Dierks School Board Approves New Staff, Resignations, and Bus Lease at Special Meeting

The Dierks School Board held a special meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2025, to address a range of personnel changes and approve key financial decisions for the upcoming school year.

The board approved several new hires for the 2025-2026 school year, including Wendy Parson, who will serve as a Special Education Teacher and LEA Liaison on a 220-day contract. Other new staff members include Melanie Gadbury as a high school teacher, Haylin Kirby as an elementary teacher, and Hannah Hawthorne as a paraprofessional. All new hires will be compensated in accordance with the district’s salary schedule.

Additionally, the board approved the reassignment of Jennifer White from elementary teacher to elementary special education teacher for the 2025-2026 school year.

Several resignations were accepted during the meeting. Toni Bowman, a self-contained special education teacher, resigned effective April 29, 2025. Sara Stanley, who served as a paraprofessional, resigned effective May 1, 2025. High school teacher and basketball coach Jacob Chisum, as well as special education teacher Corey Robertson, will leave the district at the end of their current contracts.

In financial matters, the board approved Superintendent Grover Hill’s recommendation to lease three school buses equipped with air conditioning. The lease payment is set at $32,431 per year. The board also approved the certified salary schedule for the 2025-2026 school year.