Students share digital outlook with BOE

Fulton County Board of Education members and guests present for the Feb. 22 regular board session, heard a special vocal selection from Board Chairman Perry Turner, and an oral recitation from Assistant Middle School Principal Tia Davis, as part of the celebration of February’s designation as Black History Month. Board members Kim Hagler, Brian Emmons and Barry Patrick were present, and board member Rob Garrigan was absent.

Chair Turner performed the gospel selection acapella, and Davis shared inspirational messages derived from the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou and her own grandmother. Davis encouraged those in attendance to not only “have a dream” but work toward becoming that dream, and not to just make a change, but be a change.

Ellen Murphy, Fulton County High School Principal was awarded the February “All In Pilot” by Supt. Chambers and Board Chair Perry Turner, and The Current, represented by Benita Fuzzell, was awarded the Superintendent’s Special Spotlight Award, for their community partnership with the school district.

During Student Recognition by Supt. Chambers and Board Chair Perry Turner, Anaila Gaston, BEntley Greer and Danielle Dillon were honored as 2023-2024 winners in the Soil Conservation Art Contest.

Students Will Rudy, Alex Rudy, Samjyah Cole and Kenely Poyner provided board members and those in attendance, under the direction of Dori Lane, the sixth grade digital frontier presentation, which posed a question as to whether technology is helpful or harmful in Fulton County. Students composed essays and designed brochures as part of the program.

A school related student trip was approved by the board, for DECA student competitors to attend and participate in state level contests, in Louisville. Faculty members accompanying the 12 students March 3-5 will be Morgan Wade and Will Greer.

Requested from the board was registration cost of $115 each and three hotel rooms at $169 each plus tax, in addition to the cost of two fast food meals for students, all total, $2,127.

Approval was also authorized by the board for a request for use of board owned vehicles, two Expeditions.

Student competitors to attend included A’Mareese Esters, Mylei Sis, SaMarya Newberry, Zipporah Alexander, Allie Grace Jones, RaQueria Beard, Syniah Porterfield, Jakeria Perry, Lee Thompson, Christian Smith, Tyson Shepherd and Bryan Gutierrez.

Supt. Chambers updated the board members on recently activities enjoyed by students, including the Math Night, coordinated by Mr. Willie Campbell.

She also announced the school district’s acquisition of a $25,000 walk in freezer, the scheduled date for the district’s annual Black History Month program Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. in the school gym; and the upcoming meeting between Region I Superintendents, the Governor, Lt. Governor and Commissioner of Education regarding budgetary concerns.

In the Superintendent’s personnel report for February, provided by Superintendent Patrice Chambers, listed was the hiring of Bruce Lyons, Bus Driver; Willie Campbell, Middle School Football Coach; and Jonathan Oliver, Interim High School Track Coach. A resignation was submitted by Peyton Doughton, Food Service Worker. There were no retirments, transfers or non-renewals.

Board members present reviewed a Memorandum of Agreement between the Fulton County Board of Education and the Purchase District Health Department, wherein the event of a declared disaster requiring the influx of Strategic National Stockpile Supplies from the CDC, the PDHD would be permitted to use the school district grounds and equipment for a Distribution Node, to receive and distribute SNS supplies to Points of Dispensing and Medical Treatment facilities.

The expenses incurred due to the carrying out at any time of the MOU, Memorandum of Understanding, will be the sole responsibility of the individual organization and neither party will be responsible for reimbursint the other. There will be no exchange of funds between the Purchase District Health Department and the Fulton County Board of Education.

A change order was considered for the Fulton County Schools Early Childhood Renovation project, based on the scope of work to include the furnishing and installation of relocation of a furnace concentric fresh air and exhaust venting due to a new roof layout at the site. Roof patching, sealing and repair was not included in the price for the scope of work, at $3,275.

The proposal was submitted by Kyle Jett, Preconstruction Specialist with Triangle Insulation, HVAC, Sheet Metal and Scaffold, of Paducah.

Dale Jackson, the district maintenance technician, explained when the demolition of the HVAC system began, the new installation of five units penetrations had to go through the roof, to vent the units, which resulted in the tearing out and re-doing of the vents.

The board approved the change order.

The District Attendance Report reflected a slight drop in month six, from month five, from 93% to 92%, as the district had been hit with sickness more during the most recent attendance recording.

Jennifer Davis provided the financial report, which reflected year to date revenues at $5,819,719.80, against a budget of $6,165,282 and collection on 94.40% of budget. Last year, Davis reported, the percentage was at 98.44% at this time.

Regarding year to date expenses, Davis reported $2,285,449.64 against a budget of $6,165,252.

Davis shared with the board that the audit had been submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education, and Alexander Thompson Arnold had sent the audit through the tech review. She noted SEEK formulas depend on the audit, and she did not expect changes to be made, and anticipated a presentation of the final audit at the March board of education meeting.