The May meeting of the Russell County Board of Education opened with a presentation by Phil Carney, Director of Family Resource, Youth Service Centers for Russell Springs and Salem. The stated goal of the program is to "enhance student's ability to succeed in school by developing partnerships that promote: early learning and transition to school, academic achievement and well being, and graduation and transition into adult life."

They are able to accomplish this goal through a number of programs, resulting in a total of 81,517 contacts in the 2009-10 school year, with a higher number of contacts projected for the current year. The reach and impact are diverse, with the following contact breakdown recorded for the 2009-10 year: Educational Support 5,562; Health Services Referrals 15,390; Family Crisis 2,504; Basic Needs 3,074; Job Development 1,272; Character Education 11,425; Home Visits 165; Summer Program/Camp 1,900; Conflict Resolution 1,674; Reading Programs 2,560; Tobacco Prevention 1,025; Back to School Activities 1,410; and Grandparent Support 107.

Carney is aided in the programs endeavors by Jan Brumley of the Jamestown and Union Chapel Family Resource Center as well as John Loy, Director of Youth Services Center serving Russell County High and Middle Schools.

After the presentation the meeting was called to order. After roll call and acceptance of the April meeting minutes, Director of Finance and Business Marla Carnes presented the board with the treasurer's report for the month of April, 2011:

Balance on hand at the beginning of the month $3,485,183.77; Total of all receipts for the month $1,810,494.18; Disbursements $1,947,109.64; Balance at the close of the month (cash in bank) $3,348,568.31. Fund Balances: General Fund $3,202,921.15; Special Projects -$164,089.95; Capital Outlay -$37,686.11; FSPK/Building $43,716.16; Construction $0.00; Food Service $279,033.78; FRC Child Care $24,673.28; Total cash in bank of all funds $3,348,568.31.

Carnes explained that the negative fund balances reflects "slow reimbursements" of funds expected.

The board accepted the monthly school activity fund reports, the 2011-2012 Principal's combined budgets and also the Fiscal Year 2012 Tentative Budget in the amount of $17,300,000.

The board adopted the upcoming year's salary schedule for all classified and certified personnel (KRS 160.290(1) and KRS 160.390(2)). The adopted schedule reflects a 0 percent pay raise for all employees.

The 2011-2012 Extra Service Salary Schedule was also adopted. Annually the board is to establish a schedule of compensation for extra services, hazardous duty supplements and supervision. Payment for those services shall be included in the employee's regular salary. Extended employment positions shall be established in position job description, funded in the district budge, and specified in an addendum to the employee's contract.

School Board meeting schedule for the upcoming year was adopted. Per KRS, each district board of education must hold at least one regularly scheduled meeting per month. The coming year's board meeting schedule will also include meeting at each school in the district within the year. The schedule is as follows: July 18, Auditorium/Natatorium Complex; August 15, Aud./Nat. Complex; September 19, RC High School; October 17, RC Middle School; November 21, Union Chapel Elem.; December 19, Aud./Nat. Complex; January 23, 2012, Aud./Nat. Complex; February 27, 2012, Jamestown Elem.; March 19, 2012, Russell Springs Elem.; April 16, 2012, Salem Elem.; May 21, 2012, Aud./Nat. Complex, June 18, 2012, Aud./Nat. Complex; June 29, 2012, Aud./Nat. Complex.

The board adopted the Fiscal year 2012 Pay Dates. The schedule of pay dates for employees of the Russell County School System can be found at the www.russell.k12.ky.us. This site is kept up to date with the latest information of what is happening in the Russell County School System and should be viewed as a regular source of school information.

Director of Pupil Personnel Johnna Dalton presented the board with the Amended 2010-2011 School Calendar.

A total of 18 days were missed due to inclement weather. With the recent passage of House Bill 487, schools were given leeway on making up for lost time in order to make the 1062 instructional hours as required by law by not requiring a set number of instructional days. Russell County schools lengthened 48 days by 46 minutes which allowed the 1,062 instructional hours in 164 days.

The board voted to approve a shortened school day schedule for a student. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Kentucky Department of Education for approval.

The following contracts were agreed to by the board: 2011-2012 Green River Regional Educational Coop., Inc. Membership. This reflects a change in this service, as for the past number of years the district has belonged to the Southeast/Southcentral Educational Coop.

Superintendent Kenny Pickett said that after much discussion with staff at the district office, it was determined "We think it's in the best interest for our school district to go back to Green River," said Pickett, "It's more centrally located in Bowling Green and I think they offer more services for our students and our faculty."

Cooperatives provide comprehensive educational services and programs that support the member districts and their schools in their school improvement efforts. Member districts also work through the cooperatives to maximize their purchasing power, thereby improving their fiscal efficiency. Green River has a Title 1 component as well as an associate dedicated exclusively to grant writing.

Pickett said the membership fees are comparable.

Other contracts approved were: Lake Cumberland District Health Department - Nursing Services, with no option for substitute nurses; M&M Physical Therapy, Inc.; Karen White - Orientation & Mobility Services; Reed Braille Co. - Vision Itinerant Services. The contracts were previously approved by the board attorney and were unanimously accepted by the board members.

A leave of absence, without pay or benefits, was granted for Leslie Roy, effective May 2, 2011.

Three senior students approached the board to offer their thanks to the board for the approval of a trip to New York City for this year's senior trip.

"We want to extend a special thank you to the board for approving our trip, and allowing a great opportunity for everybody. We learned a lot more than we ever thought we would," said Lauren Haynes, who was accompanied at the school board meeting with fellow senior students Donavyn Coffey and Blair Hoover.

A basketball team training camp was approved for the RCHS Lady Lakers in South Carolina over the summer break as well as a team football training camp was approved for the RCHS football team in Cookeville, TN.

Along with the approval of out of state trips, the board approved a long list of in-state trips characterized by Pickett as mostly "award trips," adding "all of them have chaperones."

After an approximate 10 minute executive session where Superintendent Pickett did not participate, the board announced that the board had met to evaluate the performance of Pickett, an annual requirement. The sum of the evaluation was that Superintendent Pickett had met all expectations of the board.

The following personnel changes were noted: James Bean resigning as Russell County Marching Band Staff effective 2011-2012 school year; Tracy Feltner resigning effective May 6, 2011; Richard Burton hired substitute teacher; Miranda McGowan and Lindsey Brockman hired as emergency certified substitute teachers; Thelma Scott and Dana Oaks transfer requests due to closing of LLC.