RECORD OF BOARD PROCEEDINGS The Mercer County Board of Education Met at Mercer Co. Sr. H.S., 5:30 P.M. Board Meeting SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Feb 4, 2016 (Rescheduled Regular Jan 21, 2016 meeting- cancelled due to snow) 16.191 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Ron Betsher Dist 1 Board Chair Billy Montgomery - Dist 3 Larry Yeager Dist 2 - Vice-Chair Jim Stinnett - Dist 4 Pattie Burke Dist 5 16.192 APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Betsher made a couple of changes on the agenda: Recommendations will be moved to the regular February Board Meeting. Item 16.206 - Sealed Bids will be removed from the agenda. Mr. Davis spoke to this issue: He stated the Board had received an official offer on the East Lexington St. campus and will be addressed and a possible vote taken at the regular February 18 th meeting. The offer does meet state specifications. On a motion by Billy Montgomery, second by Pattie Burke, the board voted to approve the agenda. VOTE: 5 of 5 16.193 RECOGNITIONS: (Jan. recognitions to be handled at Feb. 18, 2016 regular meeting). 1. TITAN PROUD No Exceptions - A student from each school (Mercer Elementary, Harlow Early Learning Center, Mercer Co. Intermediate School, King Middle, and Mercer County Senior High School) will be recognized each month at the board of education meetings for their efforts in the classroom, leadership skills and attitude. 16.194 Reports Informational Items a. Superintendent Report scanned and attached. Mr. Davis stated the reports that the Governor s Budget did not cut SEEK is misleading. They did shore up SEEK with $39million, but they are reducing us in several other areas. We are being reduced 4.5% this year ($17M), as well as 9% in 17SY ($35.8M) and 18SY ($353.8M) in areas such as: Safe Schools, Preschool, FRYSC s, ESS, Transportation will remain flat at 60% funding, Textbooks, Read to Achieve Grant, among other areas. KECSAC has already taken money back this year due to the cuts in the Governor s budget. Mr. Montgomery stated, to the public, it looks like they are giving us money, but when you dig deep it is just the opposite. People don t realize. Mr. Davis followed by explaining that Kentucky schools have been cut more than any other schools in the union. Right now (before these new cuts) we stand at 12.2% less funding than we had in 2008. b. Finance Monthly Overview Chantal Joyce, Assistant Finance Officer, gave the financial report for December 2015. The ending general fund cash balance was $5,652,235 as compared to $5,651,148 last year. In revenue, omitted property taxes were $53,000 lower this month and utility taxes were $62,000 lower due to the reduction in companies paying this tax. Property taxes were higher this month by $59,000. In expenditures, for 2600 Building Operations, expenses were lowered by $300,000 mainly due to the KMS bathroom renovation of prior fiscal year. In February the board will review staffing allocations. We will have projections for the budget, in reference to general fund, beginning with February and continuing each month thereafter. Ruth Ann Cocanougher was happy to bring some good news to the Board. They recently voted to re-finance the bonds on the new high school and were told it would save the system approximately $76,000/year. When they re-financed, funding was in very good shape Page1
and it turns out it will save us approximately $133,000/year from now until 2027 (for a total of approximately $1.5million in savings. c. Attendance Report Ms. Hayslett scanned and attached. 16.195 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: No one signed up to speak to the board this month. 16.196 CHANGE ORDERS Ross Tarrant Architects was present with 3 change orders to the Mercer Co. High School Phase 2 Athletic Improvements (Lexington St. Campus). On a motion by Jim Stinnett, second by Billy Montgomery, the board voted to approve: Change Order 01 for $14,301(stabilize existing soils); Change Order 02 for $6,871.00 (Electrical conduits and irrigation lines too shallow re-buried and soil stabilization); Change Order 03 for $402.00 (Extend the concrete sidewalk along east end of bleachers to capture the 8 gate to the track. 16.196.1 AUDITOR S REPORT FOR 2014-15 INFORMATIONAL ITEM Billy Montgomery Yes Pattie Burke Yes Jim Stinnett Yes Larry Yeager Yes Ron Betsher Yes Joe Montgomery, from White & Company, gave the audit report for Fiscal 2014-15 to the Board. It was an unmodified opinion, or Clean Report. There were no issues with the audit. 16.197 CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: a. Minutes of the following Board Meetings: 12/14/15, 12/17/15, and 12/22/15 b. Invoices Orders of the Treasurer c. Revised Procedure 10.5 AP1- Visitors to School d. MCIS Fundraiser School Mall K-Kids Club e. Matchomatic Fundraiser KMS f. KMS Pennies for Patients Fundraiser g. KMS New Booster Club Agreement for remainder of 2016 To include KMS: Lady Titan Basketball, Boys Basketball, Cheerleading, Football, Boys Soccer, PTO and Baseball. h. WHAS Grant Application permission i. Shortened School Day for 3 Special Needs Students approved. On a motion by Pattie Burke, second by Billy Montgomery, the board voted to approve the Consent Agenda. Page2
