Mercer County
February 18, 2020 5:30 PM
Special Board Meeting
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Christie Devine
Rationale

Bobby Walden, District 1

Larry Yeager, District 2

Billy Montgomery, District 3

Christie Devine, District 4

Randy Phillips, District 5

2. Approval of Agenda
Christie Devine
Rationale

The agenda is being presented for approval. Any changes are to be made at this time.

3. Reports
Rationale

This section of the agenda is reserved for reports only, no action will be taken.

3.A. Superintendent's Report
Dennis Davis
Rationale

The Superintendent will report to the board at this time.

Attachments
3.B. Finance Officer's Report
Amber Minor
Rationale

The Finance Officer will report to the board at this time.

 

Board Meeting – February 18, 2020

January 2020 Recap

 

  • Ending GF Cash Balance was $5,759,704 as opposed to $5,621,303 last January
  • General Fund Revenue:
    • Overall revenue is up 4% compared to last January, this includes the beginning balance. Receipts received in the year are up 5% compared to last year at this time.
    • Received 65% of the revenue that is budgeted for this fiscal year. 72% received including beginning balance.
      • Good considering January is 58% through the fiscal year.
  • Expenditures:
    • Up 5% compared to the prior year.
    • Increase in Expenses of $1.89 million between December and January.
      • Mainly due to the first payment toward Energy Savings Bond out of General Fund.
    • Expended 54% of the budgeted expenditures for this fiscal year.
      • Good considering January is 58% through the fiscal year.

 

  • Timeline:

February:

  • Review/Approve SBDM Allocations for fiscal year 2021

     

    March:

  • Staffing decisions will be in full swing in the district
  • Preparation for Tentative Budget will be taking place

Attachments
3.C. Attendance/Enrollment Report
Esther Hayslett
Rationale

The DPP will report to the board at this time.

Mercer County Schools
Attendance Report 2019 - 2020  Month 5 (12/3/19 - 1/13/20)

 

SCHOOL Mbrship 16-17 Mbrship 17-18 Mbrship 18-19 Mbrship 19-20
MCES 642 617 596 581
MCIS 629 658 651 621
KMS 606 596 616 620
MCSHS 824 808 769 769
MDT 11 16 13 14
Mercer Central 24 25 41 43
DISTRICT TOTAL (w/out P) 2736 2720 2686 2648
SCHOOL ADA 16-17 ADA 17-18 ADA 18-19 ADA 19-20
MCES 614.03 578.25 560.18 546.66
MCIS 601.40 618.95 621.70 589.34
KMS 580.81 557.34 577.60 580.63
MCSHS 785.40 758.43 733.01 728.58
MDT 9.35 14.00 10.13 12.47
Mercer Central 21.38 19.69 23.96 21.02
DISTRICT TOTAL (w/out P) 2612.37 2546.66 2526.58 2478.70 (Half K 2385.09)
SCHOOL Att % 16-17 Att % 17-18 Att % 18-19 Att % 19-20
MCES 95.75 93.79 94.29 94.28
MCIS 95.76 94.11 95.54 95.19
KMS 95.88 93.39 94.98 94.71
MCSHS 96.08 94.15 95.68 95.11
MDT 93.68 94.66 98.65 92.22
Mercer Central 87.30 91.69 93.25 94.86
DISTRICT TOTAL (w/out P) 95.79 93.87 95.16 94.83

 

 

Mercer Co. School Risk Assessment Summary:

 

Mr. Tim Hazlett is Mercer County’s School Compliance Officer.  The week of January 13th he spent 2-3 hours with each Principal, Mr. Davis, and myself completing our School Risk Assessments.  This process involved a review of each school’s emergency plan and policies related to school safety.  Following the desk review, Mr. Hazlett walked through each building and completed the Risk Assessment Audit of the facilities and grounds.  The information gathered from this year’s audit will not be reported publicly.  The purpose for this year’s audit is for us to become familiar with the process and expectations of the new law requirements. 

 

The audit tool is being updated to reflect the changes that are being made to the KRS 158.441. 

 

 The audit is made of eight sections: 

1.  Emergency and Crisis Preparedness Planning:

-School Threat Assessment Team

-Implementation and Development of the school’s Emergency Plans and Procedures

-Emergency Routes/Zones

All our schools were compliant with this section.

 

2.  Physical Security Measures:  

-Access control of the building

-Access control inside the building (Hardware, doors locked, cameras, etc)

 

We had one school that had one classroom door lock that was a manual deadbolt.  That door lock was updated and now all our schools comply with this section. 

 

3.  Crime and Violence Prevention:  

- School-wide Trauma Informed Plans, Practices, and Team

-Each school has a school counselor (ration of 1-250)

-Each school Principal has provided notice to families of the KRS related to Terroristic Threats and the consequences associated with these threats.

Mercer Central was compliant with this section.    

MCSH, KMS, MCIS, MCES were out-of-compliance with this section because the language in the KRS only considers ‘school counselors” in the 1- 250 ratio.  This portion of the law is under revision to include school-based mental health services provider who are employed by the school district. If the KRS is updated, all buildings except Mercer Elementary School would be compliant. 

