By Bill Robinson
The Madison County School Board voted Thursday evening to spend nearly $356,000 on two software learning programs.
A grant obtained through the office of U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Ky., will help defray the programs’ cost, Randy Peffer, county school’s chief academic officer, told the board.
The Web-based APEX program will allow high school and middle school students to log in from any Web-connected computer to work on their studies, Peffer said.
“The software can be applied to almost all courses, and can be used by students of all levels, from remediation to advanced studies,” he said.
The APEX software, to cost $210,850, should be available by the beginning of October.
The board also voted to spend $145,00 to purchase the Read 180 software program for high school students.
The software, already used by Madison County middle schools, assists students who are not reading at grade level, Peffer said.
“This purchase will allow high school students to continue using the program they used in middle school,” he said.
The school board voted to meet in special session Thursday, Sept. 25, to open bids on the addition and renovation of Madison Southern High School and issue bonds to finance the project.
The project is estimated to cost between $16 million to $18 million, said Superintendent Tommy Floyd.
“Five contractors have requested copies of the project plans, so we’re optimistic that the bids will be within the estimate,” Floyd said.
In addition to adding classrooms and other learning facilities, the project will create a new entrance and administrative offices for the school.
“We are committed to continuous improvement of all our facilities, no matter where they are located,” Floyd said, “because every student in every school is important.”
The board also heard a report about efforts to conserve energy in the schools.
Most T-12 florescent lamps have been replaced with the more efficient T-8 lamps. Incandescent lamps are being replaced with compact florescent lamps.
Timers and thermostats also are being installed to eliminate unnecessary use of heaters and exhaust fans.
The school system is to be recognized for its conservation efforts by the governor’s office in October, Floyd said.
In other action, the board approved spring break trips to Florida for the band and baseball team of Madison Southern High School. A spring break trip to New York City for the DECA and FBLA clubs of MSHS was approved, as was a fall trip to St. Louis by the Madison Central High School GEAR UP program.
The board will conduct its next monthly meeting, Thursday, Oct. 9, at White Hall Elementary School, in part to recognize the school’s performance on the Commonwealth Assessment Test System and for being named a Blue Ribbon School by the federal No Child Left Behind program.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.
