The Fairfield ISD Board of Trustees members were recognized on Monday evening, Jan. 13, during their meeting that coincided with School Board Appreciation Month.
Fairfield ISD school board members include President Kevin Benedict, Vice President John Fryer, Secretary Kim Whitaker, Eric Chavers, Ashlee Daniel, Penny Merdith and Jeff Wright.
Each campus gave the school board members “thank you” gifts. The elementary and intermediate school provided survival kits filled with various snack items. The junior high gave the board members a leather-bound notebook with hand-drawn artwork on the inside cover. The high school presented a poster signed by the Student Council as well as cookies made from scratch from the culinary arts students. FISD Superintendent Joe Craig gave each board member a certificate and read a short statement thanking them for their service to the students, staff and community.
Fairfield Ag advisor Daniel Phillps recognized the FFA Area and State qualifiers. The senior quiz team consisted of Blake Phillips, Rhett Ralstin, Avery Strait and Lauren Scott. Phillips finished seventh in the state, out of 608 students, in the Job Interview competition.
Fairfield Intermediate Principal Shetonia Scires discussed the success of the attendance incentive program. The campus saw a 41% decrease in the number of absences during the first semester compared to last year. This year there were 989 absences during the first semester compared to 1,664 last year during the first semester.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Craig introduced Dr. Kelli Moore, who is the new FISD assistant superintendent.
Enrollment at FISD is 1,557 students.
Rachael Pawlik was hired as the assistant principal for Fairfield Junior High, replacing Nicole Hullum, who left the district at the end of November. Pawlik had been serving as a replacement second grade teacher at Fairfield Elementary School since October. Lynda Book, who is a retired FISD teacher, was hired as a second-grade teacher to replace Pawlik.
Sydney Lebel was also hired as an Ag teacher at Fairfield High School. She replaces Kendell Sorell, who resigned during the first semester.
A special called meeting was held on Thursday evening, Jan. 16, where the board voted to unanimously call a $105,395,000 bond election for the May 3 ballot. The board also voted to hire Claycomb & Associates as the architectural firm to help the district with the project.
The board of trustees also voted to extend the Craig’s contract for another year.
