Following a public hearing, the Quitman school board unanimously approved an effective tax rate decrease of 1.56% for the tax year 2020-21. The new tax rate of $1.2339 per $100 valuation will nominally reduce taxes on a $100,000 home by $16.70.

“We have hit all of our financial targets for the current tax year,” summarized Director of Finance Cayla Mars. The district’s end of fiscal year fund balances were reported as $5,509,345 in the maintenance and operations fund and $890,491 in the interest and sinking fund.  

In other action, attorney Patrick Woods of Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott of Tyler presented Superintendent Rhonda Turner with a check for $1,000 as the initial seed money for the Quitman Education Foundation. A long-term objective of Superintendent Turner, the unexpected gift represents the required amount of money to begin a foundation.  

Attorney Woods was present to advise the board to accept the bid for struck off property on County Road 2122. The board approved the sale without objection. 

Superintendent Turner opened the board meeting by praising the hard work and dedication of the entire school staff in maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Quitman has experienced no coronavirus cases among the student population. The three cases among the staff were dealt with professionally and all three are back to work, Turner reported. 

High School Principal Dana Hamrick described the struggles being faced with remote learning. “Of the 57 high school on-line learners,” she recounted, “only nine are passing all of their classes and only two have all `A’s.” The same ratio is being realized at the junior high school level, where 47 youngsters are on-line learners.

Turner remarked, “The remote learning just is not working….We need to get the kids back to school.” Telephonic intervention is one tool being used to influence families regarding on-line schooling requirements and student productivity. The board discussed the long-term impact on graduation rates should this group fall significantly behind in their studies.

Two residents addressed the board in open forum. Janet Turner made an impassioned plea in support of recognizing the contributions of the late drama teacher Kristina Johnson. 

Sally Attaway, an active contributor to the district, reported on the distribution of pocket constitutions and flag etiquette cards by the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also urged that the school work harder to retain as much of the traditions, such as volleyball senior nights, as possible.

Numerous decisions were taken by the board. They ranged from curriculum purchases to approval of the interlocal agreement to work in support of the Nov. 3 election. 

All decisions of the board were unanimous.  Trustee Raymond Peek was the only absent member of the board.