Elizabethtown Independent
July 17, 2023 6:00 PM
Board of Education Regular Meeting
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I. CALL TO ORDER
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The July 17, 2023 Elizabethtown Independent Schools Board of Education Meeting is called to order

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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III. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF BOARD MEETING AGENDA
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Pursuant to EIS Board Policy 01.45 Board Meeting Agenda, as part of the official agenda for each regular board meeting, the Superintendent shall prepare a soncest agenda of routine business items. Prior to the approval of the agenda, the members of the board may request to "pull" any item from the consent agenda and place the item on the action agenda for further discussion and review.

Actions Taken

Order #13326 - Motion Passed:   passed with a motion by Ms. Heather Sharpensteen and a second by Mrs. Kimbley Iman.

Member Votes
Mr. Paul Godfrey Yes
Mrs. Kimbley Iman Yes
Ms. Heather Sharpensteen Yes
Mr. Guy Wallace Yes
Mr. Wade Barnes Yes
IV. RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Discussion

Mr. Aaron Howell recognized the newly hired Assistant Principal Kendra Adams  for Helmwood Heights.


Ms. Heather Goodman recognized the newly hired Assistant Principal Tori Lynn for Morningside Elementary. 


Mr. Goff recognized Ben Monnett, the newly hired Principal for Elizabethtown High School. 

 

Moment of silence for Tim Thomas, recently passed away Bus Driver. 


Mr. Goff recognized Mattie McCoart, the newly hired Director of Communications. 



V. PUBLIC COMMENT
Discussion

Mr. Guy Wallace set the time limit for public comment to 2 minutes. 

Ms. Bobbie Coleman spoke to her concern regarding the results of a recent Open Records Request that she submitted to Central Office. Ms. Coleman read excerpts of the book, "Beautiful" and "The Kite Runner" that she said was located in the EIS school District. Ms. Coleman says she doesn't want to ban these books, but that she felt like they shouldn't be spent with tax payer money. She also felt strongly that these books should not be able to be accessed by ninth graders especially.

Ms. Jen Ayotte spoke to her concern regarding adult subject matter books in the school libraries. She agreed with Ms. Coleman and said their brains are not fully developed in order to handle this content. 

Mr. Josh Calloway, 10th District State Representative, spoke about his concerns regarding youth in the state of Kentucky having access to what he feels is "pornography" and adult content. "Do parents know that these types of books are inside of the school system?" "Do staff members know that these types of books are in the school system?" "Is there some type of rating system so parents and staff can know adult content in books they can access in the public school system?" He shared concerns that if the Board is aware of the content in the books, he would hope something would be done.

Ms. Dolly Guenther read a statement asking if books and information were given to students and parents regarding how to avoid sex trafficking. She shared her concerns regarding sexualizing children. 

VI. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
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Approve Board Meeting Minutes

Actions Taken

Order #13327 - Motion Passed:   passed with a motion by Ms. Heather Sharpensteen and a second by Mr. Paul Godfrey.

Member Votes
Mr. Paul Godfrey Yes
Mrs. Kimbley Iman Yes
Ms. Heather Sharpensteen Yes
Mr. Guy Wallace Yes
Mr. Wade Barnes Yes
VI.A. Acknowledge Receipt of the SBDM Written Reports
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Attached are the June SBDM Written Reports from T.K.Stone Middle School, Morningside Elementary, Helmwood Heights Elementary and Panther Academy for your review.

Attachments
VI.B. Approve Board Meeting Minutes
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Attached are the Board Minutes from the June 19 Regular Board Meeting, July 5 Special Meeting and July 11 Special Meeting.

Attachments
VI.C. Approve the Treasurer's Monthly Financial Report and Payment of Bills and Claims (Those Paid Since Last Meeting for June, 2023)
Attachments
VI.D. Approve one-year certificate for Director of Special Education
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A. Regulation (16 KAR 3:040) Section 4

If a qualified applicant is not available for the position of director of special education, the superintendent, on behalf of the local board of education may request a Professional Certificate for Director of Special Education for a two (2) year period for an applicant who meets the following qualifications:

  a. A valid Kentucky certificate for teachers of exceptional children, or school psychologist;
  b. Master’s Degree;
  c. Three (3) years of full-time experience teaching exceptional children, or three (3) years experience as a school psychologist;
  d. Completion of a course in special and regular education case law; and
  e. Admission to the preparation program for the professional certificate for director of special education.
 
The applicant shall complete the total curriculum for the Professional Certificate for Director of Special Education by September 1 of the year of expiration.
 
B. District Verification
I hereby request the issuance of a one-year certificate for the position of Director of Special Education for the applicant named above. In support of this request and in accordance with the regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board, under the obligation of our official oath, I, as the local school superintendent, and the members of the local board of education declare the following statement to be true:
 
A qualified applicant is not available for the position. (Reference 16 KAR 3:030, Section 1(3)) Definition: "Qualified applicant" means an applicant who holds the appropriate certification as a director of special education unless the superintendent of the employing school district has documented evidence that the applicant is unsuitable for appointment.

VI.E. APPROVE LAU PLAN FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS PROGRAM POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Attachments
VI.F. Approve Application for Emergency Substitute Certification
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Our district is committed to employing the best qualified substitute teachers available.  All substitute teacher applicants do not hold Kentucky teaching certificates.  Therefore, the Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness Division of Certification provides an emergency Substitute Certificate for those individuals.  We have utilized this emergency certification process for many years and present this to you at this time as an update/renewal for the 2022-2023 school year.

Attachments
VI.G. APPROVE THE DISTRICT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN REVIEW FOR 2023/2024
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THE EMERGENCY PLAN IS ATTACHED FOR VIEW BY BOARD MEMBERS ONLY, LOGGED IN TO THEIR KSBA ACCOUNTS, FOR THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF OUR STUDENTS per KRS 158.4412. 

VI.H. APPROVE TK STONE DRAINAGE EASEMENT
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PLEASE SEE ATTACHED

Attachments
VI.I. APPROVE 08.23 AP 21 REVISIONS
Attachments
VI.J. APPROVE 09.36 AP.21 REVISIONS
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VI.K. APPROVE 08.113 REVISIONS
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VI.L. APPROVE DUAL CREDIT MOA WITH ECTC
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VI.M. APPROVE EIS SPECIAL EDUCATION POLICIES AND REVISIONS
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VI.N. APPROVE FUNDRAISER REQUEST FOR EHS
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VII. THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS INFORMED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING
Attachments
VIII. INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS-SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATE
TRAVIS GAY
Attachments
Discussion

Mr. Travis Gay presented a Safety Update, giving more detail on the Emergency Action Plan. Mr. Gay offered to answer Board questions, and there were none.

IX. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
X. ACTION ITEMS
XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING SPECIFIC PERSONNEL MATTERS AS OUTLINED IN KRS 61.810 IN RELATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
Actions Taken

Order #13328 - Motion Passed:   passed with a motion by Mr. Paul Godfrey and a second by Mr. Wade Barnes.

Member Votes
Mr. Paul Godfrey Yes
Mrs. Kimbley Iman Yes
Ms. Heather Sharpensteen Yes
Mr. Guy Wallace Yes
Mr. Wade Barnes Yes
XII. ADJOURNMENT