The Quitman School Board voted to purchase a new scoreboard Monday for the baseball field from Leon’s Signs Inc. for $49,483.

QISD Director of Finance Kari Wilson noted, “This was not part of (the) budget,” but the board voted to make the budget amendment, indicating that the expense would be reimbursed at a later date from allowed bond funds.

The board unanimously voted to hire previous QISD employee Molly Bates as a new pre-K teacher.

“In every capacity, Molly’s passion for kids shines through,” said Elementary Principal Kelli Fortner, who spoke on Bates’ behalf before the board voted.

“It’s with a lot of confidence that I recommend hiring Miss Molly Bates as pre-K teacher,” agreed Superintendent Chris Mason.

The board also voted to approve the Tyler Regional Day School Program for the Deaf Shared Service Agreement and the Region 10 ESC Interlocal Agreement, both of which Mason noted are at no cost to the school. The regional day school program for the deaf allows for a teacher of the deaf to directly teach or interpret for those hard of hearing.

Trutees also approved the annual purchase of 100 Chromebooks for incoming high school freshmen. These will be purchased through CDW-G for $31,161.

The board also heard an update on the safety and security team from Assistant Superintendent Bryan Hurst and Safety and Security Director Chris Davis. Davis mentioned that the team does more campus security checks than Texas Education Agency requires, and that they went to a recent conference in San Antonio to become re-certified.

Mason noted that October has high monthly expenditures of over $2 million, which he said is due to a new budget year opening.

The pledges were given by elementary students Isaiah Alexander and Hailey Ibarra, and the high school student showcase was given by student Lily Pruden, who spoke regarding her good experience in the QISD forensic science class.