Clinton County Board of Education held its monthly meeting Monday night, September 10 with all board members on hand.

The board first recognized local 4-H students who had participated and exhibited their works at this year’s Kentucky State Fair in Louisville in August. The students displayed their exhibits to the board during the presentation.

CCHS Principal Sheldon Harlan and Athletic Director Mike Beard then explained the duties and responsibilities of a Bass Fishing Coach, should the local district opt to offer bass fishing as a competitive sport.

The board members seemed optimistic about offering such an added sports competition for students, but decided to get more information and discuss the liabilities, etc. that may be involved prior to making a final decision.

(A separate article on the new sport being offered by KHSAA in the state and possibly at a local level as well, will appear in next week’s Clinton County News.)

After approving minutes of three separate meetings, the board, on a motion by Kevin Marcum, voted to grant a family medical leave of absence for Angela Renee Polston from September 10 through October 31, 2012.

On a motion by Junior Cecil, the board also granted a family medical (maternity) leave for Yvonne Morgan from August 29 of this year through November 6.

The board then approved between meeting disbursements and voted to pay claims and bills.

Superintendent Charlotte Bernard then gave the monthly personnel report, as follows:

* Classified hired: Stephen McGaw, head football coach at the middle school; Robbie A. Davis, assistant football coach at CCMS; Dipesh Soma, cross country coach at CCMS; Gretchen Marlow, cross country coach at Albany Elementary and Annette Antle, kindergarten aide at the Early Childhood Center.

* Substitute teachers: Jelina Melton and Tracie Brown, district wide and Robyn Warinner at the ECC.

* Certified hired: Nathan Garner, boys’ and girls’ golf coach at the middle school.

* Transfers: David Dorn and Greg Cummings from full-time substitute bus drivers to regular drivers.

The board then voted to give permission to Monticello Banking Company to use the school logo and colors on debit cards or credit cards that will be used by customers (on a voluntary basis) of the bank at no cost to the school district.

The board approved the Indirect Cost Report for the 2012-13 school year. The Non-Restricted Indirect Cost Rate is 10.63; the Restricted Indirect Cost Rate is 0.66.

Due to a state mandated professional day for teachers, the school calendar was amended to switch a class day to a professional day.

Because of the training date scheduled for next Wednesday, September 19, students will be out of class that day and will make up that day missed by attended class next April 8, 2013.

Director of Transportation Larry Koger then addressed the board about a radio frequency change, due to an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) mandate that will take effect the first of next year.

Several of the current radios will not pick up the new frequency and about 14 radios for buses are needed, plus some hand held units for each school. Board member Cecil also recommended a portable be supplied to each School Resource Officer as well to be able to communicate in an emergency situation where regular landline and cell phones won’t pick up.

Koger had gotten price estimates for the radios needed at $7,236 plus $400 per portable radio. The total cost for all needed, including supplying SRO’s with the radios, would be just under $11,000.00.

A motion was made by board member Paula Key to purchase the radios so they could be installed prior to the new year. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Finally, Director of Pupil Personnel Julie Daniels gave a report on the first month’s school attendance. She noted that attendance was up across the board in the district, including at all three schools, compared to the same month last year. The school with the highest attendance the first month was Clinton County Middle School and the school with the most improved attendance was Clinton County High School.

The next regular meeting of the Clinton County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, October 8 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office board room. The meeting is open to the general public.