The good news about Laurel County schools continues, and administrators and school board members recognized several initiatives Monday night, including a special program to honor veterans.
The South Laurel High JROTC presented the colours, with the London Elementary Choir behind them to perform the national anthem.
Then, all school district employees who served in the military received a certificate of appreciation.
Superintendent Dr. Doug Bennett then recognized the South Laurel Middle School Grade 6 basketball team for winning the KBA Middle School Grade 6 State Championship with an overall record of 31-1.
Also recognized was Hazel Green Elementary, which scored in the “Blue” ranking – the highest level – on test scores for the 2021 tests. These high scores placed Hazel Green in the top 32 schools of 720 elementary schools across the state and placed her in the Top 5% of scores across Kentucky. Principal Brad Mullins accepted the award on behalf of the school.
In other business, board members received updates on construction projects for the school district. Ray Vaske and David Jackson showed slides of the progress of the expansion and additions to the Laurel County Day Treatment Center as well as slides of the progress of the cafeteria expansion at North Laurel High. While South Laurel High School’s design presented some problems in expanding the cafeteria and media center, Vaske and Jackson said digging has begun.
The school district also received a clean audit report from Matt Shackleford with Cloyd & Associates. Shackleford referred to several sections of the audit report regarding the district’s financial statements for council members, but added that there were “no conclusions” on the audit. Bennett noted that financial transactions for the district were about 40,000 a year, and the finance department had three employees to handle those claims. This brought out recognition from CFO Adam Hooker and his department.
Council members approved the Sheriff’s tax collection fee of $545,749. The Sheriff’s Office is the designated tax collection agency for property taxes and generates funds through tax collections.
A special needs assistant at Johnson Elementary, a secretary/accountant at Laurel County Day Treatment, a Gear Up college responder for the district, and a special needs assistant at Sublimity Elementary were the positions that were recreated at Monday’s meeting, while council members voted. to create an I title wizard for Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary.
The Laurel County School Board meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the central office meeting room at 5 p.m.