The Madison County School Board voted Monday night to approve expenses above those normally allowed for travel so members can be reimbursed if they attend the American Association of School Administrators in Phoenix, Ariz., in mid-February.
The vote was 3-1 with board member John Lackey voting “no,” while members Betsy Bohannon and Glyn Green joined chair Becky Coyle in the affirmative. Doug Whitlock was absent.
The issue had been included in the board’s 16-item “consent agenda,” but was voted on separately at Lackey’s request.
School Superintendent Tommy Floyd said the AASA had invited district officials to attend and talk about recently implemented programs that have increased students’ academic performance while reducing absenteeism and behavior problems.
District officials already have shared those stories at a state conference in Louisville, the superintendent said, and a state education official had nominated them to speak at the AASA conference.
Many of the programs responsible for their students’ improved learning stem from ideas that board members and district administrators picked up at earlier such national meetings, Floyd said.
In addition to sharing their success stories with others, he said those who attend the Phoenix conference from Madison County will come back with new ideas.
As six site-based school councils met with the board before the regular meeting, “You heard how much they praised our MAP software (implemented this year) that tracks student progress,” Floyd said.
“As the Waco principal said, MAP gives us this year’s data on this year’s kids and shows teachers immediately when and where a student is struggling,” he said. “We learned about MAP and its usefulness at an educators’ conference.”
Floyd said the state would cover his expenses for the two-day conference, but funds budgeted for their training and travel would be used to reimburse the expenses of board members who attend.
According to Assistant Superintendent Paul Baker, board members normally are reimbursed no more than $7 for breakfasts, $8 for lunches and $15 for dinners when traveling on school business.
The allowable lodging expense is usually based on the average hotel prices of the city were a conference is conducted, Baker said.
The AASA Web site lists rates for attendees at hotels within “walking distance” of the conference center between $109 and $210 per night.
Lackey said he thought it would be “fine” for the superintendent and board chair to attend and receive recognition on the district’s behalf, while sharing its success story with their colleagues. However, he said attendance by other board members at taxpayer expense was unjustified.
“I’m sure a lot of people would like to visit Phoenix in mid-February,” Lackey said. “We’ll be criticized by the community if we pay for trips that look like vacations.”
Coyle said she thought Lackey, who has been on the board for less than one year, would appreciate the value of education conferences if he attended one.
“When (board members) came back from a conference last year, we were alive with new ideas, many of which have already been implemented to the advantage of our students,” she said.
Lackey also voted against trips to Orlando, Fla., by two Madison Central High School extra-curricular groups.
The MCHS Dance Team will miss three days of school in February to attend a national competition in the central Florida city, after the board approved the trip in a 3-1 vote.
“How do we justify a dance team trip to Florida as an academic activity” without losing state funds for the days student miss school? Lackey asked.
The state does not count students absences against a school if the board approves a trip, Floyd said.
Lackey also objected to the trip’s cost, about $25,000, for which $13,000 has been raised, according to the team’s faculty sponsor.
Lackey was the lone vote against a February trip by the MCHS cheerleaders to a national competition in Orlando. The cost for each member would be $470 with much of that covered by fundraisers, said Karen Feldhaus, the faculty sponsor.
Lackey said a constituent of his who had two daughters on a middle school cheerleading team in recent years reported the family’s associated cost of one year of cheerleading totaled $5,000.
He voted in favor of the cheer team’s less-expensive trips to Sevierville, Tenn., and Cincinnati in December, for which no school will be missed.
Lackey told Feldhaus that he had attended an MCHS football game this year and noticed the cheerleading team had no black members.
He asked, “Is that because their families cannot afford for them to participate in cheerleading?”
Feldhaus said for the first time in 16 years, no black students tried out for the team. She was not sure why, but said she did not think the reason was economic.
The Madison Central FFA’s trip to their national convention in Indianapolis, a Madison Middle School girls soccer team’s trip to Columbus, Ohio, both later this month and an MCHS Junior Classical League trip to Italy in June all received unanimous approval.
The board voted to take the first steps toward building a new, $23 million middle school in Berea by conducting a building and grounds study and advertising for an architect.
If approved by the state, Floyd said the new school could be ready as early as the fall of 2011. It would alleviate crowding at Foley Middle School in Berea where 800 students currently are enrolled, and also made space available to Madison Southern High School, adjacent to the Foley building.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.
Local News
School board member votes against Phoenix trip
- Local News
-
-
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
-
Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
-
EKU closes dining room at Arlington Clubhouse
A Richmond country club is no longer offering dining to members, but remains available for catered events and will be open on certain holidays.
Arlington Country Club, which has been a staple of Eastern Kentucky University for the past 40 years, laid off all dining staff late last week, according to Tom Coffey of the EKU Foundation.
-
Standoff at Super 8 Motel ends peacefully
A bizarre drug-fueled standoff at the Richmond Super 8 Motel ended peacefully with no one hurt, including a child who was in the room with a man that police found wielding two knives.
About 1:53 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a man who was threatening someone with a knife at the motel on North Keeneland Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.
-
Trial for couple accused of human trafficking delayed
The trial for a Berea couple accused of human trafficking involving their daughters has been delayed.
Despite Monday morning television reports that the trial was beginning Monday, it was postponed because the attorneys are not ready to try the case.
-
Richmond man charged with child porn possession
(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
A Richmond man has been arrested for possession of child pornography as a result of a nearly one-year investigation by local police.
-
Noted author to deliver keynote address for Black History Month
Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.” -
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org. -
Occupational therapy dept. at EKU offers program for adults with memory loss
For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus. -
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200. - More Local News Headlines
-
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