16.198 PERSONNEL NOTIFICATION REPORT INFORMATIONAL ITEM KRS 160.390; KRS KRS 160.390; KRS 160.38; KRS 160.370 The Superintendent is responsible for all personnel actions including hiring, assignments, transfer, dismissal, suspension, reinstatement, promotion, and for reporting these actions to the board of education (KRS 160.390 (1)). All appointments, promotions and transfers of principals, supervisors, teachers, and other school employees shall be made only by the Superintendent of schools, who shall notify the Board of the action taken (KRS 160.380(2a)). All persons employed in this item have been hired for the 2015-16 school year (unless otherwise stated), pending completion of all necessary paperwork. NAME POSITION LOCATION EFFECTIVE DATE HIRED CLASSIFIED: Emmanuel Young Went to.5 Custodian from 1.0 Custodian Now Day Treatment 12-2-15 and Central Office only Mary Alice McClain Instructional Assistant I Harlow 1-4-16 Emily Vandivier Instructional Assistant I Harlow 1-4-16 James Mason Custodian 8 hrs MCIS 1-8-16 HIRED CERTIFIED: MISCELLANEOUS RESIGNATIONS: Resignations due to Retirement: HIRED CERTIFIED SUB: HIRED AS CLASSIFIED SUB: Jullian Shea Butler Classified Sub District 12-4-15 Brian Goodlett Bus Driver Sub District 1-8-16 LeShawn Clemons Classified Sub District 1-4-16 COACHES: Lisa Owens Volunteer Asst Archery Coach MCSH 12-17-15 16.197.1 UPDATED PRICES FOR KING S ISLAND COMPETITION 2016 Informational Item only. The MCSH choir will be travelling to a competition in Mason, OH for the Music in the Parks festival, May 14, 2016, and then to Kings Island. This item was approved at the October 2015 Regular Board Meeting. Tonight, they presented updated pricing which reflects fundraisers to this point, which will reduce the per person cost from $190/each to $102/each. No approval necessary. 16.200 OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL TO FLORIDA FOR CHOIRS AND AP ART The MCSH Chamber Choir and AP Art team will both be travelling to Orlando, FL in December 2016. The MCSH Choir would like to travel to Walt Disney World, Orlando, to audition for the 2016 Candlelight Processional choir. AP Art students hope to tour Disney University to explore possible careers and the choir students hope to perform at Epcot and visit several performances at the various parks. Mr. Betsher turned this over to the Board Secretary for clarification of a previous vote on this staff note. Page3
Nancy Simmons, Board Secretary, began by telling the board that this item was previously addressed on the November 29, 2015 regular board agenda. There were only 3 board members present for that meeting. When the vote was taken, it was as follows: The result was announced that the motion did not pass for lack of a majority vote. Billy Montgomery Absent Jim Stinnett Absent Ron Betsher Abstained However, Ms. Simmons stated that upon further research in the KSBA School Board Leadership Guide, this statement was quoted, If only three board members are present, two members vote for a motion and one member abstains.does the motion pass? Yes. The abstention goes with the majority of those present and voting. Therefore, the item did pass at the Nov. 19, 2015 meeting. As a result, at the current meeting scheduled for Jan 21 st meeting (rescheduled to 2/4/16 due to snow), the only issue needing approval is the Alternate Transportation to Florida. It was stated that it will be Wombles Tour Bus. On a motion by Ron Betsher, second by Jim Stinnett, the board voted to approve the Alternate Transportation by tour bus, with the stipulation that they provide the certificate of insurance to the Board Office. (Which has been received at this writing-nes). 16.201 UPDATE ON RANDOM DRUG TESTING PROGRAM DAVID BUCHANAN Mr. Buchanan, who is the Random Drug Testing Coordinator, gave an update on this first year under the Drug Testing Program. Less than 3% of students tested have been a positive result. 0% of staff. Resources & opportunity to meet were offered to families with a positive results. Programs such as All Pro Dad Day, FCA One Way to Play Drug Free are moving forward. Using mentoring, relationship, athletics and other extra-curricular / cocurricular activit5ies to plush out opportunity / perceived need for drug and alcohol abuse. Middle School results: 87% of students say the policy has been a deterrent to drug use. 27% said it has helped a lot in preventing drug use. 62% of students said there is a teacher in their life they can go to for help. 29% said there is a coach they can go to for help. The #1 complaint is What don t you test co-curricular students.and why don t you test all students? (neither of which is legal to do.) Mr. Betsher, Board Chair, formed a Drug Coalition which will include: Dennis Davis, Supt; Esther Hayslett, Dir. of Safe Schools; David Buchanan, Drug Program Co-ord.; Nancy Simmons, Personnel and KSBA Policy Liaison; Hadden Dean, Board Attorney; Ron Betsher, Board Chairperson. 16.202 WHAS GRANT APPLICATION APPROVAL This item was handled as part of the Consent Agenda Page4
16.203 SHORTENED SCHOOL DAY/WEEK APPROVAL FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES This item was handled as part of the Consent Agenda 16.204 2016-17 DRAFT BUDGET On a motion by Ron Betsher, second by Pattie Burke, the board voted to approve the review of the FY 2016-17 Draft Budget. 16.205 MOWING CONTRACT FOR 2016 On a motion by Larry Yeager, second by Billy Montgomery, the board voted to approve the mowing contract renewal for calendar year 2016 with Isaiah House for $35,000 to mow and trim all areas included in the Option 2 Specification drawing. Isaiah House already has insurance coverage for this year. 16.206 SEALED BIDS FOR LEXINGTON STREET CAMPUS This item was removed from the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. 16.207 SBDM STAFFING ALLOCATION GUIDELINES FOR 2016-17 On a motion by Jim Stinnett, second by Larry Yeager, the board voted to approve the current staffing allocation guidelines for 2016-17 for SBDM Allocations. 16.208 UNPAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE REQUESTS On a motion by Larry Yeager, second by Jim Stinnett, the board voted to Approve Unpaid Medical Leaves of Absence for: Sara Thorrnsbury (2/8/16 3/31/16); Kaley Bivins (2/20/16-4/15/16); Teri Roution (1/4/16 1/18/16) and Teresa Butler (12/15/15 2/1/16). 16.209 ADJOURNMENT at 6:55 pm. On a motion by Jim Stinnett, second by Pattie Burke, the board voted to adjourn. VOTE: 5 of 5 Signed Board Chairperson Signed Board Secretary Page5