Beech Tree News Network

Butler County School Board voted 4-0 to hire an interim superintendent and had a lengthy discussion about upcoming band trips during their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 11. Board members Karen Evans, Delbert Johnson, Deborah Hammers and Amy Hood-Hooten were in attendance.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Karen Evans and the agenda was approved along with the minutes of the August 14, 2012 meeting and the September 6, 2012 called meeting.
Eric Elms presented the treasurer’s report:
Beginning balance: $412,901.70, receipts: $1,187,854.62, expenditures: $960,450.34, ending balance: $640,305.98.
“We are $480,000 less than last year at this time but the difference reflects the cut in SEEK funding,” said Elms.
The board approved the report and payment of monthly bills.

During the superintendent’s report Scott Howard reported on the Butler County Drug Coalition, BCHS Band competition, the Family Resource Advisory Council meeting and the BCHS Football Team.
“The band received Reserved Grand Champion and swept their class last Saturday at Franklin Simpson,” said Howard, we are very proud of their hard work and dedication.”
“Our football team is off to a great start as they are 4-0, with 3 of those wins being on the road,” added Howard.
According to Howard the Butler County Drug Free is working to closely with the school system to target areas of concern.
Daisy Bishop reported to the board about the many projects of the Family Resource Center. 
“We kicked the year off with the Back to School Bash, giving supplies to 231 elementary students and 133 middle and high school students,” said Bishop. 
She also shared information about a program called OWL, On the Way to Learning.  The program is designed for 2-5 year –olds, focusing on school readiness.
Bishop thanked Howard for all his support and help with the Family Resource Program.
Vonda Jennings, Curriculum Coordinator, informed the board about Focus On Math training in the district. 
According to Howard Kids on the Block presented a program on Bullying at MES and will be doing the same program at NBES soon. Program sponsors are: Butler County Judge Executive David and Virginia Fields, Butler County Board of Education, Beech Tree News/WLBQ 1570, Logan Telephone,  Mayor Linda and Bobby Keown, Green River DAR and the Farm Bureau Board.

The board approved a FCCLA trip request for October 16, 2012 to Northern Ky University and a BCHS Band Trip request to attend the New Orleans Music Festival on March 12-17, 2013, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Band director Jason Ausbrooks requested approval for a BCMS Band Trip to attend the Gatlinburg Music in the Park on April 25-27, 2013, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  The board voted to table the request and seek more information.  Concern was expressed by band parent, Beverly Bonilla about 6th, 7th, and 8th graders going on a three day trip out of state and also the cost of the trip. 
Ausbrooks could not give an exact cost but thought it would be somewhere around $400 per student.
“I am a single parent with three children, I can’t afford the cost, I have concerns about a 11 year old going on a trip like this, and I can’t afford to take off work and go with her,” said Bonilla.
Howard acknowledged her concerns as did board member Amy Hood-Hooten. 

“I don’t want to limit our students but, as a parent, I would have concern about my sixth-grader going on a trip like this without me,” said Hooten.
Howard asked Ausbrooks and BCMS Principal Robert Tuck to gather more information about the trip before the next board meeting.
The last item on the agenda was the method of choice for filling the superintendent vacancy. 

Butler County School Board voted 4-0 to hire an interim superintendent to finish the rest of the school year, replacing Scott Howard, who according to his resignation will step down from the position on September 30, 2012. Karen Evans, chairman of the board, said she had been contacted by the Kentucky School Board Association and told the board had two choices. One, hire an interim that can hold the position up to nine months, or post the position and hire a superintendent.  The board selected the first option. No further comments were made by the board on the matter, and the meeting was adjourned.
The next regular meeting of the Butler County School Board will be at 6:30 pm on October 16, 2012.