Discussion underway for Fulton Co. Early Childhood building

Cross Country Coach Jamie Madding thanked the board for recognizing the Middle School Cross Country kids for the accomplishments running on our high school team and helping to beat seven other teams in the Region. This is the first girls team to win the championship at the Fulton County Board of Education during a Special Called Meeting Nov. 14. The meeting was held in the Fulton County Middle School Library. Board members Rob Garrigan, Perry Turner, Barry Patrick, and Superintendent Aaron Collins were in attendance.

Educators Rising were also recognized at the Board meeting for their accomplishments at the Educators Rising competition held at Murray State University, with Mikiyah Mitchell, Lamarious Stray, Jay Sipes, Carley Worley, and Harrison Posey received 2nd place for Impromptu Lesson; Marlena Sipes received 3rd place for Resume and Interview; and Abby Crawell and Alyssa White received 3rd place for Children’s Literature Book.

Marlena Sipes said, “Educators Rising is basically a club my mom, Kelly Sipes, started for future educators, not all of us necessarily plan on going into the field but are definitely interested in learning more about it and competing against other people in the same boat. Our competition was at Murray State. We were able to go and compete with a lot of people in our Region and even from Owensboro and Russellville, in things like speeches and impromptu classes, where they had to pretend to be a teacher. It was fun and very competitive and a lot of people worked very hard.”

Collins said, “It was really wonderful you participated and receiving the awards that you did.”

Kelly Sipes, advisor for Educators Rising said, “I want anybody to be a part of the club that wants to. They don’t have to be planning to becoming teachers. It is great experience, because they have to get up in front of people and practice their public speaking skills.”

“I would like to recognize the Best Pilot on Board for October. Some of the thoughts from her co-workers were ‘She works hard to help students who are behind and failing while still holding them accountable,’ ‘Math is her passion and she is a fantastic chemistry teacher,’ ‘She loves teaching and it shows in her relationship with students,’ ‘She is dedicated to Fulton County High School students and wants the best for every student,’ and ‘A top-notch teacher.’ Congratulations to Kelly Sipes.”

“I love teaching at Fulton County. I love teaching for Ellen Murphy. She is a great principal. She always has my back,” Sipes said.

Fulton County Middle School Principal Brian Hood addressed the Board of Education about the Glows and Grows for 2019-2020.

“Fulton County Middle School: Fantastic Voyage. Our school theme this year is “Anchored in Learning”, and the Leadership Advisory Council members are Jere Kinney, Kim Major, Ashley Coulson, Brenna Ray and Stacy Howell,” Hood said.

“Our K-Prep Scores Proficient/Distinguished and the Kentucky Proficient/Distinguished rate for last year include Grades 5-8 Reading at 35.1%, and 59.6%; 5-8 Math 30.5% and 46.4%; Grade 7 Science 14.3% and 26%; Grades 5 and 8 Social Studies 29.9%, and 58.8%; and Grades 5 and 8 Writing 16.1% and 31.9,” reported Hood.

“We are labeled due to testing results, as a CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvements). That just means KDE (Kentucky Department of Education) is coming in to help to achieve the goals. We are looking at getting our Reading and Math up to 50%, that is our goal. Our Gap Goal is to increase the average combined Reading and Mathematics Proficient/Distinguished rates for all students in the Gap Group to 50%. My personal goal is to establish and grow positive relationships with parents and our community partners to help our students succeed,” continued Hood.

FCMS Glows include Culture and Climate of the school. So far this year a 40% reduction in disciplinary incidents from this time in 2018/2019; Replaced STAR with Aimsweb Testing; new emphasis on writing; and added REFLEX Math for fifth and sixth grade.

“On Dec. 4, Star Lab will be coming to our school. They will turn our gym into space and take our students through a journey into space. It is kind of like having a planetarium in our gym, and are doing it free of charge,” Hood said.

The Board approved the hiring of Wesley Moore as high school baseball coach and Leonard Smith, Sr., as monitor/security.

Supt. Collins reported, “We appreciate the work the Elementary School and Middle School are doing with the KDE. We have a good relationship with the KDE and teachers have been able to meet with them and they move freely around the building. We appreciate them and the information they are giving to us as we continue to move forward and get better. The Principals led a Professional Learning Community. Positive feedback from the faculty. We will meet with the Elementary School Advisory Council in December and continue to do the punch list for the renovations.”

“As a reminder of the great work Tamara Parker, Early Head Start (EHS) and Preschool Director, has done with our EHS and Preschool. She assisted our EHS with a grant. A goal of Ms. Parker is to have an Early Childhood building. Discussions started last week. Fulton County, the County itself, is listed as a flooded and disaster zone for the last two years and there is Federal money for EHS to build EHS/Preschool buildings. We are in discussion with Murray Head Start right now, looking at $5 to $6 million dollars. Ms. Parker’s goal is to have the building in front of the Four Rivers Career Academy, where they will still have access to the parking lot, buses can drop off in front of it, and a location to give enough space the playground would be there for that building, and won’t be crossing the road, it would be right there on the property. This is in the works and wanted to let you know,” Collins said.

Board members approved the emergency certification for chemistry for Kelly Sipes for a second time.

The numbers for 2019-20 nonresident population list was reviewed.

“You are not approving a contract, you are accepting these numbers, and they have been audited, and you’ve looked at before February. The list is due Nov. 1, and contract by Feb. 1. This is the second year in a row where there’s a larger number from Fulton Independent to Fulton County. I’ll say, out loud, it pleases me that the majority of Fulton County residents are coming to Fulton County. That says a lot about our faculty, staff, administrators, and Board,” Collins stated.

The Board approved the 2020 School Board meeting dates; request to surplus Bus #9916 and a 1990 Chevrolet service truck; school-related student trip request for Beta Club Convention; Four River Career Academy Inter-local Cooperation Agreement; facilities request for Ride the Fault Line June 22 – 24; Dataseam Participating Partner Agreement; 2020 KETS First Offer; and Renovation Change Order #2.

Meagan Scott reported the Financial Report for Jennifer Davis in her absence.

Total Revenues is $845,481.28 and added the beginning balance that has not yet been booked of $885,804.95 and total revenues as of end of Oct. are $1,731,286.23 against a budget of $4,911,652.60, which is 35.25% of the budget collected so far.

Last year we had collected $1,966,127.36 against a budget of $4,661,113.33, which was 42.18%. We received more property tax in October last year but we received a check for over $500,000.00 last week, which will more than make up for the revenue when the November financials are completed. This is just a timing issue the revenue is still fine.

Total Expenses is $1,110,170.57 against a budget of $4,911,652.60, which is 22.60%. Last year expenses were $1,018,558.30 against a budget of $4,661,113.33, which was 21.85%.