School Board Approves Several Items

By Eugenia Jones
eugenia@highland.net

The McCreary County Board of Education met on Monday (January 25) to approve several items by consent. Approval of the District’s 2020-2021 Comprehensive District Improvement Plan (CDIP), approval of the 2021-2022 school calendar, and acknowledgment of the 2021-2022 draft budget were among the actions taken by consent.
During the Superintendent’s “Communication to the Board” segment of this week’s meeting, McCreary County School Superintendent Corey Keith gave a brief overview of the District’s CDIP and 2021=2022 draft budget.
Comprehensive District Improvement Plans are mandated and address the Kentucky Board of Education’s Goals by focusing on student needs through a collaborative process involving all stakeholders to establish and address priority needs, district funding, and closing achievement gaps between identified subgroups of students. Superintendent Keith noted the District’s current plan addresses six goals including proficiency, achievement gaps among groups of students, graduation rate, and transition. Keith emphasized the importance of addressing achievement gaps resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keith also explained the budget cycle for school districts. The 2021-2022 draft budget acknowledged by the Board during Monday’s meeting is the first of three budgets to be developed throughout the coming year. Keith noted the draft budget is simply a “best estimate” of revenue and needs anticipated for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year in July. A tentative budget will be established in May with a working budget for 2021-2022 finalized in September. Based on monthly financial reports, Keith noted the District is tracking well financially at this time.
During his communication to the Board of Education, Keith also reported on the District’s implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Keith described the program as a proactive approach to classroom management and discipline.
In addition to approval and acknowledgement of the CDIP and draft budget, a third action by consent was the approval of the 2021-2022 school year calendar. The approved calendar denotes the first day of school for students during the 2021-2022 school year as being August 19. The last day for students in 2022 (barring any missed days throughout the year) is May 20. Fall and spring breaks are October 4-8 and April 4-8 respectively.
In actions with discussion, the Board designated the 4th Monday of each month (except in December) at 6:30 p.m. as their regular monthly meeting time.
The Board also approved the Local Planning Committee for the District Facilities Plan. The committee is composed of parents, teachers, building and Central Office administrators, Board members, community leaders, and others.
The next regular meeting of the McCreary County Board of Education will be February 22, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. at the District’s Central Office.