Dierks Board members draw for terms and elect new board president

Last week, during the first regular meeting of the newly elected school board of the Dierks School District re-organized by electing Jaron Tipton board president, Jeffrey Mounts vice-president and Kara Tedford secretary. Board members drew names out of a hat to determine the length of the board member terms. Justin Simmons of Zone 1 drew the 5-year term. His term will expire 2026-2027. Mounts of Zone 2 drew the 1-year term, and his term will expire 2022-2023. Laykon Graham of Zone 3 drew the 4-year term and it will expire 2025-2026. Tipton of Zone 4 drew a 3-year term and it will expire 2024-2025. And Tedford of Zone 5 drew a 2-year term and it will expire 2023-2024. 

Superintendent Jody Cowart suggested the district purchase two stand-on scrubbers to clean and disinfect the floors at a total cost of $21,609. Cowart said the scrubbers would be purchased using ESSR funds. Board members approved the purchase and they voted to hire three workers at $15 an hour for 40-hours a week for an expected 8-weeks to clean the building floors.

Cowart also reported the district has not received any bids for the HVAC units.

Board members voted to move any amount above the $690,000 ending balance in the 2000 funds to the building fund category after all categorical and restricted funds are deducted from the ending balance. 

Board members also voted to accept the 2020-2021 audit.