Clinton County Board of Education held its monthly meeting Monday, July 9 with all members present except Goldie Stonecipher. It was also the first meeting lead by new schools’ superintendent Charlotte Bernard.

The 45-minute session opened with six retirees from the school system being recognized–including over 150 years of cumulative experience. Each were also allowed to say a few words to the audience after being presented plaques by the board and superintendent.

Those retirees recognized included Wilma Moons, Donna Groce, Martina Brown, Michial Conner, Greg Wells and Sharon McFall. The latter is the wife of also recently retired superintendent Mickey McFall, who also attended part of Monday night’s meeting to see his wife being recognized with the group of retirees.

Willard Johnson, President of Monticello Banking Company, then made a presentation to the board, touching on the Community Reinvestment Act and requesting board permission to add the Bulldog and school colors logo on bank debit cards as a way of promoting the local school district.

Johnson said there would be no cost to the school district and customers would have a choice to get the cards with the local school emblems. He also presented some cards from other areas, including Wayne County, Monticello, Glasgow and others that have school logos.

Board members seemed to favor the idea of the promotion but took the proposal under advisement and will give the bank a final decision at a later time.

After approving minutes of the call meeting held June 26, the board voted to grant a medical leave of absence to Janet Beck for the 2012-13 school year; approved subsequent disbursements and voted to pay claims and bills.

Superintendent Bernard then gave a lengthy personnel report, which is standard for this point in the year when staff is rehired for the next school year. The personnel report is as follows:

* Certified Continuing Contracts: Tiffany Norris, teacher at ECC; Sandra Marcum and Yvonne Morgan, teachers at AES; Rhonda Blankenship, Amanda Moons and Jennifer Strunk, teachers at CCMS.

* Classified Continuing Contracts: Amy Garner, Family Educator, Raelene Williams, bus driver, Tammy Jones and Teresa Tarter, bus monitors, and Michael Sinclair, Director of Security/Truancy Officer, all district-wide; Gayle Marcum, custodian and Lisa Gibson, cook, both at the Early Childhood Center; Carrie Chamberlain, Paraprofessional II, Sheila Massengale, aide and Susie Thomas, Paraprofessional, all at Albany Elementary; Gayle Cooksey and Julane Murphy, custodians and Paula Owens, cook, all at the middle school.

* Certified Retired: Sharon McFall, teacher and Wilma Moons, counselor, both at CCMS; Donna Groce and Martina Brown, teachers at Clinton County High School; Michial Conner and Greg Wells, teachers at Foothills Academy.

* Certified Resignations: Erin Casada, Cross County Coach at AES; Chanda Judd, teacher at CCMS; Lynn Starnes, girls’ golf coach and Michael Anders, boys’ golf coach, both at CCMS. The latter two are now the varsity coaches for girls’ and boys’ golf, respectively, at the high school.

* Certified Transfers: Erin Casada, from CCMS teacher to CCHS teacher; Jake Asberry, from middle school assistant principal to high school assistant principal; and James Thaxton, from CCHS assistant principal to assistant principal at the middle school.

* Classified Transfers: Dana Shelley from aide at the Early Childhood Center to aide at AES.

* Classified Hired: Michael Hood, head custodian at Albany Elementary.

* Classified Retired: Johnny DeRossett, bus driver, district-wide.

* Classified Resignation: Bonnie Lake, clerical assistant at the ECC.

The board then approved Penny Dalton and Charlotte Bernard as Co-Treasurers and approved a Bond of Treasurer for each, retroactive to July 1 and continuous until cancelled or until his/her successor is duly appointed and qualified. Also, it releases Mickey McFall and Jackie York as Co-Treasurers.

The board then approved the instructional day schedule for the 2012-13 school year, which included setting the bus unload, school start time and bus pick-up time for each school, as follows:

* Albany Elementary: Bus unload at 7:20 a.m., start time 7:40 a.m., pick-up time, 2:38 p.m.

* Clinton Middle School: Bus unload, 7:25 a.m., start time 7:50 a.m., pick-up time, 2:48 p.m.

* CCHS: Bus unload, 7:30 a.m., start time, 8 a.m., pick-up time, 2:58 p.m.

* Early Childhood Center: Bus unload, 7:30 a.m., start time, 7:50 a.m., pick-up time, 2:42 p.m.

There will be 170 instructional days, with a total of six hours and 15 minutes instruction and 43 minutes for lunch, breaks, etc. for a total school day of six hours and 58 minutes.

The board then voted to approve the contract with Adanta for free counseling service to the schools for the upcoming school year and also an agreement with the Kentucky State Police Criminal Identification and Records Branch for the purpose of background checks for new employees.

After approving second and final reading of the policy/procedures updates, the board voted to eliminate the certified position of Director of District Programs. Supt. Bernard said the person in that position isn’t being terminated but transferred to another position and would save the district money.

The board then voted to establish a 206-day certified position for a Director of Alternative School located at CCHS. The position is 20 days above the normal instructional day period and will separate the middle and high school alternative schools and the person will also work on drop-out prevention.

The board also voted to establish a part-time position for a Special Education Liaison and increased the increment pay for Director of Pupil Personnel from $2,200 to $3,000 per year.

The board then approved a fundraiser for Albany Elementary School to sell soft drinks and use the proceeds to aid in technology, such as computers, etc.

AES Principal Tim Armstrong noted that although he didn’t care too much about fundraisers, he did support this one due to it being for a good cause. He noted the last fundraiser the school had for technology was seven or eight years ago and the funds this year will help add another computer lab at the school.

The board then voted unanimously to approve the District Assurances for the 2012-13 year.

Board member Paula Key then questioned the status of the proposed “connector road” from the new US 127 Bypass to the back of the middle school.

Board Attorney Lindsey Bell said deeds had been prepared for the board’s review and that in order for the project to be funded, the school district would have to deed property to the county.

There was also discussion on ways from keeping traffic from using the connector road, if constructed, as a pass through from the bypass to the current U.S. 127. The road’s purpose is apparently to assist persons using the bypass to have access from there to the school itself.

Supt. Bernard said she would check on the status of the connector road project and get back with the board members with an update.

Finally, board member Kevin Marcum questioned whether or not there were any grants or programs that would help create jobs for high school teenagers, especially during summer months, such as the old Youth Services program.

Key, who works with the local Office of Employment, noted that a couple of years ago, federal stimulus money was used for a similar program for both teens and adults, but noted funds are no longer available under that program.

The next regular meeting of the Clinton County Board of Education is scheduled for August 13 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office board room and is open to the general public.