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Adair Co. School Bd. meeting, Jan. 21, 2010 Report Floyd Burton is new Board Chairman Chris Watts is new Vice Chair Mr. Treece re-elected as Board Secretary Reconfiguration appears dead for now Principals instructed to keep curricula at different schools close to same. New Col. Wm. Casey replacement likely to be open 2013 School board members recognized Superintendent reports increase, later, in SEEK funds Ameresco gives report on performance contracts SBDM reports will be Tuesday, February 16, 2010 No one shows up for public forum on nutrition/physical activity Consent agenda passed By Ed WaggenerFloyd Burton, District 4 school board member, was elected Chairman of the School Board at the January 21, 2010 meeting of the school board, on a motion by Marsha Walker, seconded by Greg Willis, with a 4-0 vote. Mr. Burton abstained. He accepted the gavel from Chairman Chris Watts, who was elected Vice-Chairman with four yes votes. Mr. Watts voted, no, but, accepted the duty. On a motion by Mike Harris, seconded by Chris Watts, Superintendent was elected to continue as secretary to the board, a position traditionally filled by Superintendents in the Adair County School District. Reconfiguration efforts come to virtual end Reconfiguration of the Adair County Schools appears to be dead for this year, following the January 21, 2010 meeting of the Adair County School Board. Committee meetings, open to the public for two sessions, but the result was that the committee felt it would be better to leave the student placement as it is now. The goal of reconfiguration had been to get all students of the same grade level in the same Adair County School. That goal was called into question when Board Member Marsha Walker (2) asked members of the audience if there were any studies which showed the optimum grouping of students. Teacher Pam Geisselhardt responded that research she had read indicated that the best situation was P-K (Pre-School and Kindergarten) through 8th Grade. "The younger students learn from the older ones," she said. The board also thought that the idea that reconfiguration might be interpreted as punishment to the county people, who benefit disproportionately from access to the new Adair County Elementary School ACES, but who voted more heavily against the Nickel School tax which would have, in effect, given students from the old boundaries of Colonel William Casey and John Adair Middle School a new school, thus ending the inequity "town" students have in assignment to the newer ACES facility. Another objection to the reconfiguration was that more students in Adair County would be subject to more frequent school changes, and in so doing, would have to learn new surroundings and make new adjustments to facilities and friends more often. Some students under the current situation may switch schools as many as 5-6 times starting with pre-school until they finally graduate 12th grade. Fifth District Board Member Mike Harris noted that the district, even without the direly needed Nickel Tax, will be able to construct a new elementary school to replace Col. William Casey Elementary in 2012. (With the Nickel Tax construction would have likely started the summer of 2010; defeat of the tax was at least a two year setback.) He said that the school could be open for the 2013 school year. He said that given that probability, he thought it better to forget about school reconfiguration this year. "We'd just be putting the kids through another change of schools when the new school is open." Superintendent Treece stressed that in the final analysis, he favored "What's best for students," and added, "at this time, I couldn't recommend reconfiguration." Efforts will be made to keep curriculum same at all schools The board asked that principals of the schools being studied for reconfiguration meet to make every effort to make certain that the curriculum in each school be equivalent, though Mr. Treece noted that any differences now are more a matter of teaching style than of content. The four principals are Patty Jones, Col Wm. Casey Elementary School; Robbie Harmon, Adair County Elementary School (ACES); Jane Branham, John Adair Intermediate School; and Alma Rich, Adair County Middle School. "Recognition" is recognition of school board The somewhat cryptic agenda entry, "recognition," was revealed by Superintendent Darrell Treece to be recognition of the five members of the school board, who received certificates of appreciation for their service in difficult times. Supt. Treece noted that each of them serves the community, listens to concerns of citizens, and "spend countless hours" working on school related activities, "most of which," he said, "the public never sees." Superintendent reports possible State SEEK fund increase Superintendent Treece