Board reviews resource center plans, discusses make-up day options

Sara Burke, math interventionist at Boston School, and four of her students demonstrate a math strategy called “number talk.”

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, p.m. — The Nelson County Board of Education approved continuation plans for its family resource/youth centers, though possible cuts in state funding require those plans to change.

The Nelson County board of education poses with the February “Expect the Best” award recipients, from left: New Haven parent Alana Greenwell; New Haven School certified staff member Leah Mattingly; Nelson ATC teacher Charlie Cantrill; and Foster Heights student Alyssa Kirchner.

Gov. Matt Bevin has proposed 4.5 percent cuts in the remainder of this year’s budget, and 9 percent cuts in the next two-year state budget.

While the proposed budget protects SEEK funding for Kentucky schools for the next two years, the governor’s other proposed budget cuts will likely trickle down and affect other school programs — including the district’s family resource and youth centers.

Superintendent Anthony Orr told the board there’s some confusion about the interpretation of the proposed cuts, “but nobody’s followed up to offer some clarity on that point,” he said.

The district won’t know precisely the impact of state budget cuts until the General Assembly finalizes the budget

“At this point we’re at the mercy of the folks in Frankfort,” he said. The way the district’s centers are staffed now mean that funding cuts could mean fewer hours for the center’s staff.

“I think that’s just what we need to be prepared for,” Orr said.

SFCC OFFER OF ASSISTANCE. The board voted to accept an offer of assistance from the School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC) in the amount of $21,439.

Tim Hockensmith, the district’s chief operating officer, said the SFCC offer is aimed at helping school districts increase their bonding capacity to address priority building construction or renovation projects.

Tim Hockensmith, the district’s chief operating officer, discusses the School Facilities Construction Commission’s offer of assistance at Tuesday’s board member.

The money the district accepts means that it could borrow an additional $250,000 to $300,000 after July 1, 2016. The borrowing potential won’t be available for the district’s two construction projects it is now planning — the expansion of the the Early Learning Center and the addition of an auditorium at Thomas Nelson High School.

The state requires the additional bonding potential to be used for the district’s top priority as listed on its district facility plan.

SCHOOL MAKE-UP DAY OPTIONS. The board reviewed the options it has to make up the missed days due to weather. Two of the three latest days were “Best Days” and count as an instructional day.

Tim Beck, the district’s executive director of student support said if the district wishes to make up the day, it will need to be added at the end the year, which would be Monday, May 23.

A second option is to excuse the missed day — a choice the district can make as long as it meets the state’s requirements for instructional hours and the number of instructional days. With the district’s current 2015-16 calendar, the district could excuse up to 40 hours of instructional time if necessary.

Board chairwoman Diane Berry suggested the board delay taking any action because of the possibility of additional snow days in the immediate future.

In other business, the board:

— observed a Boston School math interventionist Sara Burke and a group of Boston students who demonstrated a math strategy called “number talk” for the board.

— presented “Expect the Best” awards to Nelson County ATC teacher Charlie Cantrill; certified district employee Leah Mattingly from New Haven School; New Haven parent Alana Greenwell, and Foster Heights student Alyssa Kirchner.

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