Veteran educator Kenny Pickett was unanimously confirmed as Superintendent by the Russell County School Board at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to lead this fabulous district," said Pickett. "We want to continue striving academically and moving forward as a school system."

Pickett's three year contract is set until June 2013 with a salary of $90,000 per year.

Also at the meeting, Jamestown Elementary School 5th grade teacher Donnie Wilkerson was honored with a plaque recognizing him as an outstanding educator and winner of a Teacher Achievement Award.

As a winner of the award, Wilkerson will compete for the 2011 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award.

 "First it was great to be nominated by my students who went to quite an effort in the nomination process," Wilkerson said. "It was very humbling and an honor to be chosen. I'm happy to have made it to this point."

The Kentucky Teacher of the year will be announced in October at a ceremony in Frankfort.

Each board meeting either a principal or students from a school in the county will attend to share goings on at the school.

This month, Terry Grider, principal Salem Elementary School presented their outstanding CAT test scores from 2009 when the school ranked 5th in the State.

"Salem Elementary is a proud school. We're proud of our students. We're proud of our parents. We're proud of our Community," said Grider.

In other business:

• Russell County School Board adopted a resolution on refinancing of 2003 bonds

with a savings of $323,823.

• The board entered executive session. No action was taken.