The Italy School Board of Trustees spent more than three hours in session Monday evening with much of that time spent in executive session.

The board reconvened into open session at 10:10 p.m. and unanimously agreed to extend the resignation agreement of the special education director in accordance with the terms discussed in executive session.

The board gave no further explanation regarding the item.

The board also accepted the resignation of Tammy Wallis, elementary school principal.

Another unanimously passed agenda item included reduced contract days for personnel who are required to work more than 187 days per year, as recommended by Charles Williams, interim superintendent.

The board also approved the 2011/2012 calendar for the district.

Teachers will start school Aug. 15 with students beginning Aug. 22. Students will get three days off at Thanksgiving and 10 days at Christmas. Williams said they again have two bad weather days built into the calendar – April 9 and May 28. Students will get five days for spring break — March 12-16. The last day of school is May 31 and graduation is set May 25.

Williams said the calendar does not have flex days for students. He explained that the state might require up to 40 days of testing. He said, “We are doing more testing than we are teaching. We need some days to teach the kids.”

Early in the meeting, Williams named Tina Richards as Employee of the Month.

He said Richards, mother of three, and her husband, Alan, both excelled academically and athletically while students at Italy High School.

The Southwestern Assemblies of God University graduate teaches English IV, ESL, special education, is a coach and NHS sponsor. He said she sets the bar high, is inspirational, hard-working, energetic and diligent worker for the district.

Williams gave Richards a ceramic apple and Wal-Mart gift card.

Michael Destefani, special education teacher, spoke during the public forum. He asked the board why his contract was not renewed. This was not an agenda item and the board was unable to respond to his question.

Williams said this was the right move for the district at this time.

The board spent a great deal of time discussing whether they should consider pursuing a shared services agreement for the district.

The district had been a part of the Ellis County Co-Op for many years but pulled out of the cooperative program due to personnel conflicts.

Williams said all six superintendent candidates told the board that they should be part of a cooperative program for special education. He said the district could be part of the Hill County or Ellis County cooperative program.

Williams said six to eight elementary students will be affected by any changes in the program.

Tommy Morrison, board member, said the district got out of the co-op several years ago because of poor management. He said the district has successfully handled its own special needs students.

Larry Eubanks, board member, said he had issues with the cooperative program in the past, including monetary issues.

Williams said there currently are classes for special needs students in Avalon and Maypearl. Ferris has an alternative school program.

Despite objections, the board gave Williams the go ahead to begin discussion with the Ellis County Cooperative program.

The board also approved a requirement for all coaches to obtain their CDL driver’s license by the first day of August or lose $2,000 of their stipends.

Coaches with physical problems that would prohibit their driving a school bus must have a medical exemption from a doctor on file prior to the first day of August.

They discussed the purchase of a used mid-sized bus from Oklahoma. The bus has 40,000 miles and is for sale at $72,500. Williams said a new bus, with like features, is about $87,000.

The current bus fleet has a 2010 bus, a 2005 bus, a 2001 bus and the remainder of the fleet is a 1999 model or older.

Williams said most school districts retire a bus after about 10 years of service.

He reminded the board that they must protect their infrastructure. He said if they continue to hold off, might have to purchase two or three buses at one time.

Currently, Williams said the district has four routes.

Much discussion centered on the $15,000 difference between a two-year-old bus and a new bus.

The board finally tabled the item.

During financial reports, Tammy Gillespie, business manager, said the district, at the end of March, realized 72.56 percent of projected revenue and spent 59.28 percent of its expenses.

Williams reported that current enrollment is 586 students with refined average daily attendance at 571.43 students or 96.02 percent.

He also said that Mark Stiles donated $2,500 to the National Honor Society’s annual trip.

The superintendent said they planned an employee appreciation day on June 3 in the high school cafeteria.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a policy regarding class ranking;
• Approved minutes from the March and April meetings;
• Approved financial statements;
• Approved utility reports;
• Discussed board member training June 16 and 17 in Fort Worth; and
• Approved Mackey Graves to work with FSA on matters dealing with leased school property.