District looks to save money with state funding cuts on the horizon

Money was the big topic of the night at Monday’s Webster County School Board meeting in Dixon.

After refinancing its 2008 series bonds, the board will be able to save around $510,000 over the next twelve years. Although that only works out to be an average of $40,000 per year, in the current cash strapped position Kentucky schools find themselves in, every dollar counts.

On the down side, superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough told the board that the district expects to see a cut in the amount of funding they can use for preschool programs in the county.

“Webster County’s preschool allocation, along with all of those in the state, are expected to see a reduction,” she said.

According to Yarbrough, last year the district received $404,525 to fund its preschools, but as of right now it appears only $310,576 will be available for the next school year.

District-wide free meals to continue

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, proved to be a success in Webster County Schools in the 2015-16 school year. The program, which made free breakfast and lunches available to all Webster County students, has produced an increase in the number of meals eaten by students.

CEP eliminates the burden of collecting household applications to determine eligibility for  free school meals by offering free meals to all students.

“Where it really helped is with those students whose parents were right on the free and reduced line,” said Food Service Director Valarie Knight.

Webster Schools un-stage graduations

In response to a mother’s request for a ramp, school officials remove stages

When Abby Baskett began to prepare for her middle school graduation this year, she told her mother she wanted to go across the stage with her classmates.

So her mother, Sarah Humphrey, approached the school about the possibility.

Abby is one of two students in the middle school class of 2016 who is confined to a wheelchair. She has been a part of the class from day one, and Humphrey said her daughter wanted to graduate the same way as her friends.

But according to Humphrey, what started as a simple request turned into a mess.

“I never asked for special treatment,” Humphrey said. “I wanted inclusion, not an exception.”

Board looks to help teams with travel cost

by Matt Hughes

Parents and coaches of Webster County student athletes may soon be getting some relief on their fund raising efforts, thanks to a measure that was discussed at Monday night’s school board meeting.

For the first time in years, the board is looking at covering at least part of the expense of bussing athletic teams to their various competitions.

“Many years ago the board did not give an allocation for transportation,” said Webster County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough. who presented the new transportation plan to the board. “(Athletic Director) Matt Bell has worked diligently to answer a request from Tim (McCormick) and the board to do so.”

McCormick has been an outspoken proponent of such a measure for some time, but this is the first time a proposal has been brought before the board.

WCHS Locked temporarily locked down

According to Webster County School District Officials, at approximatelty 7:30 am on Friday, January 8, 2016m  WCHS administration was notified that a student had made a threat to harm himself with a gun due to a breakup with a girlfriend overnight.  The administration proceeded to go into a campus lockdown until the whereabouts of the student could be determined.

"The student was located at his home and local law enforcement is investigating the situation," said superintedent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough.  "As soon as the whereabouts of the student was verified to school administration, the lockdown on the campus was lifted.  At no time was there a threat to the safety of other students and at no time this morning was this student on the campus.  We appreciate the quick response of our law enforcement officials and the high school administration for their prompt attention to this situation."

Board approves new facilities plan

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
Much of the Webster County School Board’s meeting on Monday revolved around expenses. From cutting the cost of bussing, to looking at the budget, finances were at the forefront.

The board approved a new Webster County School District Facilities Plan, with a price tag of around $23.8 million. Although not entirely binding, that plan is designed to serve as a road map moving forward, assessing the district’s building and construction needs.
The largest single project on the plan was a major renovation of Providence Elementary School, which will cost approximately $4.9 million. That project would include renovated restrooms, remodeling of the ‘well’ area, roof replacement, new bleachers and gym lighting, and new HVAC equipment.

The listing notes that the school site is too small.

Capstone Learning Center now open for business at WCHS

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
Monday marked the official launch of Webster County’s new Capstone Learning Center (CLC), a 21st Century Learning Center created by a grant from the US Department of Education. CLC is designed to provide Webster County High School students access to enrichment activities that fall outside the normal scope of school-based programs.
A lesser discussed side of CLC is that it will entirely erase the need for summer school programs. Rather than having to attend make up classes during summer break, students can participate intercession sessions or attend for daily academic help.

School Board will not seek tax rate increase

Tax hearing to be August 27 at 5:30 p.m.
by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
On Monday night, members of the Webster County School board took their first look at the tax rates for 2015. Although they did not vote on the rates at that meeting, they indicated that for the first time in at least five years they will not seek to raise taxes.

