Lebanon Enterprise, Jan. 18, 2017
School board taking steps to begin addressing MCPS facilities
By Stevie Lowery
The Marion County Board of Education, including its three newest members, hit the ground running during its first meeting of the year on Jan. 12.
Now that recallable nickel funds are being generated locally, the board took several necessary steps to start the process of revising the school district’s facilities plan.
“It’s not a quick process. It takes time,” MCPS Facility Director Scott Spalding said.
Board Member Kaelin Reed was appointed as the board representative on the Local Planning Committee, which will reconvene within the next four to six weeks to begin making changes to the current plan. The committee will be receiving assistance from Ross Tarrant Architects, which is the architectural firm the district has worked with on previous renovation and construction projects.
The Local Planning Committee consists of 20 members, and is appointed every four years. The current committee, which will serve until 2019, includes the following members: Superintendent Schlosser (non-voting member), MCPS Facility Director Scott Spalding, local planning and zoning official John Thompson, Calvary Elementary School Principal Sara Brady, Lebanon Elementary School Principal Donna Royse, St. Charles Middle School Principal Buffy Mann, West Marion Elementary School Principal Robby Peterson (who will have to be replaced because he was representing the high school when he was appointed), a central office representative (who will have to be appointed), teachers Lee Morgeson, Greg Taylor, Greg Conley and Mike Carey, parents Donald Peterson, Donna Essex, Lisa Nally-Martin and Melissa Knight and community members Eddie Masterson, Marion County Economic Development Director Tom Lund and Marion County Judge/Executive David Daugherty.
Once the Local Planning Committee makes revisions and the board approves the district facilities plan, it will then have to be approved by the Kentucky Department of Education.
All Local Planning Committee meetings will be open to the public, as are school board meetings.
As far as nickel revenue is concerned, the district received its first check on Jan. 6 for $429,776.93.
School district officials have also taken the necessary steps to apply for the state match, but the Kentucky General Assembly only meets during even years. So, that means the state match won’t be possible until 2018 when the Kentucky General Assembly reconvenes.
Before MCPS had two snow days recently, the last day of school was scheduled for May 17. There is a possibility MCPS could use President’s Day as a makeup day. If MCPS is forced to miss more than seven days due to weather or other reasons, Superintendent Schlosser would consider recommending using the non-instructional school days.
Field trips
Board Member Reed requested that more information about out of state field trips be provided to the board.
“An issue was brought to my attention that I think the board needs to work through at some point,” Reed said. “Most of these out of state fundraisers are student-funded. Students are asked to pay for all or a portion of the trip. I think, going forward, we ought to see some of the financials … If a student is going to pay $300 to go on a Beta trip, for instance, we need to know what the breakdown of that is.”
Superintendent Schlosser said, often times, a great deal of fundraising is completed prior to the trip. But, that a breakdown of the out of state field trip expenses could be provided to the board.
“We’re asking the kids to pay for a lot,” Reed said. “I’d like to see a breakdown.”
In other matters, school board members:
• Voted to elect Butch Cecil as chairman of the school board and Kaelin Reed as vice chairman.
• Were recognized for their service by Marion County Judge/Executive David Daugherty and Lebanon City Councilman Billy Adams who read proclamations in honor of School Board Member Recognition Month.
• Recognized Coury Osborne and Haley Evans as members of the 2017 Leadership NOW Phase II Class.
• Received kindergarten readiness data. According to Early Childhood Program Director Amy Willis, 52.3 percent of this school year’s kindergarten students started school with kindergarten readiness skills, which is above the state average of 50.1 percent.
• Approved advertising a request for proposal for audit services.
• Approved the establishment of an Attract, Recruit and Retain Staff Committee. School Board Members Brad Cox and Peggy Downs volunteered to be on that committee.
• Approved establishing the position of District Assistant Athletic Director for Middle Schools. This position will be filled by a current employee and paid for with a $3,200 stipend. It will not be an entirely new staff member.
• Approved the FY2018 WHAS Grant Application for $14,303.
• Accepted a donation from Lafayette Engineering, Inc. to the Family Resource Centers for $3,000.
• Accepted the invitation for Superintendent Schlosser to attend the EdLeader21 Hewlett Foundation Grant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and 4C's, which will be held March 13-15, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Approved the FY2018 LES Read to Achieve grant application for $50,000.
• Approved the FY2018 GES Read to Achieve grant application for $50,000.
Personnel items
School board members acknowledged the following personnel items:
• Suspension of Jeremy McGuire as assistant principal at Lebanon Middle School for 10 work days with pay, effective Dec. 16, 2016.
• Approval of Amy Mattingly’s transfer from English teacher at Marion County High School to interim assistant principal at Lebanon Middle School, effective Jan. 4.
• Appointment of Glenn Goatley as a homebound instructor for a Lebanon Middle School student, at regular hourly wage/no less than $20 per hour, current rate per mile to and from the residence of the student, effective Jan. 10.
• Appointment of Holly Cox as a homebound instructor for a Marion County High School student, at regular hourly wage/no less than $20 per hour, current rate per mile to and from the residence of the student, effective Jan. 3.
• Appointment of Joanie Bradshaw as a certified extended school service instructor at $20 per hour at West Marion Elementary School, effective Jan. 4.
• Appointment of Lisa Burkhead as an English language arts instructor at Lebanon Middle School, effective Jan. 3.
• Appointment of Tracy Abell as interventionist at Lebanon Middle School, effective Jan. 11.
• Appointment of Derek Meyers as an emergency certified substitute teacher district-wide, effective Jan. 9.
• Appointment of Tessa Simpson as an emergency certified substitute teacher district-wide, effective Jan. 3.
• Appointment of Meagan Lucas as an emergency certified substitute teacher district-wide, effective Jan. 9.
• Appointment of Merry Jo Graves as an emergency certified substitute teacher district-wide, effective Jan. 10.
• Appointment of Kristina Leake as an emergency certified substitute teacher district-wide, effective Jan. 9.
• Appointment of Rachel Bland as an emergency certified substitute teacher district-wide, effective Jan. 9.
• Acceptance of Sherry Bell’s resignation as cook/baker at Lebanon Elementary School, effective Jan. 20.
• Appointment of Terri Spalding as custodian at Lebanon Middle School, effective Jan. 12.
• Appointment of Allison Benningfield as school nurse at St. Charles Middle School, effective Dec. 28.
• Appointment of Tierra Cheyenne Craig as an instructional assistant at West Marion Elementary School, effective Jan. 3.
• Appointment of Sandy Farris as assistant cafeteria manager at Marion County High School, effective Aug. 8, 2016.
• Appointment of Mandy Moore as a substitute cook/baker district-wide, effective Jan. 3.
• Appointment of Susan Tungate as a substitute cook/baker district-wide, effective Jan. 3.
• Acceptance of Lynn Megan Caldwell’s resignation as an instructional assistant at Glasscock Elementary School, effective Jan. 8.
• Acceptance of Lynn Megan Caldwell’s resignation as volleyball coach at St. Charles Middle School, effective Jan. 6.
• Appointment of Caleb Ibarra as an assistant for the Youth Service Center at Lebanon Middle School and Marion County High School, effective Jan. 4.
•Approval of an additional one hour per day for Cheyenne Craig as an instructional assistant at West Marion Elementary, effective Jan. 3.
• Appointment of Charlena Price as a substitute instructional assistant district-wide, effective Jan. 9.