Fulton Co. BOE recognitions announced

Fulton County Board of Education met in regular session on March 23, in the Board Conference Room with Board members Brian Emmons, Rob Garrigan, Kim Hagler, Barry Patrick, and Perry Turner attending.

Student recognitions were bestowed on six students.

Hannah Varden was recognized for being a part of the 2023 Fulton County High School (FCHS) Academic Team, Governor’s Cup District Competition winner: 1st place Composition, 1st place Language Arts; 2nd place District Team – Fulton County, and All District Team Regional Winner in Composition; Josiah Waltmon was recognized for 2023 FCHS Academic Team, Governor’s Cup District Competition winner: 1st place Science, 1st place Social Studies, 2nd place District Team – Fulton County, and named to All District team. Autumn Mitchell for 2023 FCHS Academic Team, Governor’s Cup District Competition winner: 2nd place Science, 3rd place Composition, 2nd place District Team – Fulton County, and All District Team.

Reese Esters was recognized as part of the 2023 FCHS Academic Team, Governor’s Cup District Competition winner: 2nd place Math, 2nd place District Team – Fulton County. Jackson Major, 2023 FCHS Academic Team, Governor’s Cup District Competition, 2nd place Social Studies, and 2nd place District Team – Fulton County; Damon Schmidt, 2023 FCHS Academic Team Governor’s Cup, District Competition winner: 5th place, Language Arts, 2nd place District Team – Fulton County.

Willie Campbell, Fulton County Middle School teacher was presented the March 2023 Best Pilot in the House.

His colleges stated he is “at school at the crack of dawn to help where needed; he builds relationships with students and treats everyone with dignity and respect; hee never says ‘no’ or frowns; he loves Fulton County Middle school students and shows Pilot Pride, offers ‘No Excuses’ and has high expectations for all!”

Jason Yates, owner/operator for Jason’s Diesel Repair in Fulton was awarded the Superintendent’s Special Spotlight.

“We are grateful for your continued service and support for Fulton County Schools,” Superintendent Patrice Chambers said.

Brey Jones, Fulton County staff member, updated the board on the start up of a program at the Elementary School called the Growth Club, a male mentoring lunch bunch.

“Our Elementary staff is mainly female, so we thought it was important to get some male role models in our school. We have 42 students and six mentors,” she said.

Superintendent’s Notification of Personnel Actions included hiring Bailey Lyman, Speech/Language Pathologist; Jon Paitsel, FCMS Football Coach; Chelsea Wilson, FCMS Head Cheer Coach; Gabrielle Moss – FCMS Assistant Cheer Coach; Lawrence Lusk, Substitute Teacher – MS Science; Jeanna Eddlemon – HS Softball Assistant; and Coach Lavetta Crumble, HS Track Assistant Coach.
Resignations were received from Alex Barnett, HS Softball Assistant Coach; Jacob McKinney, Cross Country Head Coach; Sandra Doss, Substitute Teacher MS Science; Yalonda Uzzle, Elementary Teacher effective 06/30/2023; and Larry Manus, HS Baseball Assistant Coach.

In her Superintendent’s Report, Chambers shared she had been working heavy on finance.

She also reported the Power Team had met and she had been having individual principal meetings, sending motivational and positive emails to the staff to foster a positive culture, provided PDR opportunities for administrators, faculty, and staff and sent two school administrators to the Teacher Fair to recruit some good teachers.

She reported she had conducted a meeting with HR to discuss recruitment and retention strategies, as well as discussed financial needs of the District with Ms. Davis and Assistant Kim Dublin.

In regard to resolving conflicts, Chambers reported she continued to collaborate between department and funding sources, conducted ongoing maintenance meetings and the day before, a Woodmen of the World representative came to visit and thanked the school system for service to the community, and provided donuts. brought donuts.

Two proposals were received for the Insurance Broker/Agent of Record RFQ Proposals.

“We received one quote from McConnell Insurance and one from Houchens Insurance Group Broker/Agent. I would recommend going with Houchens Insurance Group,” Supt. Chambers said.

