By Cassie Ipock

The Dawson Springs Board of Education held its first meeting of the new year on Monday and made its intentions known in regards to renewing a contract of employment with Superintendent Leonard Whalen.

Board member Wes Ausenbaugh made the motion approving the intent of the board to renew Whalen to a new, four-year contract. The agreement will be pursuant to the provision in the superintendent's current contract and approval to authorize board chairperson Tracy Overby and vice-chairperson Vicki Allen to negotiate terms of the contract subject to review and ratification by the board with a four-year term to begin July 1, 2017, and expiring on June 30, 2021. Ausenbaugh's motion, which was seconded by board member Lindsey Morgan, was approved unanimously.

In his superintendent's report, Whalen unveiled a banner awarded to the district due to the achievement of being named a "Kentucky District of High Performance" in terms of College and Career Readiness under the Unbridled Assessment and Accountability for 2015-16.

According to a letter addressed to the district from the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Board of Education, DSCS acquired an overall score in the 90-95th percentile and is "a model of positive change for other districts in Kentucky."

Whalen also presented a second banner issued to the district earlier that day, which proclaimed that DSCS had been named to the 7th Annual Advanced Placement Honor Roll.

In other actions, the board:

• Received an elementary school report from Principal Jennifer Ward. Ward presented data gathered from the Brigance Kindergarten Readiness screener. The three-part survey proved that, in 2014-15, 69 percent of incoming kindergarteners were not ready for the transition. That number decreased by almost half during the current school year, in which 36 percent of incoming kindergarten students were not ready for kindergarten. "What do you think the increase of students prepared for kindergarten is attributed to?" asked board member Steve Morse. "Mrs. Kammie (Jackson-King, preschool teacher)," said Ward. "She meets regularly with our kindergarten teachers to hear their concerns."

• Heard the Junior/Senior High report from Principal Kevin Stockman. In his report, Stockman detailed the timeline of teacher evaluations being conducted, as well as a detailed list of upcoming events. "The (basketball) Homecoming game and crowning of the king and queen is on Friday, and the dance will be held on Saturday," said Stockman. "The seniors will be taking a class tour of Murray State on (Wednesday)."

• Listened to the current school year calendar update as delivered by Director of Pupil Personnel Kent Workman. School will be in session for students Feb.17 as a make-up day in place of missing Jan. 6 due to inclement weather.

• Approved the Kentucky School Board Association's resolution to contribute up to $26 in regards to a potential KU (Kentucky Utilities) rate increase.

• Approved board meeting dates for 2017, designated for the third Monday of each month, except for the month of June. The June meeting is scheduled for June 26 to coincide with the school/fiscal year calendar.

• Approved tentative 2017-18 staffing policies as carried over from the current school session with potential changes based on funding.

•Approved the 2017-18 draft budget as presented by the district's finance officer, Jenny Bruce. "A draft budget is what it is -- exactly a draft budget -- because I haven't received any figures on the monies for next year or anything," said Bruce. "It's really just a rollover from this year."

• Discussed the District Nutrition Report Card and approved the Food Service Improvement Plan after a report from LaDonna Bennett, director of food services. "We are self-supporting," said Bennett. "We participate in the Community Eligibility Provision Program, in which the students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost." According to Bennett, fruit smoothies are now being offered at breakfast for students in grades 7-12, and are "going over real well." Over the course of the 2015-16 school year, the cafeteria served 57,810 meals for breakfast, 94,798 meals for lunch, 2,501 adult meals and prepared 4,902 meals for the local Head Start location. "That is a total of 160,071 meals," said Bennett.

• Tabled the approval to continue with and accept a one-year contract with Baptist Health to administer random drug testing until the regularly-scheduled February meeting.

• Approved the 2017-18 school calendar as recommended by the district's calendar committee and Workman.

• Conducted a first reading of an update to the Kindergarten Entrance Age policy as recommended by the state.

• Approved the assurance of compliance with the Department of Health Education and Welfare Civil Rights Act of 1964.