Clinton County Board of Education voted to propose accepting the four percent over compensating rates on property taxes (real estate and tangible), and scheduled a public hearing on the issue, at its regular meeting Monday evening, August 17. All members were present for the 22 minute meeting, which was chaired by Assistant Superintendent Paula Little in the absence of Superintendent Charlotte Bernard, whose father passed away unexpectedly last week.

In discussing the tax rates, Finance Director Mike Reeves said that the four percent over compensating rate at 42.2, based on fiscal year 2016 appraised property value assessments, would generate an estimated $69,846 in additional tax revenue to the school district, compared to the 40.6 rate last year.

The current year’s rate generated $1,772,351 while the new proposed rate would generate $1,842,197. Proposed rates on motor vehicle and water craft would remain unchanged at .53 cents per $100 assessed value and the three percent tax on utilities would remain unchanged.

When a governing body accepts the over compensating rate and increases the base rate, which in this case is 1.6 percent above last year, a public hearing is required.

Board member Jeff Sams said he had served on the finance committee and had studied the financial situation thoroughly and without the new rates, the district may be looking at losing teachers.

Sams made the motion to propose a tax levy at the following rates for the 2015-16 school year: 42.3 cents per $100 assessed value on real estate and personal property; 53 cents on motor vehicle and three percent for utility tax and watercraft as defined by KRS 136.1801 and to set a public hearing to take public comments on the proposed rates for Thursday, September 3 at 5 p.m. The motion passed 4-1 with Sams, and board members Junior Cecil, Paula Key and Goldie Stonecipher voting yes and board member Kevin Marcum voting no.

The public hearing will be held two weeks from Thursday at the Central Office board room.

Finance Office Reeves, in breaking down the numbers of revenue generated last year compared to revenues projected under the new rate, also broke down the average increase it would mean for actual tax payers. For example, someone with property of $10,000 would see a $1.60 per year (13 cents per month) increase while on the highest figured scale, property worth $200,000, the tax would be an additional $32 per year or 2.67 average per month.

Most property owners’ rates would range between $3.20 to $8 more per month in taxes under the proposed rate. It was also noted that 75 percent of average taxpayers in Clinton County are in the $50,000 and under category.

(An advertisement notifying the public of the hearing can be found on the legal page elsewhere in this week’s Clinton County News.)

The board also dealt with several other items of business, including hearing a lengthy monthly personnel report by Board Chairperson Paula Key, which included the following:

* Certified resignations: Nicole Duvall, writing tutor at CCMS and Stacey Evans, teacher/Future Problem Solving Coach at CCHS.

* Certified hired: Adam Davidson and Emily Manning, teachers at AES; Sara Pence, Speech Language Pathologist, district-wide; Debbie Marcum, teacher at CCMS; Nicole Duvall, teacher and Cheer Coach at CCMS; Michelle Earls, teacher at CCMS; Sheldon Harlan, 7th and 8th grade boys’ basketball coach at CCMS; Stacia York, teacher at CCHS and Stacey Evans, principal at CCHS.

* Substitute teachers: Amanda Hatfield, district-wide and Casey Creekmore, CCECC and AES.

* Classified hired: Silas Brown and Lisa Goodman, bus drivers, district-wide and Jennifer Harlan, Cross Country Coach, CCMS and CCHS.

* Classified transfer: Richard Mercader from full-time substitute bus driver to regular bus driver.

* Classified resignations: Dipesh Soma as Head Cross Country Coach at CCMS and CCHS and tennis coach at CCHS and Lisa Savage, Food Service Department.

In other business:

* Approved minutes from previous meetings, approved a Family Medical Leave to Larry Koger through September 7, approved between meeting disbursements and voted to pay claims and bills.

* Heard the monthly finance report from Finance Director Mike Reeves.

* Voted to appoint Julie York to serve on the Certified Evaluation Appeals Panel with Reda Thurman as alternate for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years.

* Voted to revise the instructional day scheduled for the 2015-16 year to reflect an extra four minutes per day at the high school, with classes beginning at 7:56 a.m. rather than 8 a.m.

The change was necessary to fulfill instructional minutes required per day to allow for a third lunch period at the school this year. The higher numbers of students enrolled at CCHS necessitated the need for the extra lunch period time.

* Approved the Supervision of Students Plan for each of the four schools for the current year.

* Voted to eliminate a part-time Exceptional Education teaching position at CCHS.

* Voted to eliminate a Clerical Assistant/Paraprofessional II position at CCHS.

* Voted to establish a part-time Exceptional Education teaching position for the Visually Impaired for grades P-12.

* Voted to establish a Health Coordinator position district-wide in the amount of $500.00.

* Voted to approve first reading of an amendment to a policy regarding the credit recovery software system used at the high school.

* Approved an agreement with Hart County Schools to provide training services for bus drivers for the 2015-16 school year.

* Voted to approve an overnight trip for four CCHS band members to compete at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville August 21-23.

* Approved the agenda as presented and adjourned the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the school board is scheduled for Monday, September 21 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office conference room and is open to the general public.