Garrigan made a motion to go with Houchens Insurance Group, with Patrick seconding the motion. Motion was approved.

The Board reviewed the Updated 08.22 AP.1 Promotion and Retention Procedure.

“We added a fee that has been charged and the deadline is May 1,” Tamra Parker, Fulton County Schools’ Director of Special Education, Director of Pupil Personnel and Preschool Coordinator said.

A facilities use request for the Summer Youth League Softball/Baseball was presented to the Board.

Garrett Somerfield, Summer Youth League representative, said, “We have 102 kids signed up from ages 3 – 17. We would like to get to playing as early as possible and offer a chance for them to continue to play. We would like to look into Youth Basketball later. We hope to compete and with our Track team being rated in the state with no track, we have a positive feeling about the kids. I understand there are concerns about the trash and it won’t happen this year. I will see to it that it is picked up.”

Supt. Chambers recommended allowing the Summer Youth League Softball/Baseball use the facilities.A motion to allow was made by Patrick, and seconded by Garrigan.

Two overnight trips for school students were reviewed by the Board, for DECA, Distributive Education Clubs of America, permission was approved for two students to go to Orlando, Fla., for competition; and HOSA, Health Occupations Students of America, for an overnight trip to Louisville, for competition.

Jeanie Cannon, RBS Design Group Architects representative, attended the meeting via Zoom.

“I will be coming to meet next week and I’m looking for the final approval of the drawings for the Board Office Construction Project for the Early Childhood Building. Cannon said.

Patrick made a motion to approve the final drawings for the Board Office Construction Project for the Early Childhood Building, seconded by Garrigan.

Cannon also presented the Revised BG3 drawings for the School Bus Garage.

“There is no change it he scope of the design and the budget stays the same,” Cannon said.

Chambers reported to the Board the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance would like to possibly use a bus and driver on April 20 to drive 35 people around Fulton and Hickman Counties. She said Rodney Mitchell has said he was available to drive for them.

Patrick made a motion to allow West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance to use the bus, if needed, seconded by Emmons. Motion approved.

The Board discussed the 2nd KETS Offer, which is based on the statewide ADA figures being used for FY2022 SEEK this year, second offer of assistance in FY2023 in the amount of $4818.582. Accepted state technology fund offers of assistance must be matched equally by the Board of Education or can be escrowed for up to three (3) years.

A motion was made to approve the 2nd KETS offer was made by Patrick, and seconded by Emmons. Motion approved.

The Issuance of RFP (Request for Proposal) for Custodial Services was discussed and Garrigan made the motion to seek bids for custodial services, seconded by Hagler. Motion approved.

The Board discussed a Reading Universal Screener and Diagnostic Assessment for Fulton County’s Plan to address Senate Bill 9.

SB 9 is requiring all students in grades K-3 to have an Early Literacy Screener. The recommendation was for Star Phonics through Renaissance for grades K-3, at a cost of $2.95 per student for approximately 151 students = $445.45.
Universal Screener in Reading and Math for grades K-12 is iReady, the choice purchased for the last three years with continuation of the license for this product. It has the diagnostic piece, growth component and individualized structure program for student to work at their level and pace. It also has the component “Teacher Toolbox” for teachers to utilize in RTI and small group instruction.

Deena Morrison provided the Financial Report in the absence of Jennifer Davis, Fulton County Schools Chief Financial Officer.

“Our Year-to-Date Revenues Actuals are $5,644,521.83, against a budget of $5,460,712, or 103% has been collected thus far. Last Year-to-Date Revenue Actuals were $4,561,708.22, against a budget of $4,967,767, or 91.83%. Year-to-Date Expense Actuals are $2,577,476.31, against a budget of $5,460,712, or 46%. Last Year-to-Date Expense Actuals were $2,431,831.60, against a budget of $4,967,767, or 48.95%,” Morrison reported.

Discussion items included “Run Pilot Run”, the new serving line at Fulton County Middle School.

Chambers stated, “Once we get the bus garage started, I would like to build a track for our teams. Currently we have students who are placing at State and we need a track for them to practice on. We have donors who have contributed and the Board will help contribute as well I believe.”