Elizabethtown Independent
November 20, 2017 6:00 PM
Regular Board of Education Meeting
I. CALL TO ORDER
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The November 20, 2017 Regular Board Meeting is Called to Order

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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"I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL"

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 consent 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 it on the action agenda for further discussion and review.

 

IV. RECOGNITION OF GUESTS AND SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
IV.A. Students of the Month
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ELIZABETHTOWN HIGH SCHOOL                              JORDAN SMALLWOOD

The EHS student of the month for November is Jordan Smallwood.  Jordan is a Senior at EHS and has been a Panther his entire life.  He attended Morningside Elementary, T.K. Stone Middle and is about to finish his purple and gold journey this spring when he graduates with this classmates at EHS.  Jordan has truly embraced the opportunities that EHS has provided him.  During his 9th grade year, he participated in 4 extra-curricular programs which included the Cross-Country Team, The Archery Team, The Basketball Team and The Bass Fishing Team.

Jordan currently has a 3.9 GPA and is one of 10 students that is participating in our First Year of Panther College.  Panther College allows Seniors the opportunity to enroll at ECTC on a Full-Time Basis at a Thirs of the cost of the tuition and by doing so, he will graduate from EHS with 27 credit hours that he will be able to take with him to a college of his choice.  His goal is to become a member of a Collegiate Bass Fishing Team and fish in the Collegiate Bass Championship.

Jordan has a passion for fishing and first experience with tournament fishing came in his freshman year, when Coach Catlett took him to the Region Tournament at Lake Cumberland.  Ever since then, he has been hooked on the sport of Bass Fishing and has not looked back.  He did not qualify at the STATE Tournament for his freshman year, but he was determined to do so the following year and he went on to achieve that goal he set for himself, in which he says is one of his most memorable finishes.  He was able to make the STATE Tournament again his Junior year, in which he and his teammate Devin Marcum finished in the TOP 20 at the State Tournament located at KY Lake and he is hoping to get back to STATE this upcoming Spring.

He was also featured on an episode of Fishing University last year where he and his partner Wes Irwin came in a 2nd place finish just missing out of a $10,000.00 scholarship, and he is currently in the lead in this year’s tournament to get back on another episode of Fishing University for another chance to win a $10,000.00 scholarship.

Teacher Comments:

Mrs. Herringshaw – Jordan is persistent in his work and always strives to do well on his work.  He is working at the college this year in algebra and has come over several times for extra help, always wanting to do better.

Mr. Yates- Jordan is a great student athlete, but even better person.  He has some intangible qualities that will serve him well in whatever he decides to do after high school!   Jordan was the type of student that was always engaged, answered questions, and had a strong, sensible, approach to class that myself and his peers appreciated.  He was a leader in the classroom and has thrived in the off-campus environment at ECTC.  Congratulations Jordan!

Mr. Thompson – One of the best personalities I have seen in 5 years of teaching!  Always had a smile on his face and he participated regularly in class discussions.  Not only did he have a positive attitude on a daily basis, but he had a tremendous work ethic as well.  He consistently performed well on assessments and major projects, including a classic rendition of a Henry VIII rap!  Jordan is the kind of person that would make an excellent teacher one day!

Mr. Ernst – Jordan was a student in my English III class in 2016-2017.  He has an excellent work ethic and sincerely cares about his academic success.  He never settles for anything less than his very best, and he is willing to work hard to get there.  He is good natured and respectful, and he is sure to be successful in whatever he does going forward.

Mrs. Lively – Jordan is a prime example of the qualities that are emphasized by our school and district.  Jordan is very dependable, hardworking student.  His academic performance was excellent, and he approached difficult subject material with a “can do” attitude.  In my class, he was always polite, respectful, and had positive outlook.  He and his classmates made teaching PreAP Chemistry fun and exiting.

Coach Catlett (Bass Fishing Coach) – This will be the 4th year Jordan has been on the EHS Fishing Team.  He has qualified for the State Tournament 3 years in a row.  He is one of the best young fishermen this area has ever seen.  He does a great job of finding his own areas to fish, and maximizes his time on the water.  Fishing is just a part of Jordan Smallwood’s life, he is a very hard worker, and always makes the right decision.  He is a young man of high character, that is going to be very successful in life because of his commitment and drive.  It has been a pleasure to coach Jordan, you don’t get many kids like him to come along.

