The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Letcher’s last school day still June 11




Uncertain whether the legislature will grant any relief for the large number of days Kentucky school districts have missed because of snow, ice and frigid temperatures, Letcher County Public School Supt. Tony Sergent said classes will be in session until June 11 if no help is given.

The Letcher district has missed 29 days of school. The Letcher County Board of Education approved at its February meeting for school to be in session March 31 to April 4, which had originally been designated as spring break.

The district also banked five days, which are used to compensate for some days missed and are days accumulated by having extra time added to the regular school day.

May 14 was set in the school calendar as the original last day for students.

At Monday night’s meeting, the board authorized the request of a disaster day for West Whitesburg Elementary School and Whitesburg Middle School. Because the schools didn’t have water on Dec. 12, students were sent home at 8:30 a.m.

Because so many days of school were missed with inclement weather, the sixth month of the 2013-14 school year stretched from January 9 until March 10. The district attendance rate for the sixth month of school is 92.12 percent. Letcher Middle School had the highest attendance rate with 94.48 percent.

The number of students enrolled in the district is down from this time last year. Kenneth Cornett, district director of pupil personnel, said 3,192 students are enrolled now, compared to a total of 3,220 students this time last year. At the end of the first month of the 2013- 14 school year, student enrollment totaled 3,223.

The board approved a rental contract with The Costumer for costumes for the Letcher County Central High School drama class’s production of Shrek the Musical.

Brian Johnson, district finance officer, told the board that the bank balance as of Feb. 28 is $4,674,285.68, with $225,981.84 of that in construction funding.

The board learned of the resignation of Ronny Goins as the Fleming- Neon Middle School football coach. Loneli Polly, a district-wide teacher, gave notice of retiring.

Board Chairman Will Smith said an executive session was necessary to discuss an individual employee and litigation involving Timothy and Susan Miller and David and Pricie Young.

The next board meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on April 28 in the Lendell Smith Memorial Conference Room of the Letcher County School Bus Garage.



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