Shelby County School Board: Southside funding approved

The Shelby County Board of Education and Finance Corporation approved during its meeting Thursday the funding for the new Southside Elementary School.

Todd Martin

The Shelby County Board of Education was recognized for National School Board Recognition Month during Thursday’s meeting. Superintendent James Neihof (right) stands with board members Eddie Mathis (from left), Karen Sams, Brenda Jackson, Allen Phillips, Justin Stewart, Lauren Greenwell and Doug Butler as they’re presented with certificates and notepads embroidered with SCPS by students at Collins High School.

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Todd Martin

Allen Phillips was recognized for having 24 years of perfect attendance as a school board member. Looking on are (from left) board members Eddie Mathis, Karen Sams and Brenda Jackson.

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Because school districts are not allowed to carry debt for more than one year, the board’s Finance Corporation must issue the bonds, with a 1-year lease agreement, for the exact amount of the annual bond payment, and the lease agreement automatically rolls over each year.

“This is the way it’s done at just about every school district in the state,” said Dwight Salsbury of Ross, Sinclaire & Associates, the firm that issues the bonds for the district.

The approved bond issue for Southside is $18.59 million, with $15.2 million being the local portion of the bonds. The vote was approved, 4-0, with Karen Sams abstaining because this was her first meeting and the vote was pertaining to previous board work.

In October, the board and Finance Corporation approved a $5 million bond issue for the Northside Early Childhood Center.

Salsbury said the district is still in good shape, with $14.8 million in bonding still available for future projects, if need be.

The schedule has the district occupying the new Southside building in the summer of 2014, and the demolition of the old building, which will be used during construction, will occur in the after June 2014.

Grant impact

Superintendent James Neihof said SCPS should realize about $1.6 million during the next four years from the grant recently awarded to the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) and the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative (GRECC).

“There will be two project managers, one at OVEC and one a GRREC, and we hope to hire College and Career Coaches in April, with a June start,” he said.

The grant also will lead to several opportunities for professional development for the administration, staff and teachers, including a new program for Shelby County called “students as learners.”

“This is a program that we are not currently investing in,” Neihof said. “The grant will provide support for staff training and implementation of a program to provide teachers and administrators with proven strategies for engaging students as owners of their own learning.

“Schools where this structure has been implemented across the nation are reporting excellent student performance results.”

Also at the meeting, board members:

• Elected Doug Butler as chair of the board and Allen Phillips as vice chair. The two also will serve as president and vice president of the Shelby County School District Finance Corporation.
• Was recognized by the administration for School Board Recognition Month.
• Heard from Neihof that the board should expect a MAP testing report in February; that schools are continuing to practice lockdown procedures in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., where 20 children and six adults died; that at the next meeting the board will be presented with the draft budget for 2013-14; and that in March the board will begin to review its goals for 2013-14.
• Signed a notice for the Commonwealth Attorney’s office that they have read and were briefed on the state’s open meetings and open records acts and proper record retention and management.
• Discussed the Kentucky School Boards Association’s conference.
• Approved the Mason Daugherty’s Eagle Scout Project, which will place a sign at the Shelby County High School cross-country course and mile markers on the course.
• Approved a non-resident contract with Barren County.
• Approved SCHS eighth-grade students to use a common carrier for a field trip on March 5.
• Approved leave of absences.

2013 meeting schedule

The board approved the dates for meetings 2013. All meetings are at 7 p.m. and at the district’s office, 1155 Main Street, unless otherwise noted.

• Jan. 24
• Feb. 14 at Wright Elementary
• Feb. 28
• March 24 at the Shelby County Area Technology Center
• March 28
• April 11 at The Education Center @ Cropper
• April 25
• May 9 at Heritage Elementary
• May 23
• June 13
• June 27
• July 11
• July 25
• Aug. 15 at Shelby County High School
• Aug. 29
• Sept. 12 at Painted Stone Elementary
• Sept. 26
• Oct. 10
• Oct. 24
• Nov. 7
• Nov. 11 workshop, meets at 6 p.m.
• Nov. 12 workshop, meets at 6 p.m.
• Nov. 18 workshop, meets at 6 p.m.
• Nov. 21
• Dec. 12