Local School District Begins Employee Fingerprinting
    by Danielle Pardue, Staff Writer ~~ Monahans News ~March 26, 2009

Employee fingerprinting, now mandated by the sate, began March 18 at the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote Independent School District, according to information released during a regular meeting of MWP-ISD school board.  The fingerprinting for all certified employees, as well as substitute teachers, is paid by the state.  The process includes digital fingerprinting and a mug shot of the employee.

The board accepted resignations from Paula Cortez, speech language pathologist in the Special Education Department and Maxine Cantu, teacher at Sudderth Elementary.  The board renewed contracts for school personnel on all campuses.

In his superintendent's report, Keith Richardson recognized Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) students who advanced to the state competition, which will be held in Corpus Christi in April.  Monahans High School teacher and VICA sponsor, Ricardo Valenzuela, said this is the best year he has had since he's been here.  He stated the club received two "best of show" awards and two first place awards.

Richardson announced enrollment is 1,972 compared to 1, 942 at this time last year, but 16 down from last month's total.  He said the majority of losses came from the secondary level, but the district is still enrolling students from out of state.

Construction at Tatom Elementary is near completion, lacking just installation of the floor in the art room and the sprinkler system.

The utilities are being run at the high school, and according to Richardson, the construction company worked during Spring Break to get into places that would be hard to get to with students and faculty on the premises.

Construction bids for the junior high, Sudderth Elementary and the Special Education building have been pushed back to  larger construction project obligations with the construction firm.

Richardson gave a report on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) report card stating the report is mandated to be online by the end of March.  He said the report is about 340-359 pages long but will be condensed to roughly 70 pages online.  The difference will be a more reader friendly format.

The board approved a bid of $63,835 for a new roof at the junior high field house by the same company working on the high school roof.  In other business, the board approved financial reports and disbursements, budged amendments and minutes from the previous meeting.

Present at the March 18 meeting were Kay Rankin, Bo Rose, Denny Latham, Donna Garcia, Bill Clayton, Raymond Reyes and Keith Richardson.  Trustee Bobby Almanza was absent.

keyed by Blake Hughes, Senior `09