Clinton County Board of Education dealt with a request for putting Biblical teaching back in the classroom, a student discipline issue and other items of business at its regular monthly meeting Monday evening. All members except Goldie Stonecipher were present for the over one-and-a-half hour session, which included a closed session prior to adjournment.

The board approved two leave of absences, including a medical leave to Susan Pierce from March 7 through August 7 and a family medical leave to Marcie Aaron from February 21 through May 15.

After voting to pay claims and bills, Superintendent Mickey McFall gave the monthly personnel report, which included the following: Substitute teacher–Sandra Denney; Certified hired–Nathan Garner, assistant baseball coach at the middle school; Classified hired–Russell Baker, assistant baseball coach at the middle school and Mike Rigney, custodian at Albany Elementary.

Barbara Guthrie and other representatives with her then addressed the board members, requesting at first that the Bible be taught in school, as part of required history. “Students don’t know exactly how our nation came about,” Guthrie said, adding that despite what some government officials say, she believes the United States is still a Christian nation.

She first presented hand-outs to the board members, Supt. McFall and Board Attorney Lindsey Bell, apparently indicating that Kentucky law allowed Biblical type teaching.

In her address to the board, Guthrie said that school children are not being taught morals and again asked “why can’t we put the Bible back in school?”

The group also presented the board a petition that was gathered recently containing some 1,671 names of individuals who had agreed that the Bible should be taught in the local schools.

Guthrie also questioned who determined which text books were used by students in the school district.

Supt. McFall briefly explained the process, noting the state forwarded a list of text books available per curriculums and a committee of local educators decided which texts to use in each subject area. For example, if math text books were needed, the committee would consist largely of math teachers.

Guthrie suggested, other than teaching Biblical courses, that there should also be morals class taught for girls and boys at each school; noted she was in favor of the paddle saying teachers should be able to have control of their classrooms and a dress code not only for students but faculty as well.

Supt. McFall noted that he and CCHS Principal Sheldon Harlan had already been discussing a possible elective class to incorporate a Biblical type course. Also, board members noted that there were organizations in the schools such as the 180 Club, FCA and others available, as well as Albany Elementary having voluntary morning prayer.

The superintendent, in noting an elective course may be possible, also said that faculty and administrators encouraged students to be respectful and that there was a dress code in place. He also noted that students who wish to could bring Bibles to school.

Board member Kevin Marcum said he thinks most kids in the county are brought up with morals and knows the school district faculty well enough to know they try to instill values into students.

Board member Junior Cecil added that we are living in a ‘liberal’ society, but added the schools only have students about seven hours out of the day during the school months. He also said the district has tried to put things into place to teach morals and character.

When Guthrie questioned the board about a time table as to when something official may be done, Supt. McFall said that changes have occurred over generations and “we’re not going to be able to correct them overnight.” He also noted that the issue of teaching the Bible and religion in general, has been in the Supreme Court extensively, adding school districts have to adhere from Frankfort and Washington, D.C.

He did tell the group that the board met each second Monday of each month and they were welcome to attend those meetings and keep up with what is going on in the district.

Later in the meeting, Marcum said he would put the morals and values of Clinton County students up against any school in the United States.

Supt. McFall and other board members also noted that some of the issues, although well taken by the board, were societal problems and couldn’t be solved by school systems.

In other business, the board:

* Board Chairman Ned Davis appointed himself to serve on the Screening Committee for the Superintendent Search.

* Approved an agreement with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Department for Community and Based Services from March 1 of this year through July 1, 2014, unless terminated or cancelled. The agreement will also automatically renew for five successive two-year periods unless terminated.

* Approved an overnight trip for the CCHS girls’ softball team to Bowling Green March 30 and 31.

* Following a 50-minute closed session for a hearing which may lead to the discipline or expulsion of a student, the board returned to open session and board attorney Bell announced that disciplinary action was taken against a (high school) student, but did not elaborate further.

Prior to the closed session, Director of Pupil Personnel Charlotte Bernard gave the attendance report for the sixth month of school, and again attendance rates showed improvement over last year.

During the month, the ADA (Average Daily Attendance) was 93.52, up 2.8 percent (90.72) the same month of school a year ago. The school with the highest attendance for the month was the Early Childhood Center at 95.21 percent and the school with the most improved attendance was the high school, at 92.47 percent compared to 89 percent the same month in 2010-11.

Also, the third grade had the highest overall attendance for the 12 grades during the month, at 94.75 percent. Bernard also added that 1,695 less school days cumulative had been missed by students so far this year and on a note about the early issue in teaching values, added that the Early Childhood Center had a program to teach character to its young students at that facility.

The next regular meeting of the Clinton County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, April 9 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office board room and is open to the public.