Clinton County Board of Education held its monthly business session Monday, November 16 with all active board members present.

The board first recognized Tina Langford, former teacher/principal upon her recent retirement from the school district. They then recognized former fourth district Board of Education member Junior Cecil, who recently announced his resignation after seven years on the board. Cecil was recently hired as the new Clinton County 4-H Extension Agent.

Both were presented plaques of appreciation and each gave a short address to those on hand, thanking various people, including parents and students they have worked with in the past.

The board then recognized several KYA (Kentucky Youth Advocate) students from the Clinton County Middle School who took part in a hands-on government-related session for students in Frankfort in which over 1,100 middle school students competed.

KYA is a youth leadership program for students at the middle school level. Christen Derryberry of CCMS won the overall Outstanding Speaker competition.

A Gear-Up coordinator gave a presentation about the Gear-Up program that began again in the district at the beginning of this year.

The Gear-Up program received a seven-year grant from Lindsey Wilson College, with the primary focus to assist students in the middle school grade level prepare for future college and career readiness decisions, using several different programs and setting goals for long-term achievement.

The program has already seen several students tour different colleges and universities and get some hands-on experience in careers they may be interested in pursuing. The grant has also helped purchase many different type math and reading programs and placed technology, such as iPads, in the hands of several students as a learning tool.

Following the recognitions and Gear-Up presentation, the board proceeded with regular business items on the agenda, first approving previous meeting minutes, subsequent disbursements and voting to pay claims and bills. Three leave of absences were also approved, including a family medical/maternity leave for Kayla Kriek through December 7; a family medical leave for Lonnie Marcum through October 25 and a medical leave for Bea Wallace through October 7.

Following a brief monthly finance report from finance director Mike Reeves, board chairperson Paula Key gave the following monthly personnel report, as follows:

* Certified hired: Patricia Sawyers, Reading tutor for the Early Childhood Center and Albany Elementary; Mickey McFall, tennis coach at CCHS; Sandy Shelton, archery coach at CCHS; Lynn Starnes, Facilitator for Dual Credit Classes at Clinton County High School.

* Certified resignations: James Walker, soccer coach at CCHS and Sandy Shelton, archery coach at the middle school.

* Classified hired: April Beaty, finance officer, district-wide.

* Classified retired: Larry Koger, Bus Transportation Director, district-wide.

* Substitute teachers: Crystal Jones, CCHS and Amber Patrick and Kristal Curry, district-wide.

The board then voted to appoint Kevin Marcum as vice-chairman of the board, replacing Cecil, beginning January 1 through December 31, 2016.

On a motion by Marcum, the board voted unanimously to establish a certified teaching position at the high school. Superintendent Charlotte Bernard noted that the number of students in some classes were on the edge of being above the student/teacher ratio. CCHS Principal Stacy Evans said what was needed most right now, if possible, would be a half-time each Math and English teacher.

The board then approved first reading of some minor changes to the Alternative Credit Options policy pertaining to graduation requirements.

Two overnight trips were then approved, including a trip for the boys’ basketball team to Stanton, Kentucky December 28 through December 30 and a December 21-23 trip for the girls’ basketball team to Madisonville, Kentucky.

Director of Pupil Personnel Julie York then gave the attendance report for the third month of the school year, which ran from September 30 through November 4.

The overall attendance was up just under one tenth of a percent, from 93.94 a year ago to 94.02 this year. The school scoring the highest ADA (Average Daily Attendance) being Albany Elementary at 95.30 and the most improved ADA was at the ECC, which was at 94.53 the third month this year.

CCMS Principal Teresa Scott also noted during the report that the fifth grade at the middle school had perfect attendance on Monday of this week.

York, although pleased with the overall rate at hitting the 94 percent mark, did say that the average of students out of school per day was some 102, which was “too many” on average. She noted the district and her office was working hard to improve that number in various ways.

Board member Jeff Sams also noted that parents should be made more aware of the impact of students not being in school with the financial aspect for the district, since state funding for the school system is based on the number of students in attendance each day.

Superintendent Bernard, during her monthly superintendent’s report, also noted that just a one percent decrease in attendance could amount up to $100,000 lost in state funds, money that could be used for more teachers and instructional aide for students.

The superintendent also reported the schools were working on their annual Strategic Plans to help improve instruction and bring up test scores and said that Monday was the first day that the new SRO (School Resource Officer) had begun work. He is based at the high school.

Bernard also said that there were still many students and parents unaware of the Healthy Kids Clinic program that has a nurse available at each school this year. Many students are unaware that if they are sick or feeling bad, they can be treated at the school under the new program through a partnership with Cumberland Family Medical Center.

Currently, nurse practitioners are in the schools on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays but may be made available on other days when needed.

(Separate articles on the new SRO and a follow-up on the Healthy Kids Clinic program will be published in next week’s Clinton County News.)

After approving the board agenda, the approximate 50-minute meeting was adjourned.