School board members renewed the district superintendent’s contract, mediated a grievance filed by two district employees, and authorized about $1.3 million in spending for the district’s new Southmoore High School Tuesday evening.
The meeting, held at the district’s administrative center, was originally scheduled for last week, but was postponed due to ice and snow.
Following an hour-long executive session, board members voted unanimously to renew superintendent Deborah Arato’s one-year contract.
Arato, who has served as superintendent for three years, will be paid $124,500 for her one-year contract.
Additionally, Arato’s contract calls for:
• $10,000 in life insurance coverage.
• District-provided salary protection insurance.
• Health insurance and the same flexible benefit allowance that is received by the district’s other certified employees.
• Sick, vacation and holiday leave.
• Use of district-owned vehicles for the performance of her job.
“I’m very honored to serve as superintendent of Moore,” Arato said. “I hope to continue to meet your expectations.”
While Arato’s contract renewal received little public debate, a grievance filed by district employees Cynthia Green and Betty Acton drew a great deal of the board’s attention.
Green and Acton complained because neither was hired for a bus driver assistant position the district had opened. Both women assist handicapped students who ride the district’s buses. After more than 30 minutes of discussion and debate, the board voted 3-2 to deny both grievances.
Board members Jamie Allen, Walt Larsen and Dr. Lois Evans voted to deny the complaint while board president Debbie Venard and Dr. Larry Leemaster voted in favor of the complaint.
With construction continuing on the district’s new, $44-million Southmoore High School, board members unanimously authorized spending more than $1.3 million for the facility.
That figure includes:
• $54,916 for handrail fabrication
• $49,750 for handrail installation
• $1,201,600 for roofing and exterior sheet metal
• $88,980 for foamed-in-place insulation.
Other board actions included:
• Authorized $2,958,271 in district expenditures.
• Approved the installation of a walking track at Briarwood Elementary School which would span the perimeter of the playground; materials would be paid by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association and labor would be provided by the Cleveland County commissioners.
• Approved the Moore High School pom squad’s trip to Las Vegas in February for a national competition.
• Approved the request of Moore High School football coach Bill Bays to send staff members to the Lone Star Football Clinic in College Station, Texas.
The board’s next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 12 in room 122 of the district’s administrative center, 1500 S.E. 4th St.
M. Scott Carter
366-3545
scarter@mooreamerican.com
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Moore school board renews Arato's contract
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