reported that the prospects on state funding of education look bleak in the current legislature. He said that budget cuts are likely unless Governor Beshear gets a slots gambling measure through, and that is unlikely. The Superintendent said that there is a probability for SEEK (Support Educational Excellence in Kentucky) funds to increase, and that will figure into the final budget for the Adair County School District in the next fiscal year. According to the Kentucky Department of Education's website, SEEK is a "formula driven allocation of state provided funds to local districts. The formula includes funding for transportation costs and special needs students as reported by districts." Superintendent Treece reported that the "Messenger Calling" system has been undergoing testing and that the system is performing well. Site Based Council meeting set for February 16, 2010 The board decided to hear 30-minute presentations of the SBDM (Site based Decision Making) councils from the system's five main schools, Adair County High School, Adair County Middle School, John Adair Intermediate School, Adair County Elementary School, and Col. Wm Casey in a 2.5 hour session on the third Tuesday of next month, February 16, starting at 6pmCT, at the board's conference room, 1204 Greensburg ST, Columbia, KY. The order of presentation is to be announced later. Ameresco representative gives report conservation measures Teresa Barton, an account executive for Ameresco, updated the board on Ameresco's performance contracts with her company. Most of the quick savings have been accomplished, she said, with the biggest savings coming from HVAC and lighting upgrades. She also noted that 100% recycling had been implemented, and said she had "lots of praise" for the district's efforts. Performance contracts are based on results. Improvements are made to the school facilities and the improvements are paid for from measured savings. If improvements do not deliver savings which are enough to pay for the improvements, the cost is paid by the contractor, not the school district. Consent agenda unanimously approved With an addendum, for approval for the use of the Adair County Middle School gym for a benefit singing, the consent agenda was unanimously approved, on a motion by Marsha Walker (2), seconded by Mike Harris (5). The consent agenda includes approval of the nutrition/physical activity report. A hearing on the report, at 6:30pmCT, failed to draw any public comment. The consent agenda, with the addendum, follows: Approval of minutes Approval of treasurer's report Approval of payment of bills - Renae Smith Nutrition/Physical Activity Report Approval of Family Resource & Youth Services (FRYSC) Assurance Certificate Approval to accept School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC) offer of assistance in the amount of $108,773 Annual Debt Service on Bonds Approval of Adair County High School Yearbook contract. Approval of out-of-state trip for Adair County High School Senior Class to Ohio Acknowledgment of personnel action Addendum January 21, 2010: Approval to Use Adair County Middle School Gym by the Sparksville Church of the Nazarene for a benefit singing The meeting was well attended, with all board members, Chairman Chris Watts (3), and members Greg Willis (1), Marsha Walker (2), Floyd Burton (4), and Mike Harris (5) present, Superintendent Darrell Treece, Assistant Superintendent Brenda Mann, Instructional Supervisor Phyllis Curry, Renee Smith, Finance Officer, and members of the media.Information About Your Adair County Schools The Adair County Board of Education holds regular monthly meetings each third Thursday, at the Adair County Board Conference Room, Board of Education Office, 1204 Greensburg ST, Columbia, KY. Phone 270-384-2476Adair County Board of Education: Chairman Chris Watts (District 3); Vice Chairman Marsha Walker (District 2); Members Greg Willis (District 1); Mike Harris (District 5); and Floyd Burton (District 4). Superintendent Darrell Treece. School Board Attorney Jeff Hoover. Assistant Superintendent Brenda Mann, Instructional Supervisor Phyllis Curry; Anita Wethington, Special Education Director; Mike Akin, Title 1 Coordinator; Carla Perkins, Technology Coordinator; David Jones, Transportation Director; Ricky Bault, Maintenance Director; Carol Roy, Food Services Director; Renae Smith, Finance Officer. Becky Bailey, Public Affairs/Public Relations Coordinator; Chad Parnell, Yearbook Advisor; Pam Geisselhart, Gifted and Talented Teacher; Kim Goodin, Assistant Principal, John Adair Intermediate School; Members of the Reconfiguration Committee, Marian Grant (ACES), Angie Neat (ACMS), Julie Brock (CWC) and Jane Reed (JAIS), and Teresa Barton, Ameresco Account Executive. This story was posted on 2010-01-25 06:09:03
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