Board of Education approves 2007-2008 calendar
Photo by Sandra Stone
By SANDRA STONE The Meade County Board of Education approved the 2007-2008 calendar during its Feb. 13 regular monthly meeting. The calendar is fairly standard for Meade County schools, said Paul Poole, director of personnel. School will start Aug. 14, a little later than usual, to allow for completion of the new primary school and the subsequent moves as the new primary school opens and James R. Allen Primary School becomes the freshman center for Meade County High School. Fall break is Oct. 1-5, the winter break is Dec. 21- Jan. 1, and spring break is March 31-April 4. Rodney Pickering provided an update on construction at the new primary school. He advised there had been some weather delays in getting the building completely under roof and dried in, but the crews are working around that. The latest work has been on the interior multi-purpose area, the stage and skylights. Pickering also noted the two buses traveling Meade County roads that look different from the others. They are two of 20 prototypes currently running in Kentucky. The buses have more headroom and larger windshields for better visibility. Additionally, the use of a chemical bonding agent on the panels has greatly improved joint strength. Early reports from drivers are positive, said Pickering. Handicapped buses will change as well, said Pickering. A handicapped bus will now be set on the chassis of a regular bus, making the bus more durable and allowing for greater flexibility of uses. Superintendent of schools Mitch Crump congratulated the Meade County High School concert choir on their performance at the Kentucky Music Educators Association conference. “The students did an outstanding job of representing Meade County,” said Crump. “It may have been the best performance I’ve heard from the Meade County chorus.” A review of the general fund showed total receipts in January of $2,523,672 and expenditures of $1,882,841. Revenue from property taxes is still coming in, accounting for the large amount of receipts. Federal revenue increased substantially through a recouping of money through Medicaid for special education services offered. These funds will be used for special education services. The board approved the advertising of bids for the intelligent classroom. Intelligent classroom components include a computer, portable pad to control the computer, projector, screen/white board and audio features which may include teacher voice enhancement. The board also approved the advertising of bids for blacktopping, lockers, floor tile and carpet and the sale of surplus communications equipment. Standard approval items included accounts payable, construction fund payments, salaries and the superintendent’s personnel report. Near the end of the meeting, Crump and board chairman John Inman recognized two teachers from Flaherty Elementary School. Missy Tabor and Amy Berry recently completed their National Board Certification requirements and join nine other Meade County teachers as National Board Certified teachers. Berry and Tabor share a classroom, teaching half the day and serving as resource teachers for all grades the other half of the day. Berry said it was one of the most trying experiences she’d ever had, but, she added, it made her stop and ask these questions: “Why do I do what I do? Is it the best for my students? Am I doing the best for my students?” The experience, she said, tied in with the entire district’s goal of striving for excellence. “I’ve become a more reflective teacher because of the experience” said Tabor. Tabor said she has also given much thought to the work she does and the impact it has on her students. Additionally, said Tabor, “Having a partner you rely on has made all the difference.” You won’t find two better teachers than Amy and Missy,” said Poole. “We’d have a lot of problems easily solved if we could put an Amy or Missy in every classroom.” Currently, 10 or 11 other Meade County teachers are pursuing National Board Certification.
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