A change approved by officials in Frankfort means that school will end June 4th, rather than the 7th as expected.

The late graduation date was caused by a larger than expected number of snow days this winter, ending the district's planned May 17th graduation date. The change was negotiated with the state officials. The other impact on the schedule is rather than a total school closure on primary election day, teachers will be required to work.

Pierce said that moving that professional development day to a day when school is closed to students was enough to end school on Friday, rather than the following monday.

There was an official presentation to comemorate the accomplishments of Christopher Brown, as the first from this county to be granted access to the Gatton Academy, as the Russell County School Board began their monthly meeting Monday night.

Brown, as profiled in the Times Journal's April 1 edition, earned one of the 60 slots from across Kentucky for admission to this advanced program at Western Kentucky University. (The full story is available at our website russellcounty.net.)

The sophomore's grades, test results and difficult course of study, which included beginning Latin studies in middle school, earned him the right to study his last two years of high school at the university and earn 60 hours of college credit at the same time.

Brown was saluted by the board and the school administrators at the meeting.

“This is a very big deal,” Superintendent Scott Pierce noted.

As the meeting proceeded Treasurer Marla Carnes told the board that the district began last month with $2.68 million in the bank and concluded it with $2.65 million.

The board approved advertising for bids on items from bus parts to food. The bids will be reviewed and selected in June.

Also approved was the Summer Feeding Program. That program provides free breakfasts and lunches to anyone under 18-years-old.

The board also approved renewing the auditing contract with the firm of Stiles, Carter, and Associates.

The board also approved the coming year's staffing levels as the same as the present years, meaning no reduction in teachers or other educational workers in the coming year.

Pierce closed the meeting with the assurance that regardless of the budget delays in Frankfort, “Next year school will start as scheduled —students will be in their seats— the lights will be on.”

He praised the efforts of State Sen. Vernie McGaha and Rep. Jeff Hoover, “they can't make a budget.” He added that the local members of the general assembly have always been dedicated to the improvement of education in Kentucky.