Taxing entities must submit their tax rates to the state by the first of September every year. Their options are to reduce tax rates, increase tax rates or take the compensating rate, keep the same rate or take the compensating rate, which means the actual rate is adjusted in order to bring in the same amount of money as the previous year.

WC schools celebrate Yarbrough’s first year

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
Dr. Rachel Yarbrough, Superintendent of Webster County Schools, officially kicked-off her second year at the helm of her alma mater by holding the second annual District Leadership Summit Meeting on Monday.

All Webster County schools now tobacco free

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
When Webster County students and faculty return from summer break, they will return to a campus that will be completely tobacco-free.

Webster County School Board members voted unanimously last Tuesday night to approve a measure that will make all district property, vehicles and buildings officially tobacco-free.

School board members discuss digital future

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
At Monday night’s Webster County School Board meeting, district officials introduced the first draft of a new Digital Learning Plan. That plan, if approved, will open a new doorway into digital learning in all of Webster County School by putting technology in the hands of students.

Kids to College

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Webster County school, government and business leaders continue to push forward with plans to get the Webster County Kids to College (K2C) program off the ground. The program, which was announced last year, is aimed at making sure that every student in the county has the chance to go to college. The program still needs to collect another $250,000 in 2015 to stay on track.

School Board sets SBDM allocations

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

On Monday night, Webster County School Superintendent Rachel Yarbrough and Deputy Assistant Superintendant Georgiann McCord presented school board members with an altered School-Based Decision Making council (SBDM) allocations for the 2015-2016 school year.

SBDM, which consists of a mixture of parent, teacher and administration members at each school, handles the hiring of faculty within their school. Each year the school board presents the council with enough funding for a specific amount of teachers, based on the number of students expected to be enrolled in the fall and the classroom capacity set by the state. That allocation does not include staffing for Special Education classes, which comes from a different allocation.

Murphy appointed to KSBA board

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Webster County will now have a voice in one of the largest groups of elected officials in the commonwealth of Kentucky. 

At the annual Kentucky School Board Association (KSBA) conference last week in Louisville, KSBA president Allen Kennedy appointed Webster County Board Member Venita Murpy to fill a vacancy as Second Region regional chairperson on the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) Board of Directors.

Kindergarten registration days planned

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Webster County Schools are set to begin registration for Kindergarten students, the first step on getting children enrolled for the upcoming school year. 

District pursues grant monies

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Much of the talk at Monday night’s School Board meeting was about the availability of grant opportunities. Something that District Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough is very passionate about.

Conflict over polling place to push end of school to May 26th

Sebree Elementary unavailable for classes on Election Day

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Until last week’s snowfall, Webster County Schools were on track for a May 18, 2015 last day of classes, but 13 inches of snow changed those plans. Now district officials are eyeing a May 26 end date.

Board to disolve ‘sick leave bank’ program

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Webster County teachers may soon be losing out on one of their biggest benefits, the Sick Leave Bank. 

Under Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 161.155, school districts are required to provide all teachers and full time staff with at least 10 sick days during the school year. Those days are required to be allowed to accumulate, without limitation, and be credited to that employee. Schools are also required to establish a sick leave donation program, permitting teachers or employees to voluntarily contribute sick leave to other employees.

Board hears food service udate, make up days planned

by MATT HUGHES

J-E Editor

Webster County Food Services Director Valerie Knight made her first official report to the school board on Monday since taking over the position vacated by former director Shane Bosaw during summer break.

“We’ve had an exciting first six months,” Knight said. “I don’t think I realized how involved school nutrition really is. It’s worse than healthcare, but it’s been enjoyable because of our kids.”

Knight broke down the annual food services report card. The elementary schools scored 100%, while the middle and high school program scored 98.2%. The slight loss of points was in the category of ‘promote community physical activities.’

School Board hears annual audit

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

On Monday night members of the Webster County School Board heard the results of it’s annual auditor’s report, prepared by Kem, Duguid & Associates of Hopkinsville. The audit covers the period of July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.

As of June 30, 2014, the Webster County School District reported $21,027,014 in bonded debt and lease obligations. The largest of those is a 2008 WCHS renovation bond for which the district still owes $8,765,000 and the 2013 middle school bond of $4,650,000.