said Dollar did a good job while at Italy and wished her well at her new position. He noted that Angela Muirhead has replaced Dollar as secretary for the special education director.

The board approved financial and tax collection reports. Revenues for the month of September are at 8.89% and expenditures are at 10.26%.

Malone said a 6-month CD will mature on Nov. 7 and said he plans on rolling it over for another three months.

Current student enrollment is 628. Refined average daily attendance for the district is 582.63 students or 95.6%. He said they are dealing with student absenteeism on a daily basis. The district closed early Thursday and Friday to allow the custodial crew to sanitize both campuses. He said they would continue to monitor the number of absences daily.

He also briefed the school board regarding a recent bus accident that occurred on I-35E near DeSoto.

Malone said two ISD buses were returning from the State Fair when they had an unavoidable collision with a sedan. He explained that a Dallas sanitation truck was entering the interstate and cut in front of a sedan forcing the sedan to change lanes. The driver of the sedan stopped the vehicle causing the bus to run into it. He said two students were transferred to Baylor Hospital in Waxahachie for evaluation. He explained that school personnel contacted all parents of students involved in the accident. H said the bus sustained damage to the bumper and body. There was no injury to the sedan or sanitation truck.

The superintendent commended the staff and students for the way they handled the situation. He added that Kelli Strickland did a tremendous job getting information transferred to the school district.

In other business, the board approved to ratify the appointment of Joel Griffin as adjunct faculty.

He explained that Jesus Perez, band director, approached Malone last spring regarding assistance with the growing music program.

He said Griffin seemingly fell out of the sky. Griffin is currently working on his doctorate of philosophy in music education at the University of North Texas in Denton. He is serving as a full time music faculty member at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie. To complete the doctorate, he must work in a public school and has offered to work for the district uncompensated.

Larry Eubank, board president, said, “Mr. Perez has a done a fabulous job. He’s done well in a short period of time.”

The board also approved an inter-local agreement with UTA/Lamar University for online dual credit course work.

Malone said they would still offer the dual- credit courses through Navarro College. He said this is not in conflict with Navarro.

Eubank said, “We are adding options to the dual credit program which has been a positive thing.”

The board tabled an inter-local agreement with Texas Virtual School Network.
Prior to adjournment, the board approved the TASB Policy update 85 with an emergency adoption on the first reading.

The next meeting of the school board of directors is set for Monday, Nov. 16.