LOUISA – In the Lawrence County Board of Education meeting for August on Monday evening at the Lawrence County High School library, Board members and attendees got an encouraging report on the fast start of the Chromebooks One-to-One program at LCHS.
Chrome Books inspire students, teachers
“With the Chromebook program, every student has a device and our engagement has gone up dramatically. Students are really enthusiastic about it. I think I have used the copier only twice this year,” said math teacher Larisa Skaggs.
LCHS teacher Autumn Blevins echoed Skaggs’ sentiments. “Our disciplinary issues have definitely gone done and another exciting aspect is that I see veteran teachers revisiting their content and figuring out creative ways to teach it with the Chromebooks as a tool. It is really off to a great start.” Librarian/Media Specialist Kim Cecil said the program was being managed without a significant issue so far and the Chromebooks appear to be properly cared for by each of the students.
“The teachers really are doing a great job of using them for engagement,” said Principal Christy Moore. “Also, I have to thank Mrs. Cecil for helping keep everything coordinated and solving any issue that may come up.”
KY. GOVERNOR’S SCHOLAR Carrie Jo Cecil
Attendees also were treated to a testimony from LCHS senior Carrie Jo Cecil about the quality of the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program, which she attended this past summer at Morehead State University.
“I honestly have to say that it was probably the best summer of my life so far,” said Miss Cecil. “It was great to have the classes and to be challenged. I think the best thing is that it just prepares you to be more independent and be a college student. The thing I didn’t anticipate is that we would develop friendships that I think are going to last. I got so close to other students, in fact some of us were just texting each other moments ago,” she said.
Public comments
In the public comment section, audience member Danny Ramey asked the Board if they would get two roads in the western end of the county fixed. Chairman Heath Preston replied, “We don’t do that and can’t, by law, spend any district funds on anything like that.” Ramey persisted and said he thought they could exert pressure on the fiscal court to do so. He also voiced concerns about the lunch portions at Blaine and was informed that the food service was adhering to federal guidelines, and Superintendent Dr. Robbie Fletcher said he had personally eaten lunch at Blaine last week and it was more than adequate.
* Dr. Fletcher also informed attendees and Board members of the Steele Reese Foundation grant checks which had been received for Blaine, LCHS, and Louisa West Elementary.
* The board received a report on the first meeting of district and community stakeholders, requested by Chairman Preston at the July meeting, in an effort to develop and implement a more comprehensive drug awareness/prevention curriculum in our schools.
In other action, the board approved using the services of the Kentucky School Board Association in facilities planning due to KDE in a few months and approved a more competitive salary for school nurses including additional incentive pay for the nurse position at Blaine Elementary.
The next scheduled Board of Education meeting will occur September 18 at Fallsburg at 6 p.m.
Superintendent’s Personnel Action/Update
August 21, 2017
Hiring
Robert Allen – Teacher at Lawrence County High School (1-Year)
Lynda Peterson – Teacher at Lawrence County High School (1-Year)
Sherry Smedley – Teacher at Louisa Middle School
Natasha Thornsbury – Teacher at Blaine Elementary School
Ryan Sammons – LBD Teacher at Louisa East Elementary School
Cassie Tackett – FMD Teacher at Louisa East Elementary School
Yvonnda Groves – Teacher at Louisa West Elementary School
Sarah Simpson – Instructor I at Adult Education Center
Bus Minitors
Shirley Hogston – Full-Time Bus Monitor
Vickie Holbrook – Full-Time Bus Monitor
Casey Childers – Full-Time Bus Monitor
Sherry May – Full-Time Bus Monitor
Tina Muncy – Full-Time Bus Monitor
Substitute Teachers
Ethel Adams
Sandra Campbell
Joann Chaffin
Susan Compton
Janet Dale
Erin Evans
Heather Gauze
Joann Hurley
Kay Ison
Paula Lambert
Emma Maynard
Loretta McKenzie
Nicola Nelson
Jene’ O’Brian
Melissa Ratliff
Susie Rice
Laura Salyer
Rose Unrue
Ruth West
Donna J. West
Rosemary Borders
Sarah Roe
Carrie Tomlin
Ashleigh Adkins
Charles Sparks
Dorothy Moore
Emmons Preece
James Moore
Louetta Borders
Mary Frazier
William Richards
Dana Bledsoe
Peggy Fitch
Jennifer Lycan
Substitute Instructional Assistants
Aleasha Barker
Dana Bledsoe
Jessica Blevins
Sandra Campbell
Jesse Carpenter
Rhonda Crockett
Peggy Fitch
Heather Guaze
Breanna Howell
Joseph Hylton
Krista Jarrell
Kayla Keeton
Rendy Laflesh
Jennifer Lycan
Dorothy Moore
Bernice Nichols
Marlena Osborne
Melissa Ratliff
Carmen Robertson
Sarah Roe
Clyde Steiner
Debrah Thompson
Erica Vinson
Kyra Wheeler
Erma Williams
Substitute Bus Drivers
Melissa Blackburn
Dru Ann Caudill
Barbara Hall
Robert Holley
Paul Jobe
Jerry Robinson
Charles Bradshaw
Joey Cecil
Travis Feltner
Isaac Hinkle
Robert Hughes
Robert Jobe
James Kitchen
Sharon Pack
Brian Ratliff
Brad West
Larry Whitt
Substitute Custodians
Melissa Cook
David Justice
Emanuale Laney
Jennifer Pack
Cameron Shelton
Substitute Cooks
Melissa Cook
Michelle Dillon
Grace Fitch
Emma Goble
Pamela Gross
Bernice Nichols
Jennifer Pack
Rose Marie Pfost
Brenda Preston
Amy Thompson
Change of Position
Penny Preece – from Teacher at Louisa West Elementary School to Teacher at Fallsburg Elementary School
Ineligible for Employment
Joann Chaffin
Suspensions
Brandon Meddings – Teacher at Lawrence County High School (4 days with pay; 1 day without pay as of August 21, 2017)
Emory Edwards – Bus Driver (1.5 days with pay)
Resignations
Deana Ramey – FMD Teacher at Lawrence County High School
Amanda Woods – District School Health Nurse / District Special Needs Nurse
Joseph Hylton – Full-Time Bus Monitor
August 21, 2017
Re: Request to the Lawrence County Board of Education for Creation and Changes regarding Positions:
Request the following positions be created effective August 22, 2017:
- (1) Assistant Principal at Lawrence County High School (Certified Pay Scale and Extra Duty Service Salary Schedule)
- (1) Instructional Assistant at Louisa East Elementary School (Classified Pay Scale; 1-Year — if needed)
Request the following positions be changed effective August 22, 2017:
- From (6) District School Health Nurses / District Special Needs Nurses 1-Year (Pay Scale E; 8 hrs/day; 185 days) to (6) District School Health Nurses / District Special Needs Nurses (Pay Scale G; 8 hrs/day; 185 days)
- From Substitute School Health Nurses / Special Needs Nurses ($11.00/hr) to Substitute School Health Nurses / Substitute Special Needs Nurses (Pay Scale G; 8 hrs/day; 185 days)
- (1) District School Health Nurse / District Special Needs Nurse assigned to Blaine Elementary School to receive annual Incentive Pay of $2,500
