Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, February 16th, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. at the Early Childhood Training Center.

All board members, with the exception of Dr. Amy Hood Waddle, were present at the meeting. Debbie Hammers chaired the meeting. 

After the call to order and approval of the agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting, the board heard the treasurer's report and approved the payment of monthly bills. 

Next, BCHS teachers Catron Burdette and Thomas Miller were recognized for being named Claes Nobel Educators of Distinction.  The award, presented by the National Society of High School Scholars, and named in honor of the NSHSS founder, Claes Nobel, honors educators who are, according to the NSHSS website, “outstanding role models and exemplary practitioners who have made a lasting difference in a student's life by encouraging them to strive for excellence, not just in their academic pursuits, but in all their endeavors.” Mrs. Burdette teaches Art and Mr. Miller, Business & Marketing Education. 

Photos courtesy of https://sites.google.com/butler.kyschools.us/bchs/faculty-staff.

Following this recognition, Superintendent Robert Tuck gave his monthly superintendent’s report. Among other things, Tuck mentioned the possibility of housing a Boys and Girls Club Site at Morgantown Elementary. With enrollment growing at the Morgantown site on South Tyler Street, adding a site at Morgantown Elementary would help relieve the overcrowding. The Boys and Girls Club already has a satellite site at North Butler Elementary, where the Butler County School District helps fund staffing, which would be done at Morgantown Elementary, as well. Tuck assured the board that he would update them once he had more details. 

Tuck also shared that he and Mr. Ryan Emmick had recently attended the School Leader Legislative Drive Day. They met with Kentucky State Representative Rebecca Raymer and Suzanne Miles, a field agent for U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie. The group discussed funding needs and the lack of regulation of homeschooling in Kentucky, among other things. 

Finally, Tuck explained that at a recent English Language Learners (ELL) Family Outreach Meeting, attendees were able to tour Bears Den and find out information about the Adult Education GED program, Skytech and more, and receive feedback from the families about what is needed to benefit the district’s ELL students and their families. 

Next,  Matt Gumm from Alliance Corporation, presented a recommendation on bids for Project BG 21-084-Butler County Schools Multiple Renovations at Multiple Schools. After that, R. W. Baird Public Finance Banker Mark Rawlings discussed the Butler County School District Finance Corporation’s School Building Revenue Bonds, Series 2023. A meeting of the Butler County School District Finance Corporation was convened at the close of the regular monthly meeting to approve  a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of Butler County School District Finance Corporation School Building Revenue Bonds, Series 2023, advertising for the bond sale and approving all other documents in connection with the bonds. These were approved by the board. 

Mr. Emmick also presented the Transportation/Maintenance/Safety Report for the district. 

Finally, in the consent agenda, several things were approved, including several student trips in the coming months.