The Clinton County Board of Education held a combination meeting and work session last Thursday evening, February 12 with all board members present. Also on hand were Finance Director Mike Reeves and Principals Tina Langford and Tim Armstrong of the ECC and AES, respectively.

The two principals both gave updates on each schools’ most recent MAP testing that was conducted at the end of the first semester of the 2014-15 school year in early January and Superintendent Charlotte Bernard held a work session on two topics, including staffing and SBDM allocations.

During the business section of the meeting, the board voted to establish a certified Math Tutor and certified Writing Tutor position for Clinton County Middle School for approximately 129 days per year, rate of pay $25 per hour for 6.5 hour days. Both positions will be entirely funded through the GEAR-UP grant.

The board also voted to establish a classified Student Fitness Leader position, district-wide, for approximately 35 weeks per year with a rate of pay at $20 per hour for approximately 20 hours per week. This position will be entirely funded through the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky grant.

The board also voted to adjust the 2014-15 school calendar to add this past Monday and Tuesday, February 16 and 17, as class days for students to make up two of the days missed thus far during the school year. Those days had originally been non-class days for President’s Day and a Professional Day for teachers.

Superintendent Bernard conducted the work session on staffing allocations, which pits the classroom ratios of teacher per student numbers in each classroom, as mandated by the Kentucky Department of Education, with the projected ratios being basically the same at each school and grade level.

The allocations for each Site Based Decision Making Council on how much to allocate each school per pupil on instruction was discussed.

Although allocations are given for each SBDM each year, it was noted that in years past the board had also helped in areas of purchasing textbooks and other instructional materials. Also, there will be another mandated increase of two percent salary for teachers in the coming year, which will increase the budget by about $162,000.

Following discussion, the board tentatively agreed to allot each SBDM $125 per student instruction cost for such items as textbooks, supplies, and other materials.

During the MAP test presentations, each principal gave an overview of the results and what they mean for students. There were questions about when a younger student in kindergarten or first grade should be held back, with both principals agreeing that such intervention when students have trouble learning at that level should be held back then, rather than in later school years.

Principal Armstong noted “The sooner the intervention, the better.”

Early Childhood Center Principal Tina Langford also discussed not only the MAP testing, but the need for parents to learn about early readiness importance to their children and a school readiness program the school and other partners are putting together to make more people aware of the need for early childhood education.

These guides are being placed in several high visibility locations already through the Early Childhood Council to churches, doctors’ offices and other locations. This information shows what is needed and expected of children beginning in the kindergarten age level.

Although many people may have already seen these one-page pamphlets around already, the NEWS is printing the School Readiness in Kentucky guide in its entirely to stress the importance of early childhood education:

“School readiness means that each child enters school ready to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences that best promote the child’s success and ability to be Ready to Grow, Ready to Learn and Ready to Succeed. Kentucky recognizes that children develop and learn at different rates and times. Not every child will master all of the skills and behaviors.

Mission: The mission of the Clinton County Early Community Childhood Council is to work and collaborate with community partners to improve the quality of early care and education of children and families in Clinton County.

Vision: The Clinton County Community Early Childhood Council shall: “Promote school readiness for children by building innovative and collaborative partnerships within the community and state and supporting learning environments, supporting families, and providing access to data.

“Be an intermediary to bring together community and state members in to support issues of importance to children, families, and providers by acting in response to the distinctive needs of our community.”

Health & Wellness Well-Being:

My child:

* Eats a balanced diet.

* Gets plenty of rest.

* Receives regular medical and dental care.

* Has had all necessary immunizations.

* Can run, jump, and does other activities that help develop large muscles and provide exercise.

* Use pencils, crayons, scissors, and paints and does other activities that develop small muscles, can draw an X, square, rectangle, triangle, diamond.

Emotional and Social Preparation:

My child:

* Follows simple rules and routines.

* Is able to express his or her own needs and wants.

* Is curious and motivated to learn.

* Is learning to explore and try new things.

* Has many opportunities to be with other children and is learning to play and share with others.

* Is able to be away from parents/family without being upset.

* Is able to work well alone.

* Has the ability to focus and listen.

Language, Math and General Knowledge:

My Child:

* Uses 5-6 word sentences.

* Sings simple songs and recognizes and says simple rhymes.

* Is learning to write his/her name and knows personal information (first and last name, age, birthday, telephone number and address.)

* Is learning to count and plays counting games.

* Is learning to identify and name shapes and colors.

* Names parts of the body: thumbs, fingernails, chin, chest, elbows, shoulders, etc.

* Has opportunities to listen to and make music and to dance.

* Knows the difference between print and pictures.

* Listens to stories read to them, knows the front and back of a book, and that text is read left to right and top to bottom.

* Has opportunities to notice similarities and differences.

* Is encouraged to ask questions.

* Has his/her television viewing monitored by an adult.

* Is learning to sort and classify objects.

* Recites alphabet and learning to read upper and/or lower case letters.

* Understands simple concepts of time (night, day, today, yesterday, tomorrow.)

For more information on the Clinton County Community Early Childhood Council, phone 387-5828, ext. 5; log on to http://clintoncountyecc.webs.com or email: clintoncountyecc1@gmail..com.