As your Principal and as your Father I am extremely proud of what you have achieved during your time as a Panther and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.

T.K. STONE MIDDLE SCHOOL                      EMILY PIKE

Emily is an 8th grader at TKS.  She enjoys archery, Future Problem Solving with a focus in  Arts/Humanities.  She is a straight “A” student and usually has a lot of homework after school.  Her favorite subject is ELA with Ms. Bal.  Emily enjoys advanced art, especially realism art with emphasis on shadows and depth.  I asked Emily what she didn’t like – her answer was “my twin brother at times”.  She has cheered for EAYC for the past 10 years and plays softball in her spare time.

Ms. Jewell says “Emily Pike is a hard-working, intelligent and king young lady.  I am consistently impressed with her work ethic and dedication to learning.  Even on small assignments, she puts forth maximum effort and produces high quality work.  She excels academically and is truly one of the friendliest students I have ever met.  I know Emily has a promising future ahead of her and I look forward to seeing her grow this year.”

Mr. Green says “Emily is a fantastic student to have in class. She always works hard and brings a positive attitude to class.  She is courteous and conscientious.  When picking groups for class work she makes sure to include students who may be having a difficult time finding someone to work with.”

 

Mrs. Steffy says “Emily Pike is a very conscientious student. She works hard and excels academically. Emily has participated with the TKS academic team for multiple years.”

Mrs. Lunsford says “I enjoy having Emily in my Spanish class.  She is a conscientious hard worker and pays close attention to detail which helps her be successful in class.  Emily is kind and respectful and I appreciate that she is not reluctant to speak to me, an adult!  Emily is social with her peers but knows when it’s time to get on task.  Another good trait is that Emily is inquisitive and not afraid to ask for clarification when she doesn’t understand something.  Emily is goal oriented and knows how to stay on track.  Emily Pike, congratulations and keep up the great work!”

She has a bright future ahead of her.  It is a pleasure to recognize, Emily Pike as our November 2017 TK Stone student of the month.

HELMWOOD HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY      GABE SHOULTS

Gabe Shoults is a 3rd grade student in Mrs. Bell’s class.  He and his classmates were so excited when they heard the news that he had been selected!  When I saw everyone’s expressions and heard the cheering, I knew, without a doubt, that Gabe was the perfect selection for the Student of the Month.

He is an example to all of us on how to truly care about others in the classroom, in the school, and in our world.  His sensitivity and kind heart cannot be overlooked by anyone.  He helps when needed, gives encouragement to friends, and is kind to all!

His classmates had lots to add when asked why they thought Gabe had been selected for his honor.  Here are a few quotes from his friends:

  • He is a great person to ask if you ever need help because he is willing to help you.

  • Gabe is respectful and kind to all of his friends.

  • He follows the Guidelines for Success every day!

  • Gabe is a great example for all of us because he always follows directions.

  • Gabe perseveres when things get tough!

  • He plays with people when they have no friends to play with!

Congratulations, Gabe!  We are ALL proud of you!!!

His lucky teacher,

Mrs. Mary Bell

MORNINGSIDE ELEMENTARY                    AVA PURCELL

It is Morningside’s honor to recognize Ava Purcell as Student of the Month.  Ava is new to Morningside Elementary School, but has quickly found her roots here in the halls of MES.  At Morningside, we have four guidelines for success.  Ava has shown every day, that she takes these guidelines to heart both in leadership and academics.

Be Respectful

Teachers have shared that Ava is always very respectful to adults and her peers.  When asked, peers have said that Ava is a “great friend.”  Others have been impressed with Ava’s ability to remember her manners in every environment.  Whether on the playground, in class, in the halls, and in the cafeteria, Ava is cleaning up, saying please, and greeting everyone with a smile.

