School board gets good financial news, honors JROTC Bulldog Battalion

Posted February 12, 2013 at 9:28 pm

Clinton County Board of Education, meeting Monday evening, February 11, heard some good news about savings involved in the refinancing of bond repayments, and also extended its congratulations by honoring the local JROTC Bulldog Battalion unit during its regular session.

All members were present for the approximate 45-minute meeting.

The board first recognized several members of the local JROTC at Clinton County High School, who according to their instructor, Ron Cook, was one of only a few JROTC units out of 1,700 that were named Distinguished after inspection by the U.S. Army Brigade Command.

Cook said he was proud of his students, referring to them as part of his family, and noted that they did a lot of work the public doesn’t see, outside of their outstanding performances at local sporting events. They perform at various high-level competitions and training throughout the year.

Superintendent Charlotte Bernard also said she was very proud of the CCHS JROTC squad and that they represented Clinton County and the “We Are Bulldogs” theme very well everywhere they go.

Following the recognition of the JROTC members, the board conducted regular business.

The board first heard a brief address from Byran Skinner of Ross, Sinclair and Associates pertaining to the refinancing of school bonds that the board had approved earlier.

Skinner noted that the refinancing had already been approved and the estimated savings on the bond repayments was even more than projected, at first around $94,000. He said estimates are that the district will save overall around $109,000 by refinancing the bonds.

Several medical and/or family medical leaves were again granted by the board, including: family medical leave to Shirley Williams through April 1; family medical leave to Kim Fitzgerald through February 13; medical leave to Mark Garner through April 30; medical leave to Fred Dalton through July 1; and a family medical leave to Tammy Johnson through March 4.

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

Supt. Bernard then gave the monthly personnel report, as follows: certified transfers: Pam Upchurch from CCHS teacher (special education) to Foothills Academy and Saundra Wright from CCMS teacher to CCHS teacher; certified hired: Michial H. Conner, head baseball coach at the middle school; classified transfer: Tonya Thrasher from KY ASAP Coordinator to CCHS Youth Service Center Coordinator; substitute teacher: Sarah Antle, district wide.

The board then approved the annual offer of assistance for Fiscal Year 2013 KETS funds in the amount of $16,794. Those funds are used for technology related equipment and services.

The board then approved second and final reading of a policy amendment that stipulates that all “newly employed” district personnel shall participate in the direct deposit of payroll, retroactive to January 1 of this year.

Board members then voted unanimously to enter into an annual agreement with the American Red Cross for use of school facilities as an emergency shelter in the event of a disaster.

They also approved an overnight trip for the girls’ softball team to Orlando, Florida March 31 through April 5 and approved the Comprehensive District Improvement Plan. That plan is updated everytwo years and is put together after test scores are released as a way to make improvements in areas where the district didn’t do well in testing categories.

Supt. Bernard then gave the attendance report for the sixth month of school.

Attendance for the month, compared to the same month last year, was down from 93.20 a year ago to 92.37 this year. Most of the reduction in numbers is attributed to more students missing due to the flu that forced the cancellation of classes on four different days in January.

The middle school won the trophy for the highest average daily attendance (ADA) for the month and although there was no improvement in attendance districtwide for the month, the trophy for the most improved also went to CCMS for having the least loss of attendance.

Prior to adjourning, the board also voted to “affirm and re-affirm” actions taken at its last board meeting. According to board attorney Lindsey Bell, that vote was taken to clarify some procedural areas that were addressed at the last meeting.

The next regular meeting of the school board is scheduled for March 11 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office.