Metcalfe Co. superintendent: Consolidating duties in district finance, personnel departments will increase workload, but will save district more than $50,000
Glasgow Daily Times, Feb. 23, 2017
Shive, Brown re-elected as chairs of Metcalfe Board of Education
The February meeting of the Metcalfe County Board of Education opened with Joey Shive being re-elected as chair and Tim Brown re-elected as vice chair.
In reports, superintendent Benny Lile announced that he had received the notice of intent to retire from finance officer Dwight Ross.The retirement will be effective July 31.
Lile informed the board that included under personnel reports was an item that called for the consolidation of duties within the personnel and finance departments. The net result should be a savings of more than $50,000 to the district, he said.
Lile explained, “I know that it will increase our workload, but we are still in a time where we are asking everyone to be as efficient with dollars as possible.”
Metcalfe County Elementary School Assistant Principal Paula VanMeter was on hand to share the employee and student of the month recognitions. They included teacher, Hannah Shaw; food service employee, Bea Jessie; and student, Addison Morgan.
VanMeter shared, “All of these individuals exhibit what is the very best about our school – caring and loving attitudes and always a friendly smile.”
Middle School Principal Allen Trotter informed the board of the recent trip to Frankfort by the leadership students. He also reported on the work taking place to digitize the curriculum, which has started with Ms. Shannon Lowe in eighth-grade math. He shared, along with grant writer Torrie Osbon, that MCMS has received a grant from Delta Dental Arts in Education initiative to bring Kentucky Shakespeare to the school for a performance. In addition, the school has also received oral health education materials and toothbrushes. MCMS has been awarded a McDonald’s Balanced Life Style Grant, which allocates $990 toward a nutrition and fitness program.
Some of the highlights from Metcalfe County High School shared by Principal Kelly Bell included: 89 students taking the ACT last Saturday, 42 students have been placed in a job through the Work Ready Program, schedule preview night is March 9, and eight students have recently received welding certification.
Director of Special Services Chris Huffman reported on efforts to develop a comprehensive K-12 drug, alcohol and tobacco awareness prevention program. Huffman is working with various local and regional agencies, along with representatives from each school in order to have this in place for the coming school year.
“We have pockets and pieces of this instruction taking place across the district, but we don’t have a solid comprehensive plan,” he said. “It is critical in the time we live that students receive current and factual information concerning drugs, alcohol and tobacco ... and they need to hear the message often.”
Huffman also gave updates on several building projects. The indoor multi-purpose facility in the old blue gym should be ready by the end of the month. The batting cages are being installed now and the flooring should be laid within the next two weeks. The fieldhouse behind the high school/middle school is due to be erected on the 20th.
In routine items, the board approved the state offer of assistance for technology and approved the monthly financial reports. The next meeting will be March 14 at the district office.