 

4.  Incident Report:

-Review of the number of incidents reported that involved weapons, threats, and assaults. 

-Reviewed incidents involving our SRO. 

All schools were compliant with this section. 

 

 

5.  Professional Development:

-All staff must receive training on the School Emergency Plan/Procedures prior to the first day of instruction.

-Suicide Prevention Awareness for students grades 6-12 and staff

- Active Shooter Training for all staff

- Processes for training substitutes

All schools were compliant with this section. 

 

6.  School Resource Officer Staffing, Operational Practices, and Related Services:

-SRO assignment, training, and policies

-SRO MOU

All schools were compliant with this section. 

 

 

7.  School and Community Collaboration:

-Posting of statewide child abuse hotline number

-Posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline Number

- Use of an anonymous reporting tool for students

-Implementation of ‘Handle with Care Program’

-Board willingness to accept financial gifts/donations restricted for safety, security, and student health.

All schools were compliant with this section. 

 

8.  Assessment Summary: Reported inaccurately at this time.

­

We will be requesting an exception to the requirement that all classroom doors remain closed and locked during instruction from the Safe schools Marshall for the following situations:

- Media Centers:  Our media specialists request exceptions to this requirement because individual students and teachers throughout the day use this space.  As it is now, if a teacher has a class in the Media Center and is instructing, the doors must be locked and closed at this time preventing individual students from easily coming in/out to check out books.

- Instruction held in non-traditional areas such as cafeteria, hallway, or green house that may not have doors to lock. 

 

Additional safety considerations will be included in the Mercer Co. District Safety Plan

 

3.D. Personnel Report
Dennis Davis
Rationale

KRS 160.390; KRS 160.38; KRS 160.370    The Superintendent is responsible for all personnel actions including hiring, assignments, transfer, dismissal, suspension, reinstatement, promotion, and for reporting these actions to the board of education (KRS 160.390 (1)).  All appointments, promotions and transfers of principals, supervisors, teachers, and other school employees shall be made only by the Superintendent of schools, who shall notify the Board of the action taken (KRS 160.380(2a)).

Name

Personnel Action

Job title

Location

Date Effective

Classified Staff

Linsey Abrams

New Hire

Interim Food Service Manager

MCIS

01/16/2020

Elizabeth Harley

New Hire

Cook/Baker

MCES

01/13/2020

Perry Harp

New Hire

Bus Driver- FT Sub

Bus Garage

12/19/2019

Brandon Buchanan

New Hire

Instructional Assistant

KMS

01/17/2020

Christina Maddox

New Hire

Instructional Assistant

MCIS

2/10/2020

Certified & Classified Subs

Caroline Farthing

New Hire

Certified Substitute

District

02/01/2020

Aidee Sasfai

New Hire

Classified Substitute

District

01/28/2020

Jan Moser

New Hire

Certified Substitute

District

01/24/2020

Holly Moser

New Hire

Emergency Certified Sub.

District

01/15/2020

Joshua Goodman

New Hire

Classified Sub.

District

1/13/2020

Terminations

Sally Shipley

Disability Retirement

Teacher

MCES

01/31/2020

James Stratton

Retirement

Mechanic

Bus Garage

01/31/2020

Sierra Tuner

Resigned

Cook/Baker

Food Service

1/31/2020

Caroline Farthing

Resigned

Instructional Assistant

MCIS

01/30/2020

Judy Cox

Passed Away

Bus Driver

Bus Garage

2/5/2020

Leaves

Eva Harmon

Medical Leave

Bus Driver

Bus garage

1-21-2020 through

2-7-2020

Paula Montgomery

FMLA

Teacher

KMS

1/21/2020-2/17/2020

Amanda Cocanougher

FMLA

Benefits/HR Coordinator

CO

3/4/2020-4/15/2020

 


3.E. National School Counselor Week
Amy Riley
Rationale

All Mercer County counselors will share data about their progress this past year.

Attachments
3.F. Random Drug Testing Program
David Buchanan
Rationale

Mr. Buchanan will present to the board at this time in regards to the Random Drug Testing Program.

Attachments
3.G. CMTA Energy Savings Project
Jason Volz
Rationale

Jason Volz with CMTA would like to present to the board at this time.

Attachments
3.H. Healthy Kids Clinic
Ibby Hopper
Rationale

Ibby Hopper, Director of School Based Services for Healthy Kids Clinic will be presenting information to the
board regarding services they can provide. HKC has medical, behavioral therapists, and dental services.

Regarding our current nurses: The school board has the option to retain all our current nurses as district employees and they could work according to the school calendar. This would allow our nurses to continue to maintain their retirement.

SERVICES HKC can provide:

We would continue to have a nurse for each main campus (MC/DT would probably still have to share). The
current nurse’ offices meet the requirements for the program. HKC would provide a Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant that can do well visits, physicals, immunizations, sick visits, etc. HKC also provides a “Provider Nurse” that travels along with the Nurse Practitioner (in addition to a nurse at each main campus). The Nurse Practitioner will work out of the nurse’s office when they are at that building. The
Nurse Practitioner can prescribe medication and give vaccinations/immunizations. Prior to seeing children or giving immunization/flu shots, etc. parents/guardian are contacted. Parents/Guardians are asked if they would rather take the child to their local provider OR be seen at
school. If the child is seen at school BUT has a local doctor, notes are shared with the local doctor to maintain a continuum of care.

