The Clinton County school board met Monday evening, October 17 for its monthly business meeting with all board members on hand. Although the meeting lasted only about a half-hour, several items of business were taken up and voted on.

The board first recognized retired teacher Beverly Upchurch–who was not present–for her 27 years of service to the school district.

Several consent items were approved, including three family medical leave of absences, to Ofelia “Faye” Littrell, which ran through October 14 and Cindy Wallace through November 28 and Teresa Williams through November 13. They also approved between meeting disbursements and claims and bills.

Under the student services section, several field trips were approved, including field trips for FFA; a trip for FCCLA to Somerset on October 18; a trip for Special Needs Children to Amazing Acres in Sparta, Tennessee on October 26; a trip for JROTC to Clarkrange, Tennessee for a rifle team competition on November 7; a trip for ATC-FBLA to Lexington on October 20 and a trip for Gifted and Talented to Philadelphia April 3-6, 2017.

Board chairperson Paula Key then gave a lengthy monthly personnel report, as follows:

* Certified hired: Debbie Lowhorn, Math Tutor at the middle school; Stacy Guffey and Wendell Maupin, teachers at the high school; Lynn Starnes, Facilitator for the Dual Credit classes at CCHS.

* Certified resignations: Jonathan Oakes, teacher at CCHS effective October 28 and Michelle Summers, Guidance Counselor at Albany Elementary effective January 1, 2017.

* Substitute teachers: Tim Keeton, CCMS and CCHS; Chastity Stearns and Angela Bow, district-wide; Dillon Crawford, high school; Amanda Wheat, Albany Elementary.

* Classified hired: Kerri McDaniel and Larry Koger, full-time substitute bus drivers; Tina Smith, cook/baker, district-wide.

* Classified transfers: Lynn Huffman, from AES aide to aide at the middle school; Chris Smith, from middle school aide to aide at AES.

* Classified retired: Annis Vitatoe, cook at Clinton County High School.

* Classified resignations: Lisa Garrett, bus driver; Georgia Rigney, Food Service Director, effective June 30, 2017.

The board then approved the annual District Staffing Document listing all certified and classified positions currently established by the board; approved the new state requirement changing the Food Service Director position from classified to certified and adjust a cook position from three to four hours per day.

On motions by board member Jeff Sams, they voted to approve a grant application for Kentucky Work Ready Skills initiative funding and a Memorandum of Agreement with Somerset Community College for the purchase of the Clinton Center, the latter contingent upon the aforementioned initiative grant being approved. More details will be forthcoming if the grant is approved.

The board also voted to enter into an agreement with Student Teacher/Eastern Kentucky University for the purpose of providing professional laboratory experiences and student teachers experiences for the educational profession and voted to allow the superintendent to approve all contracts and purchases of $1,000 or more as recommended by the school district’s auditors.

The board then voted to purchase one new school bus through the KISTA program and approve a resolution to participate in the program. The total cost will be $104,181.

The board then approved activity fund budgets for each school for the 2016-17 year and approved shortened days for one student who attends the Early Childhood Center, two who attend Albany Elementary, one who attends middle school, and two who attend high school.

The board also voted to accept the Preschool Partnership grant and in addition, establish a certified preschool teacher, a classified instructional assistant at 100 days per year at $9.97 per hour, and a classified recruiter/family advocate, also for 100 days per year at $9.97 hourly.

Paula Little, Clinton County Assistant Superintendent / Instructional Supervisor, then gave a report on the student and school performance spring state assessments. Little, in reviewing the results that were recently published in the Clinton County News, praised the faculty and staff, as well as students, parents and administrators for the work and progress made that led to the district being listed as “distinguished.”

Director of Pupil Personnel Julie York then gave the monthly attendance report for the second month of the year, which ran from August 26 through September 22.

Overall attendance was down from 95.03 the same month last year to 93.76 this year in average daily attendance. York noted there was a lot going on that caused the decrease, including illnesses and viruses going around, but noted the district and staff was working hard to improve attendance.

Superintendent Charlotte Nasief gave a brief superintendent’s report, noted work being done on the Work Ready Skills grant, and most recent test scores. She said the district is already tweaking and making changes to improve in areas where work is needed. She added she was “excited about the current school year” and looking forward to the progress that will be shown again next year.

Board members Kevin Marcum and Jeff Sams also commented on the success of the district in being named a distinguished district this year, noting the hard work across the board that was done over the year to make it happen.

Marcum also noted that the staff and administrators had made the promise to improve (from the previous year), saying they had carried through with that promise.

After the board approved the meeting agenda as presented, the meeting was adjourned.

The next regular business meeting of the school board is scheduled for Monday, November 14 at 5 p.m., with a work session scheduled for the prior Thursday, November 10 at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Office board room. Both are open to the public.