Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Board of Education held a brief meeting last night at the Butler County Education Complex.  The Board recognized bridge building teams from the Green River School and the Butler County Middle School for winning their division of the 2012 BRIMS Regional Bridge Building Championship; North Butler Elementary student Kari McClelland, the winner of the District Wide Spelling Bee; and Hunter Peay of the Next Generation Student Council.

 
Superintendent Scott Howard spoke about budget issues, pointing out that the state budget has passed the House but is not through the Senate yet and that school district planning is “up in the air” until the state budget is passed.  Howard stated that it is “impossible to save everything” in the school district’s budget when the state is likely reducing funding to the district by $700,000.

 
The school district is pursuing ways to save money and find new funding sources.  The Board approved the FY 2013 Energy Management Plan, which is part of the criteria to secure TVA grant funding that would partially fund Technology Coordinator Jimmy Arnold’s position.  Howard reported that the bus garage has bought diagnostic equipment to do more maintenance in-house and require less sending of busses to Bowling Green.

 
Howard suggested to the Board that the time has come to re-evaluate the school district’s clear and mesh backpack policy.  He said Butler County is the only area district that still has the policy, and he and BCHS Principal Patrick O’Driscoll said that girls carry purses and boys carry satchels that are not see-through.  Howard pointed out that metal scanners are used by district schools but also said if the backpack policy is kept, the district needs to make sure it’s enforced.
 
Howard told the Board about the upcoming County Wide Safety Drill.  County first responders and the school district will participate in a mock earthquake drill which will involve an evacuation of the Butler County Middle School.  In other business, the Board approved requests for the BCHS Rocket Team trip to the TARC 2012 Qualification Flights in Holland, Indiana on March 4, 11, 17-18, 24-25 and March 31-April 1; the BCHS Softball Team trips to the Oldham County Spring Break Classic April 5-7 in Buckner, the Capitol City Showcase Classic on April 13-14 in Frankfort, and the Fern Creek High School JV Freshman Tournament May 11-12 in Louisville; the BCHS Baseball team trip to Davidson Academy in Nashville on March 31; and the BCHS TSA trip to State Competition March 14-17 in Louisville.

Story by Don Thomason, BTN