Be Responsible

There has not been a day that Ava has not been prepared for what the day will bring.  She is very proactive when completing and understanding work.  Ava takes responsibility for her learning by going above and beyond when completing class work, homework, and studying.  I have been very impressed with not only how Ava takes care of herself, but have also seen how she helps others that may need a little help getting it together.

Be Cooperative

A great deal of learning takes place in small groups.  Ava is an amazing group member!  She happily takes on her role and ensures that work is completed.  Every group needs to synergize in order to be successful and Ava does just that.  I have seen her step up as a leader when it is needed or step back and let others lead.  In either case, she is great at keeping the group motivated and on task.  A win-win for all involved!

Be Your Best

I have no doubt that Ava shows up at school every day knowing that she will be her best.  This is evident through her work and actions.  She always puts forth the effort needed without being prompted.  It is because of this ability to be proactive, that I am sure that Ava will continue on to achieve great successes.

 

PANTHER ACADEMY                                      JAEANA WINDHAM

Jaeana Windham was chosen as the student of the month from Mrs. Kuhn’s room for numerous reasons.

First, Jaeana is one of those people you want to have around you always because she is so happy and full of life.  She greets you with a warm hug and huge smile each day.  Just this week, Mr. Chuck expressed how much he loved to see Jaeana because “she was one of the happiest kids he knew.”

Another reason that Jaeana deserves this special recognition is her kind heartedness.  Jaeana will do whatever she can to help and does so willingly, without even being asked many times.  The day that the class went trick or treating at the high school one of her classmates dropped some candy from his bucket.  Jaeana carried the candy to the school and was adamant about returning the candy to her friend.

Finally, Jaeana is a hard worker who loves to learn.  Even when she may need extra help and support to concrete some skills, Jaeana tries without giving up.  Mrs. Truitt works with her in small group and said that she is a “sweetheart and works hard to learn all that she can.”

 

PANTHER PLACE                              AILY MEAUX

Aily Meaux attends Panther Place Afterschool Program from Helmwood Heights Elementary School where she is in Shannon Duff’s first grade class.  I love the word that one of our high school student assistants used to describe Aily, “Spunky”.  Aily is spunky; she has lots of positive energy which emanates to all those around her.  Aily’s Panther Place teacher, Miss Abby, said that Aily always has a very positive attitude.  She is always willing to help a friend whether it’s with school work or by lifting their spirits and making them laugh with a funny story.  One of her classmates, Dakirah said that she loves that Aily is in her Panther Place class because she always makes her laugh.  Aily says that she loves being funny and hopes to continue bringing smiles to everyone’s face.  I can tell you that Aily brings a smile to my face and brightens my afternoon each time I see her.

Another one of her classmate said that Aily is really nice and shared her Halloween suckers with all the students in the class.  I asked her what she likes to do and she answered, “Everything!  I like lots of different things and want to have a lot of experiences in my life.”  She also shared that she really likes art and wants to be an artist.

Aily asked me why she was chosen as student of the month and I told her that we are looking for students that are respectful, responsible, honest and that always try their hardest to do their best.  To which she replies, “I want to do all of those things.”  Panther Place is proud to name Aily our November Student of the Month.

 

 


IV.B. EHS Student-Perfect ACT Score
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EHS Senior Nathan Johnson received a perfect score on the ACT.

Unsurprisingly, a perfect 36 is the rarest score of all—just 0.136% of all test-takers earned a perfect score.

Note that about seven and a half times more students earned a 34 than earned a 36. You can see why a 36 is so impressive—even among the very top-scorers, it really sets students apart, particularly for the most competitive schools.

Congratulations to Nathan for this outstanding accomplishment!

IV.C. Sarah Been - Region Champion
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Junior Sarah Been won the Class 2-A, Region 2 title for the second time in three years. 

Sarah ran against 78 other runners in the region to win the title in 19 minutes, 36.95 seconds.

 

Sarah went on to finish 7th in the KHSAA State Girls Cross Country Competition

IV.D. EHS Girls Cross Country Team
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The EHS Girls Cross Country Team won the region title for the fourth year in a row.

They finished 5th in the KHSAA State Girls Cross Country Competition.

