~from The Sturgis News
Several dozen Union County Schools students were recognized for their athletic and academic accomplishments during Monday night’s meeting of the board of education. Members of the high school and middle school wrestling teams, the middle and high school bands, the middle school girls’ seventh grade basketball team, and the middle school cheerleaders were presented plaques for their accomplishments. In addition, eight community volunteers who work in various capacities to help school programs were recognized. Red Evans, Tim Rascoe, David Curtis, Bill Price, Allen White, Jeremy Curtis, Larry Taylor and Martin were presented plaques for their contributions to the school district.
Other awards included the announcement that Superintendent Patricia Sheffer has been named the Kentucky Music Education Association Regional Administrator of the Year. Sheffer was nominated by local members of the association and selected based on her support of the music program and students.
Malinda Beauchamp also announced that the local board of education received recognition at the recent Kentucky School
Boards Association conference for excelling in all ten area of proficiency. Union County was recognized as a Kentucky school district that focuses on student achievement. Beauchamp presented the rationale on which the recognition is based, adding, “Union County is very fortunate to have a board focused on student achievement.”Following the presentations, Sheffer thanked the coaches for their leadership of the county’s young people.
When the business session opened, the superintendent announced that the current assessment (money the district may not receive) “stands at $289,858.” She noted this figure is a worst case scenario of the most recent expected state cuts.
Steve Carter introduced Todd Lucas as the new assistant transportation director and Will Hazel as a new mechanic for the transportation department.
In other matters, Sheffer told the board that she and her team of administrators have begun setting goals for the district; she asked that the board submit goals they would like included. The superintendent noted that a District Data Te
am has been organized; that group will address goals weekly, monthly, quarterly, twice a year or annually depending on the goal and its purpose.The superintendent reviewed a list of “mega goals” she has established for the district. That list of goals includes 90 percent of the students having one year growth, ten percent growth in college/career readiness, an increase in ranking to the top 50, 96 percent attendance for the district, a decrease in negative discipline by ten percent; 5000 plus hours of community service district wide and an increase in work keys. The goals listed do not include all of those set by the district as Sheffer noted athletic goals and smart goals will be set by each school to help provide a balanced assessment system. The goals will be embedded in the district improvement plan.
In other matters, the board learned that Operation Preparation will take place at the middle school March 18-22. In addition to the mentoring of students, there will also be a career fair, reality store, in-class sessions, high school preparation and KHEAA program. The high school Operation Preparation will span the month of March with seniors participating in mock interviews and sophomores partici
pating in job shadowing.UCHS Principal Evan Jackson spoke on behalf of the district’s National Technology Honor Society. He noted that instructor Tom Berry is helping provide students with opportunities to visit many local and area industries including Trelleborg, Saturn Machine, MSU, Nashville Diesel and others. He added that the program has received a number of monetary and equipment donations.
Carter reported that students have missed three days of school--two for inclement weather and one for the state wrestling tournament. February 15, the day school was dismissed for wrestling, was scheduled as a make-up day, but Carter noted Monday night that March 15 will be used as a make-up day. Carter also reviewed the sixth month attendance report which shows attendance at 93.60 percent.
Holly Keeney reviewed the student achievement with the board, providing charts showing student growth at all grade levels compared to the 2012-13 reading benchmark data. The trend Keeney showed reflects an increase in proficiency and a decrease in novice performance by students. Due to the change in testing, Keene
y predicted it will take the district about two years to close the gap created by the change in performance data.Middle school teacher Jesse Proctor reviewed activities taking place at UCMS as part of Black History Month, and Jeremy Tackett gave a high school athletic report.
The board also approved nine items by consent. Those items include Section 4 staffing allocations, grant applications, FRYSC district assurances, CSIP and CDIP, travel and personnel reports and leaves of absences.
In other business, district finance officer David Waggener told the board that the federal sequester of funds has not been clearly laid out, but the district has four basic federally funded programs totaling $1,374,000. 98 percent of that total is for employees, Waggener said. “Any type of reduction of funds will be problematic for school districts,” he added. The finance officer said he hopes both the federal and state governments will “do something” soon so that districts can put budgets in place and know financially what they have to work with.
Following Waggener’s presentation of back balances, Dr. Kris Williams, president of Henderson Community College addressed the board. Williams asked for permission to place signage for the Herron Center between the high school drive and the baseball field. She noted the sign will be similar to other HCC signs with the college’s logo and the name of the Herron Center on it. The board approved the request.
Before adjourning, board members heard a request from Methodist Hospital Union County administrator Pat Donahue and Ryan Fowler. Fowler is working at the hospital as part of an internship and is putting in place an “Alternate Care Site Plan” should a disaster ever make the hospital inoperable. Fowler is working with local, regional and state personnel to help develop disaster care sites. On Monday night, he asked for and received permission to use both the high school and the middle school as alternate care sites should a disaster ever strike the area. The board approved the request.
