The Knox County Board of Education conducted one regularly scheduled meeting (Monday, May 17) and three special called meetings (Tuesday, May 18, Thursday, May 20, and Saturday, May 22) during the past week.
The special called meetings conducted on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday were part of the superintendent selection process. The Board met and entered executive session each evening to conduct discussions and interviews relating to the hiring of the next superintendent. No final action relating to the employment of a superintendent was taken at any of the special called meetings. The Board took action during Thursday’s meeting to approve an out-of-state field trip request for Lynn Camp archer Julia Shepherd to attend the 2021 NASP Championship July 11-13.
May 17 was the Board’s monthly meeting which had a theme of renewal of contracts and agreements for the upcoming school year.
Communication Items
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, the Board was able to conduct a recognition during the communications portion of the agenda. The superintendent screening committee was recognized for their contributions towards the search for a new superintendent. Members contributed countless hours of work contacting and conducting interviews with candidates and their references for the district’s top position. Tabitha Frederick, Melodie Middleton, Jennifer Vandy, Gertrude Smith, Eric Hubbard, and board member Kevin Hinkle made up the screening committee.
Board chairman Dr. Thomas Ashburn stated, “we, as board members, want to thank you all so much for the effort and the dedication that you all did to help us in this process.” Ashburn, along with Frank Shelton, presented each member with an engraved wood gear clock as a token of appreciation.
“I know you didn’t have to do that, and you voluntarily did that, and we are indebted to you all,” Ashburn said in closing remarks.
Highlights of Action Items
Finance Officer Gertrude Smith presented various items relating to school operations in 2021-2022. The Board approved the payroll calendar, student fees and dues, tentative school activity budgets, the district’s tentative budget, athletic fees, referee payment schedules, and employee salary schedules.
A professional leave of absence was granted for Eddie Campbell, who is serving as Kentucky Education Association’s president. Two memoranda of agreements were signed with the Kentucky Department of Education for Kim Bullard and Jackie Thompson who are both serving as consultants for KDE.
Contracts, agreements, and memorandum of understandings were approved for the Elgin children’s dental program, math achievement grant, Knox County Sheriff for school resource officers, FRYSC regional contract, Cumberland River Comprehensive Care, membership with the Kentucky Education Development Corporation, Infohandler billing services, and Goff Tents for rental items for Knox Central’s prom.
The Board also heard a report on the supplemental school year application process. Students and their families had until May 1 to submit a request for a “do-over” year, per Senate Bill 128. As of the board meeting, 55 applications had been submitted on time with more than a dozen being submitted late. Superintendent Kelly Sprinkles shared with the Board that those students would repeat the same classes as before to further their understanding and mastery of skills and standards. The Board approved all applications that had been submitted as of Monday, May 17. The Board is permitting principals to make school-level decisions about any additional late applications that may come later in the summer.
The Lynn Camp Beta Club will be making another appearance at the National Beta Convention to be held in June at Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The school’s Beta club was unable to attend the national competition in 2020 due to the cancellation because of the pandemic. Prior to 2020, the club had earned several opportunities to attend and be in the Beta spotlight.
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This is an informational and abbreviated briefing on actions by the Knox County Board of Education on May 17, 2021. Official minutes will be approved at the Board’s June meeting. For more information including meeting dates and public comment opportunities, visit the Board of Education page on the KCPS website at www.knoxkyschools.com. Video from the meetings held are archived on the kcps.media website.