It was a bittersweet evening at Monticello School Saturday, May 18, as the Class of 2013 received their diplomas before a crowd of family, friends and alumni who were saying farewell to their beloved school.

As the ceremony ended, members of the Class of 2013 lined the front of the gymnasium and were introduced by Principal Roger Keith, who noted this was the last graduating class from MHS.

The graduation capped a day filled with events at the school, which will officially close on June 30. Alumni, former teachers, staff members, and many who have been touched by the school walked through the hallways, sharing memories of their teachers and the days they spent at Monticello. Pictures were taken of classes and there were hugs and tears all around the MHS gym, as friends gathered to share the event.

Just outside the gymnasium walls there were bulletin boards where people could sign their names and share a few thoughts about the school. “Trojan 4 Ever,” one person wrote. Another wrote, “I loved this place.”

Saturday afternoon’s event began with a welcome from former teacher, principal and Monticello Superintendent Richie Huff.

“This is where you made life-long friends, met or perhaps even married your first love, got to be class leader for the week for recess and water fountain time, decorated the Armory or auditorium for the prom, worked on Christmas floats and other class projects; this is where you could look after or check on your youngster or older brothers or sisters from the time you started school until you graduated,” Huff told the crowd on Saturday afternoon.

He continued, “Though we are saddened today by the closing of our school and especially the circumstances that brought us to this point, let us look upon it not as an ending, but as a new beginning of the Monticello School spirit.”

People lingered at school throughout the afternoon, spending as much time as possible together. The bands Borrowed Blue and Rapid Transit, both which feature alumni of Monticello School, provided music in the auditorium. Before the afternoon concluded Monticello High School alumni band members performed the school fight song one last time.

Graduation began a couple of hours later in the school’s gymnasium, as Principal Roger Keith greeted the crowd.

“You were my very first class of students at Monticello School and you will be my last,” said Keith, as he spoke to the students Saturday evening.

The program for the evening included special music by Wayneanne Miniard, a member of the Class of 1966. Miniard’s grandfather, Vernon Miniard, Sr., was long-time superintendent of Monticello School and she shared some memories of her own, before performing “My Old Kentucky Home.”

She shared the story of how her grandfather moved his family from the hills of Eastern Kentucky to Monticello, a town they had never heard of before. They came to a community that welcomed them all.

“The people of Monticello were our family and they were so good to us,” said Miniard. “My grandfather was so proud of this school. He was so proud of the teachers, the staff and the students who walked these halls.”

Frank Phillips, a Monticello alumni, spoke to the graduates about change–not only the change they are facing as high school graduates, but also the change facing teachers, staff and students of Monticello School.

While the spotlight was focused on the graduating class of 2013, Phillips noted that because of the circumstances the spotlight was shared by the entire Monticello School family on Saturday.

***********************

The wait is over for Monticello Independent faculty and staff, as they have been waiting for the past few months of state management and merger discussions to find out about their employment for the 2013-14 school year.

According to Jim Hamm, state manager of Monticello Independent, the majority of faculty and staff received good news when they were hired by the Wayne County School District for next year.

Hamm provided an update on the personnel issue in his report to the Monticello Independent Board of Education during its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, May 20. According to Hamm, all certified tenured teachers, all status classified personnel and several bus drivers have been hired by Wayne County for the 2013-14 school year. In addition, he added that all maintenance and custodial personnel have been retained as well.

In addition, Hamm announced that Superintendent John Dalton plans to place a guidance counselor from each school district in each school. This will allow students from both districts the opportunity to talk with a guidance counselor they are familiar with and will hopefully put the students at ease when they need to go to the guidance counselor.

***********************

The old Wayne County High School building has been included on the National Register of Historic Places, following a meeting last week by the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board in Louisville.

The school, which has been known in more recent years as A. J. Lloyd Middle School, was one of 15 sites in Kentucky approved by the board during the meeting.

Erected in 1939-1941 with funds provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the school played a significant role in education in the community, according to information provided by the nomination to the board.

As noted in the publication “Education in Wayne County, 1909-1965,” the school reshaped the delivery of public education in the county.

“Previously education had occurred in four separate high schools scattered throughout the county,” the book noted. “The decision to build a single high school for the whole county, in Monticello, helped solidify the town’s county seat status. Also at this time, Wayne County was transitioning from an insular rural society into one aware of possibilities beyond its borders–for travel and job opportunities. The educational advantages given by a consolidated high school provided students with an ability to conceive of life away from Wayne County and an education upon which to begin that journey.”

The National Register is the nation’s official list of historic and archeological resources deemed worthy of preservation. With nearly 3,300 listings, Kentucky has the fourth highest number in the nation.

Listings can be applied to buildings, objects, structures, districts and archeological sites. Proposed sites must be significant in architecture, engineering, American history or culture, or possess a special role in the development of the country.

Natural Register status does not affect property ownership rights but does provide a measure of protections against adverse impact from federally funded projects. Owners of National Register properties may qualify for federal or state tax credits for certified rehabilitation of these properties.

***********************

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public informational meeting on June 4 at the Elk Spring Valley Baptist Church in regard to the proposed reconstruction of flood prone areas along KY 92 in Wayne County.

The meeting will allow all interested people an opportunity to provide information to the Cabinet’s project team regarding historical flooding trends that occur along KY 92 between mile points 10.6 and 13.1.

The purpose of the project is to grade above flood plain levels that are prone to flooding.

The format of the meeting will be informational and it will be held from 5-7 p.m.

The public will be able to view aerials of existing KY 92 and assist the project team in identifying flood prone areas along the project corridor.

Members of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be on hand to answer any questions.