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Recommendations for Reopening of Schools Expected Soon

By Eugenia Jones
eugenia@highland.net

During the regular June meeting of the McCreary County Board of Education, School Superintendent Corey Keith announced he anticipates making firm recommendations regarding the start of the 2020/2021 school year to Board Members shortly after July 4th. Although the district has been preparing for all possible scenarios for the reopening of local schools, Keith said he prefers to wait to develop, approve, and release a final plan until after the state releases their updated healthy school guidelines for reopening with COVID-19 precautions later this week.
In other business, two closed sessions (Superintendent Evaluation and pending litigation) consumed much of the regular meeting.
After going into closed session for the Superintendent’s evaluation, the Board re-entered open session to adopt this year’s summative evaluation of Superintendent Keith. The Board rated Keith as exemplary (exceeding) in Instructional Leadership.
Keith announced Lauren Pennington King has been hired as Finance Officer at the Central Office. Jennifer Akin, who has experience at the Kentucky Department of Education, will serve as Director of Federal Programs.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Board Members discussed one email comment received from Hope Daugherty (parent) expressing concern over social media posts made by school employees. Daugherty expressed her concern that the posts were racially insensitive and asked for a review of social media posts. In their discussion about the matter, Board Members noted they will not condone hate speech (or posts), but at the same time, must recognize employee’s personal freedom of speech/expression when outside of work.
In approving actions by consent, the Board approved several items including the McCreary County School District Athletics Re-opening Protocol for 2020/2021, one districtwide school nurse position, and one Information Technology position at the High School. The Board also authorized the purchase of 676 Chromebooks to be paid with federal funds from the CARES act.

The next meeting of the McCreary County Board of Education will be Monday July 27, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Central Office.

 

June Report on Employment Authorizations

NEW HIRE; CERTIFIED
Leta Davenport, Teacher, McCreary Central High School, effective 07-01-2020
CLASSIFIED; Brian Coffey, Custodian, Districtwide @ MCHS, effective 05-19-2020
Aaron Anderson, Assistant Principal at McCreary Central High School, effective 07-01-2020
Lisa Sunshine Canada, Guidance Counselor at McCreary Central High School, effective 07-01-2020

TRANSFER; CERTIFIED
Jennifer Barnett, Teacher, from McCreary Academy to McCreary County Middle School, effective 07-01-2020
Barry Matt Stiltner, Teacher, from McCreary Academy to McCreary County Middle School, effective 07-01-2020
Teresa King, Teacher, from McCreary Academy to McCreary Central High School, effective 07-01-2020
Melinda Strunk, Teacher, from Pine Knot Elementary School to McCreary Preschool, effective 07-01-2020
Kenneth Todd Waters, from Principal at McCreary County Middle School to Teacher at Whitley City Elementary School, effective 07-01-2020
CLASSIFIED; Glenda Winchester, Instructional Assistant, from McCreary Academy to McCreary Central High School, effective 07-01-2020
Theresha Elmore, Instructional Assistant, from Pine Knot Elementary School to McCreary County Middle School, effective 07-01-2020
Jennifer Kennedy, from CBWTP Worker to Secretary at McCreary Central High School, effective 07-01-2020

 

 

Tucker Selected as Middle School Principal

The McCreary County Middle School SBDM Council is pleased to announce that Susan Tucker will be the school’s next Principal. Mrs. Tucker was selected from a strong field of applicants. She commented, “MCMS is a place of unlimited possibilities and I am honored to be a part of the MCMS family.” She has been with McCreary County Schools since 1993 in various roles: Teacher at Pine Knot Elementary and Intermediate, Curriculum Resource Specialist at Stearns and Smithtown Elementary, and Assistant Principal of Pine Knot Elementary. Mr. Corey Keith, Superintendent of McCreary County Schools commented, “I am confident that Mrs. Tucker will be successful in this role. Her passion for student success is very evident.” Mrs. Tucker will assume her duties on July 1.

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