Clinton County Board of Education held a brief, yet busy, regular monthly meeting Monday evening, March 11 at the Central Office with all board members present.

The board first recognized both the elementary and middle school academic teams, each who won their respective district competitions recently.

Albany Elementary not only won the 91st district competition but placed first overall in all subject areas. Also, two middle school students scored high enough during the district to advance to this weekends regional competition. They include Noah Stockton, who will compete in Science and Zach McFall who will compete in both science and math.

The board then heard an update on Clear Creek Academy from director Jeff Pharis, who presented a PowerPoint presentation which revealed how students feel about the academy and how it has helped them, in most cases, literally turn their lives and educational careers around.

One student, Haley Adkins, also addressed the board about her own personal experiences, noting that because of Clear Creek Academy, she would be walking across the stage to graduate in a couple of months. Her parents also spoke briefly to the board and audience, expressing their appreciation for the work the academy is doing to help students with problems that need assistance outside the normal classroom setting.

The academy was formerly referred to as the ‘alternative school’ but that title was changed to create a more positive image for a classroom setting so as not to punish students who had been in trouble in school but to aide in their education and teaching them life skills.

Teachers at the school, Jeff Shelton and Tyler Young, as well as CCHS Guidance Counselor Donna Butler, also spoke on behalf of the work being done at Clear Creek. Almost everyone also noted the family atmosphere that has been installed to coincide with the work in the classroom itself.

After approving minutes of three prior meetings, its last regular meeting and two call meetings, the board then, on separate motions, approved several leave of absences, including the following: medical leave to Kim Fitzgerald through March 18; family medical to Tammy Johnson through March 8; maternity leave to Kayla Mora Kriek through April 5; family medical to Kim Patton through March 21; medical leave to Brenda Stearns through April 15 and a medical leave to Clyde Stearns through March 11.

After approving between meeting disbursements and voting to pay claims and bills, Superintendent Charlotte Bernard gave a brief personnel report, which included the following, (all district-wide): Certified hired–Paula Little, assistant superintendent; Substitute teachers–Ashley Pitman, Adam Davidson and Angela Melton; Classified resignation–Mike Langford, bus driver.

The board approved first reading of a policy amendment and review of two administrative procedures as recommended by KSBA (Kentucky School Boards Association); voted to allow students and faculty at Albany Elementary to hold a fundraiser for Relay For Life and approved an overnight trip for the girls varsity softball team to Bowling Green on March 22.

Julie York, Director of Pupil Personnel, then gave the board the monthly attendance report for the seventh month of school, which ran from February 11 through March 11, 2013.

Attendance for the month, compared to the same month a year ago, was up over 1.2 percent, standing at 92.93 percent this year, up from 91.68 last year. Overall enrollment also continues to be above last year, with 1,730 students enrolled as of Monday of this week, up 23 from the 1,707 enrolled through the same time period a year ago.

Albany Elementary School received the trophy for the highest ADA (Average Daily Attendance) for the month at 93.73 percent while Clinton County Middle School got the trophy for the most improved ADA for the month, standing at 93.26 percent.

The next regular meeting of the Clinton County Board of Education is scheduled for April 8 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office and is open to the general public.