DECEMBER 20, 2017
Cancelled Christmas programs will be held when students return after New Year
Cook resigns as Asst. Principal at LCHS; Bus driver suspended with pay…
Supt. Dr. Rob Fletcher explained to the BOE that his administration had decided to go ahead and let school out for Christmas break due to the overall attendance dropping to as low as 73% as of today (Tuesday).
As far as the Christmas programs that had been scheduled, they will be held when students and teachers come back from Christmas break, Fletcher told the school board at Monday night’s regular December meeting.
Fletcher also announced that ACTC is now offering more duel credit through LCHS than any other high school.
“We have about 50 students taking part in duel credit which helps them tremendously by getting those classes provided at LCHS and out of the way before they graduate from high school,” Fletcher said. “They have a chance to graduate college and get their degree sooner.”
Upon the request for public comment, approximately 15 to 20 people were there from the Blaine area due to a petition signed by over 75 individuals trying to get the principal of Blaine Elementary, Shawn Jennings replaced.
Blaine resident and parent Danny Ramey, (pictured at right) presented the petition with 75 signatures to the BOE saying he understands it has no real power except to show the dissatisfaction of the signers.
He told Supt. Fletcher that he had researched it and found that only Fletcher can hire and fire.
Fletcher answered “Yep” to that question.
There were several reasons given why some Blaine residents feel Principal Jennings was “inadequate as the leader of Blaine Elementary”.
Brad Skaggs, a lifetime resident of Blaine and owner of Kimber’s Grocery in Blaine said he didn’t start the petition, but he and his wife support it.
“We rented a place in Paintsville and pulled our girls out of school there {Blaine} because they have nothing, no extracurricular events,” Skaggs said. “How do they expect our kids to start a sport as a freshman when they’ve never 
been exposed to any sports? It’s unfair, Blaine kids have been forgotten.”
Skaggs, the son of BOE member Garnett Skaggs also said that several teachers had told him that Jennings had told them not to shop at his store after he took his kids out.
Board member Skaggs issued a statement reported below.
“I’ve lost business over it., but I only care about the kids,” Brad Skaggs said. “I just want them to have the same thing that all of the other schools have.”
He said many more people wanted to sign the petition but was afraid their children would be retaliated against or they were employed there and were afraid to lose their jobs.
Lesa Williams of Blaine spoke about her handicapped son being bullied, she said it took a year to get something done.
Some family representatives spoke about how they had several generations that had gone to Blaine and there was something missing at that school, “Pride!”
Dr. Fletcher assured everyone that something would be done about each of the issues brought to his attention. He said he would pay someone extra money if he had to, just to get someone to coach basketball there.
Statement from Dr. Rob Fletcher on Blaine Elementary
“…Mr. Jennings and I have spoken on several occasions. Mr. Jennings has a sincere desire to see the students of Blaine be successful and will continue to work hard to meet the their needs,” Fletcher said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “Under his leadership, Blaine has been recognized as a Proficient elementary school, and based on cut scores, Blaine Middle would have been a School of Distinction in 2017, which is the highest classification that a school could receive under the former accountability system.”
“As always, Mr. Jennings will address concerns raised by parents, and we will be there to support Mr. Jennings, the staff, the community, and especially the students of Blaine each step of the way.”
Statement from BOE member Garnett Skaggs
“… I have heard the same complaints about Blaine Elementary School from several people in the community. I had nothing to do with the petition either, but these people have brought attention to things that need to be fixed.
ALL kids deserve every opportunity and exposure possible in the educational system. That is what the parents want for their kids at Blaine. I agree with what my son, Brad Skaggs had to say at the meeting. As he said, “My girls don’t go to Blaine, and I wish they could.” What he said about others would express their concerns, but they are hesitant to speak up. With the attention being brought to the issues, I feel we will see positive change and progress at Blaine Elementary School.”
Superintendent’s Personnel Action/Update
December 18, 2017
Hiring
Jessyca Conatser – Teacher at Lawrence County High School
Maleesa Clark – Teacher at Louisa West Elementary School
Melissa Young – Full-Time Bus Monitor
Cody Osborne – Full-Time Bus Monitor
Substitute Teachers
Lisa Methax
Shawna Marcum
Crystal Conley
Kassidy Cyrus
Substitute Instructional Assistants
Lisa Methax
Shawna Marcum
Substitute Custodian
Joey Spurlock
Suspension with Pay
Linda Wagner – Bus Driver (10 days)
Resignations
Lana Prichard – District Resource Teacher (effective January 1, 2018)
Stuart Cook – Assistant Principal at Lawrence County High School
(effective January 1, 2018)
Requests
Re: Request to the Lawrence County Board of Education for Abolishment and Creation regarding Positions and Extra Duty Service Pay
Request the following position be abolished effective January 1, 2018:
- (1) Assistant Principal at Lawrence County High School
Request the following position be abolished effective December 19, 2017:
- (1) Speech/Language Pathologist District-wide
Request the following position be created effective December 19, 2017:
- (1) Speech/Language Pathologist Assistant District-wide (Classified Position; Certified Pay Scale; Bachelor’s Degree to receive Rank III pay; Master’s Degree to Receive Rank II pay)
Request the following Extra Duty Service Pay be created effective December 19, 2017:
- (1) Baseball Jr. Varsity Coach at Lawrence County High School ($500 Extra Duty Service Pay)
- (1) Softball Jr. Varsity Coach at Lawrence County High School ($500 Extra Duty Service Pay)
