Woodlawn Board Approves Policy, Handbook Changes

RISON - The Woodlawn School Board approved about 80 changes to the district's policies during the board's regular monthly meeting last week, Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock reported. Hancock said most of the changes were needed to put the district in compliance with the new LEARNS education plan that was signed into law earlier this year. The new law is scheduled to officially begin Aug. 1. One policy change that was already approved by the board earlier this year was the new certified staff pay schedule that reflects the $50,000 minimum pay for teachers under LEARNS. Woodlawn adjusted its salary schedule to bring all those positions earning $48,000 or less to $50,000, and then added $2,000 for those positions that were already earning $48,000 or more. Under that pay schedule, a teacher with a bachelor's degree will have to work for 26 years before seeing a $150 annual pay increase with a teacher with a master's degree will see a $150 increase after 14 years. The district's revised policy also matches the new school choice plan under the LEARNS Act well as the "Course Choice Program" that gives students options to take courses that may not be offered by the district. The state has set up a system to approve those courses that will be offered by an off-campus providers. Hancock said the revised policy also eliminates the COVID leave program that provided a framework for staff leave during the pandemic. In a related matter, the school board also approved the 4.5F School Choice Capacity Resolution. The resolution states that only transfer applications submitted between Jan. 1 and May 1 will be considered for transfers. Any applications turned in outside those dates, or if the student's resident district has declared itself exempt due to an existing desegregation order, will not be considered under school choice. Also, Hancock said the district reserves the ability to decline a school choice transfer that would require the district to add staff, for any reason. …