Clinton County Board of Education held a “special” called meeting last Tuesday, June 26 in lieu of its regular meeting, which had been cancelled earlier in the month. The meeting also marked the last session led by now retired schools’ superintendent Mickey McFall, whose last day in that position was June 30. All members were present for the just over one-hour meeting.

The board first recognized two district retirees, including McFall and also Jackie York, who retired from his position as Director of Finance.

Bill Gittings, Clinton County Schools Energy Manager, then presented the board with an overview of the district’s energy savings initiatives for the past school year, including the estimated amount of money the district had saved in energy costs as a result of their implementation of energy saving practices.

The board then approved five between meeting disbursements totaling $59,360.44 and voted to pay claims and bills.

Supt. McFall then gave the monthly personnel report, as follows: Certified non-renewal, David Warinner, Migrant Recruiter; Classified non-renewal, Tonya Thrasher, KY ASAP Coordinator, both district-wide; Certified resignation, Amanda Moons as Cross Country coach at CCMS; Classified resignations, Jackie Gibbons, 5th and 6th grade boys’ basketball coach at the middle school; Daryl Shelton, head custodian and Wilma Trapp, cook, both of Albany Elementary and Greg Cummings, girls’ soccer coach at the high school.

School lunch prices for students and breakfast prices of adults will increase slightly beginning with the 2012-13 school year, as mandated by the Department of Education.

Food Service director Teresa Boils told the board the state had mandated a raise in lunch prices to meet costs they have to pay to supply meals to students. She said some districts were increasing meal prices all at once, some up to $2.50 but she recommended smaller increases, in this case, about a nickel higher per school for paid lunches.

The cost for meals at AES and the Early Childhood Center will be $1.60 and CCHS and the middle school at $1.85. Adult breakfast prices will also increase from $1.60 to $1.85.

The state reimburses the district $1.80 per free student lunches and Boils also noted that “unpaid charged lunches,” despite attempts to collect, weren’t getting paid, but she added “I will not let a child not eat.”

The measure to set the new lunch and breakfast prices passed by a 4-1 vote, with board members Kevin Marcum (who made the motion), Goldie Stonecipher, Junior Cecil and Paula Key voting yes and board chairman Ned Davis voting no, questioning that if it (raise in prices) was mandated by the state, why was there a necessity to have to vote on the matter.

In relation to food services, the board unanimously approved bids on food supplies as recommended by the Food Service Director. Those bids awarded were to Earthgrains and Sara Lee for bread, IWC for food and supplies, and Flav-O-Rich for both ice cream and milk. The board also left open the option to accept some state bids if they were at lower prices.

A Third Street resident, Phyllis Hay, addressed the board about a situation in which there are concrete blocks on her property behind her home. She alleged that the blocks came from the nearby Albany Elementary School when the playground equipment was being replaced at the school some time back and requested the concrete be removed.

Supt. McFall said he would go back and look at the situation and determine if the concrete came from the school and if so the situation would be taken care of.

The board also voted to establish a certified teaching position at the Early Childhood Center, and two classified positions, a paraprofessional and kindergarten aide. It was noted that as of last week, there had already been some 154 children apply for kindergarten, well above the average numbers, creating the necessity for an added class.

The board also approved first reading of policy/procedure updates as recommended by the Kentucky School Boards Association and voted to declare an emergency situation, a standard procedure to allow for the hiring of substitute teachers for the upcoming school year.

They also voted to increase extended employment increment pay for three golf coaches, at CCMS and both varsity coaches at the high school to $1,500 annually; approved the renewal of the lease for the Head Start building for 2012-13 at $950 per month, providing Head Start supply liability insurance; renewed the contract with OneCall Now from 2012 through 2015 at $1.50 per student per year; and approved a resolution to employ Chenoweth Law Office for legal services on an as-needed basis.

The board then approved a renewal for insurance with Indiana Insurance Company which includes the School Package Policy, Commercial Auto, Workers’ Comp and Commercial Umbrella with the annual premium being $203,004 plus mandated replacement cost values and/or additional vehicles.

Director of Pupil Personnel (now superintendent) Charlotte Bernard also reviewed the School Code of Pupil Conduct for the 2012-13 school year, including some changes in the code, which was adopted by the board by unanimous vote.

Bernard also gave the final attendance report, with the last full month of school (9th month) showing an average daily attendance of 95.47, up from 93.14 the same month last year.

The school with the highest attendance for the month was the Early Childhood Center at 96.30 with Clinton County High School showing the most improvement, from 89.31 last year to 92.94 this year.

Also, overall attendance for the year was up about nine-tenths of a percent, from 93.40 in 2010-11 to 92.49 for the year just completed.

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