Behavior Therapist: HKC typically starts by providing 1 therapist for the district and as that provider’s case-load becomes full another provider is added. They hire LCSW and licensed therapists that are able to bill student with both private and no insurance. The goal is to provide 1 Behavior Therapist per building. This person would need a space with a desk for them to work.

Dental Unit- typically comes to the district twice a year. They provide dental exams and cleaning. They are beginning to provide restorative (filling cavities, etc) services.

Healthy Kids Clinic (HKC) provides:
Training for all nurses (school employees and their employees)
Scrubs (for school employees and HKC employees)
Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant (1 that would travel) and Provider Nurse -
Liability Insurance covered for all nurses (school employees and HKC employees)

Nurse’s salary: the first year of implementation salaries and benefits are split (typically 80% HKC and 20% district). After that HKC typically pays 100% of the nurse’s salary.

Behavior Therapist 100% of salary/benefits covered by HKC

Dental providers 100% salary and benefits covered by HKC.

Billing: HKC provides services on sliding scale that is income based. They can accept insurance and Medicaid.

Attachments
4. Public Participation
Christie Devine
Rationale

Pursuant to Board Policy 01.421, persons wishing to address the Board must first be recognized by the Chairperson and stand behind the podium. An individual or group granted the privilege of being heard must give his/her name, address, and reason for speaking. The Chairperson may rule on the relevance of the topic to the Board's Agenda, and will set the time limit to five (5) minutes. The Board will only act on/respond to items on the published agenda. If you wish to have an item placed on the agenda, you must first meet with the Superintendent.

 

At this time the board will receive comments from the public.

5. Consent Agenda
Christie Devine
Rationale

“Consent Agenda” items are voted on with one motion and one vote. 

These are, typically, items that happen on a regular basis, are annual fees, or routine items in doing business. 

The board may discuss any item they wish.

The board has the option to pull any item out for a separate vote.

5.A. Board Meeting Minutes
Christie Devine
Attachments
5.B. Invoices
Amber Minor
Attachments
5.C. SBDM Meeting Minutes
Christie Devine
Rationale

Approval of SBDM Meeting Minutes as presented.

Attachments
5.D. Emergency Substitute Approval for 2020-21
Amber Minor
Rationale

Approval is needed to hire emergency substitutes for the 2020-21 year.

5.E. FRYSC Continuation Plan 2020-2021
Jennifer Hatton
Rationale

The FRYSC Coordinators have presented their Continuation Plans to both the Advisory Council and Site Based Council for approval and now request the approval of the 2020-2021 FRYSC Continuation Plans by the board.

Attachments
5.F. Permission to Apply for Grants
Amber Minor
Rationale

Permission to apply for the following grants is sought:

MCIS FRYSC gift grant for fitness center. MCIS would like permission to pursue a Don't Quit grant if the project is deemed to be plausible. Please see attachment.

Attachments
5.G. SFCC Offer
Amber Minor
Rationale

Pursuant to KRS 157.622, the School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC) is making an official Offer of Assistance for annual debt service payments in the amount of $23,737.  This offer is for the annual amount on bonds to be sold for proposed construction or major renovation of facilities outlined in our most current facility plan.  These offers normally are made every other year and provide additional bonding capacity to districts by paying the debt payment.

 

This funding comes from a different pocket of funds than the SEEK funds and is approximately $91 million.  The amount we are offered is based on our district’s needs from our facility plan

Attachments
5.H. Permission to seek Bank Bids
Amber Minor
Rationale

June 30, 2020 will be the end of our current contract with Farmers National Bank. We have extended that contract as long as we are able to and must complete a new bank bid in order to move forward with a bank starting July 1, 2020.

6. Leaves & Absence Requests
Dennis Davis
Rationale

Cynthia Baker- Requesting Unpaid Medical Leave- 1/31/2020 thru 6/30/2020.

Thomas Williams- Requesting Medical Leave- unpaid/sick time- 1/6/2020 thru remainder of school year at this time.

7. 2020-21 SBDM Allocations
Amber Minor
Rationale

The attached are the staffing allocations for 2020-21 school year. Approval by the board is needed, and these will be sent to school councils by March 1st.

Attachments
8. Band Truck Wraps - Requesting Funds
Erica Ashford
Rationale

The band trucks are in desperate need of new paint or wraps. They have not been painted or touched up since the merge.

The requested amount is approximately $6,000 - $12,000 to wrap both trucks.

9. Enter Executive Session - pursuant to KRS 61.810 (f)
Christie Devine
Rationale

A motion is needed to enter into Executive Session pursuant to KRS 61.810 (f).

10. Exit Executive Session
Christie Devine
Rationale

A motion is needed to exit Executive Session.

11. Action related to Executive Session
Christie Devine
Rationale

Any motions in relation to Executive Session may be made at this time.

12. Adjournment
Christie Devine