Norman Public Schools board votes to retain employees

By Adam Scott

After returning from an executive session, the Norman Public Schools Board of Education voted to re-employ 28 employees of the school system who were off scale for the 2009-2010 school year at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

The employees, and their current annual salaries for the 2008-09 school year, are: Steffani Allen, director of early childhood, $67,304; Kim Bauer, director of purchasing, $40,756; Dr. Brad Benson, director of fine arts, $76,811; Mike Brown, director of transportation, $60,000; Dr. Carol Cawyer, director of federal programs, $80,523; Nancy Cline, special services coordinator, $47,902; Nita Cochran, mathematics coordinator, $63,991; Jon Delheimer, director of information systems, $79,325; Lucyann Harjo, Indian education coordinator, $36,731; Sharon Heatly, director of guidance and counseling, $70,319; Sharon Howard, health services coordinator, $53,196; Kathryn Lewis, director of media and technology, $76,969; Charlie Mason, director of alternative education, $68,132; Donn Mason, theatre technician, $33,591; Paige Mayhew, language arts coordinator, $50,122; Justin Milner, director of special services, $75,175; Jim Murphree, social studies coordinator, $59,280; Lee Nelson, technology integration specialist, $46,322; Cheryl Newman, assistant director of alternative education, $68,132; Shelley Overall, instructional technology specialist, $46,322; Jeff Patterson, science coordinator, $49,325; Dr. Tom Pender, manager of the Center for Performing Arts, $57,579; Delbert Potts, director of central services, $63,234; Sally Thomason, assistant director of special services, $60,686; Frank Thompson, director of physical education and athletics, $75,723; Marilyn Vann, accounting coordinator, $49,357; Donna Walker, director of gifted and talented, $67,304; and Christy Washington, special services coordinator, $46,669.

Salaries for the employees over the course of the 2009-10 school year will be determined at a meeting planned for September, district Superintendent Joe Siano said.

Also approved for re-employment were all certified teaching staff currently on regular teaching contracts with the school system.

Changes in employment status noted at the meeting included the appointment of a temporary contract for resource teacher assistant Nicole Patten at McKinley Elementary School, effective March 23; resignation due to other employment for resource teacher assistant James David Harrah at Norman North High School, effective April 17; and resignation due to illness for teacher assistant Betty Hays at Cornerstone Residential Facility, effective Feb. 6.

Resignations due to retirement were noted for bus driver Ralph Davenport with the transportation department, effective May 27; office secretary Deloris J. Jackson at Eisenhower Elementary School, effective May 29; media clerk Jane E. Roberts at the Instructional Service Center, effective May 27; receptionist Billie M. Scott at Norman North High School, effective May 27; teacher assistant Mary J. Walsh at Kennedy Elementary School, effective May 27; and secretary Wilma Paula Wilson at Eisenhower Elementary School, effective June 8.

During the meeting, purchase orders for the school system from Feb. 18 through March 9 totaling $1,946,095.81 were accepted.

Other agenda items for the board meeting included an update on the activities of the Citizens Advisory Council, a proposal for auditing services for the 2008-09 school year and related services for the 2009-10 school year from accounting firm EideBailly LLP, a report on Dimensions Alternative Academy and a progress report for the District Technology Plan for the school system.

Adam Scott

366-3533

pop@normantranscript.com