Sarah Been finished 7th, and Isabella Galvez finished 13th in the State Competition.

Members of the Girls Cross Team:

  • Sarah Been
  • Tori Duplessis
  • Isabella Galvez
  • Renae Garcia
  • Savannah Kingery
  • Karson Knight
  • Emma Musgrave
  • Bridget Siddle
  • Grace Thrush
  • Sophia Warthen

IV.E. Distinguished Young Woman of Hardin County
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Senior, Sophia Thompson was named Distinguished Young Woman of Hardin County.

Distinguished Young Woman of Hardin County is part of a national scholarship program that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent in young women.

Cash scholarships are awarded at the local level and millions in college granted scholarships are available.  Sophia advances to the state program in Lexington, KY where they give away more than $27,250 in cash tuition scholarships.

Congratulations Sophia on this outstanding accomplishment!

IV.F. EHS Student - KHSAA All State Soccer Team
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The Kentucky High School Soccer Coaches Association named Jansen Wilson to the 1st Team Boys All-State Soccer Team.

Congratulations Jansen.  This is quite an accomplishment!

V. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
V.A. Acknowledge Receipt of SBDM Written Reports
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Attached are the SBDM Written Reports from Elizabethtown High School, T.K. Stone Middle School, Morningside Elementary and Helmwood Heights Elementary.   Panther Academy did not have a SBDM meeting last month.

V.B. Approve Minutes of October 16, 2017 Regular Board Meeting
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Attached are the minutes from the October 16, 2017 Regular Board meeting for your review/approval.

V.C. Approve BG-5 for Morningside Elementary School Pavillion Project BG # 15-014
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Attached is the BG-5 for the Morningside Elementary Pavillion Project Closeout(BG#15-014) for review/approval.

V.D. Approve the District Calendar Committee for the 2018-2019 SY School Calendar
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Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, shall annually appoint a District Calendar Committee to review, develop, and recommend school calendar options.

The District Calendar Committee, after seeking feedback from District employees, parents, and community members, shall recommend school calendar options to the Superintendent for presentation to the Board. 

The District Calendar Committee shall consist of:

1.  One (1) District Principal; Mr. Steve Smallwood, Principal at Elizabethtown High School

2.  One (1) District office administrator other than the Superintendent; Mr. Nate Huggins, Asst. Superintendent for Student and Support Services

3.  One (1) local Board member; Mr. Anthony Kuklinski

4.  Two (2) parents of students attending a school in the District; Ms. Tabitha Kerr, Ms. April Jackson

5.  One (1) District elementary Teacher; Ms. Christy Parsons, Teacher Morningside Elementary

6.  One (1) District middle or high teacher; Ms. Kaleena Thompson, Teacher EHS

7.  Two (2) District classified employees; Ms. Kim Jones, Central Office Secretary, Ms. Gayla Barnard, Central Office Secretary

8.  Two (2) community members from the local chamber of commerce, business community, or tourism commission: Ms. Sherry Murphy, E'town Tourism Director and Mr. Andy Games, Farm Bureau Insurance Agent.

V.E. Approve Treasurer's Monthly Financial Report and Payment of Bills and Claims (Those Paid Since Last Meeting for October, 2017
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Attached are the Treasurer's Monthly Report (overview) Balance Sheet, Monthly Report, Year to Date Report, Cash Flow, Reconciliation Register, Vendor List and Special Construction Accounts for October 2017 (subject to audit) and payment of bills and claims as listed on the Boards Orders of the Treasurer.

V.F. Report of Superintendent on Personnel Actions
VI. ACTION ITEMS
VI.A. Consideration of Approval of Declaration of American Education Week
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American Education Week presents all Americans with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child received a quality education.

American Education Week was observed last week (the week of November 13-17, 2017).  Each school displayed the attached American Education Week Resolution.

VII. INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
VII.A. Gifted-Talented Program Update
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Update of the Gifted-Talented Program

VIII. CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
IX. NEW BUSINESS
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING MATTERS AS OUTLINED IN KRS 61.810 (if needed)
XI. ADJOURNMENT