By Tara Kaprowy
Staff Writer
March 11, 2008 10:35 pm
—
Laurel County students may get three days off school — if the South Laurel High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams advance in or to the state championships.
Wednesday is already set in stone for a day off, thanks to the girls’ team making it to the state tournament after their win Sunday afternoon.
If the girls win Wednesday night, students will have Friday off. Since boys beat Corbin in overtime Tuesday night, students will have March 20 off.
The district cannot use its bank time to pay for the days missed, however.
“It is permissible to alter the calendar to dismiss if games are during the days,” Director of Pupil Personnel Rhonda Welch said. “But any days missed will have to be made up.”
Students must attend school a minimum of 172 schools day per school year. May 19 was originally scheduled to be the last day for students. The new last day of school will be determined at a later date.
Motion to approve the days was made by Albert Binder, seconded by Lola Reed and unanimously approved.
In other action, School Board members:
• Agreed to spend $86,603.80 to buy 77 new cafeteria tables for South Laurel middle and high schools. The district will buy the tables from Tom Sexton & Associates. They will be oval in shape, similar to tables already installed at London and Wyan-Pine Grove elementary schools. Business Manager Jim Kennedy explained the ovoid shape of the tables and thus the possibility for more configurations cuts down on noise. Thanks to the renovation South Middle’s cafeteria will nearly double in size. South High’s will stay the same. Motion was made by Reed, seconded by Binder and unanimously approved.
• Agreed to spend $23,690 to purchase 21 new tables and 115 chairs for South Laurel Middle School’s library. Thanks to the renovation, the school’s library will nearly double in size. Motion was made by Smith, seconded by Binder and unanimously approved.
• Approved changes to the column foundations for the new canopy that will front South Laurel High School. The change was needed due to an existing storm drain, the circumference of which was not back-filled with stone or adequately compacted soil. The existing soil is too soft to bear the weight of the columns. Kevin Cheek, project manager at architecture firm Sherman-Carter-Barnhart, said it is not known if more soft soil will be met upon further excavation for the remaining columns. “We’re not sure where this stops,” he said. The remainder of the excavation will be done after school ends for the year. The change is expected to cost in the range of $6,000. The fix will involve building a bridge over the storm drain. Motion was made by Schenkenfelder, seconded by Smith and unanimously approved.
• Approved a contract for behavioral consulting services with Amanda Rostin. “Our autistic population has been continually growing,” Director of Special Education Betty Mitchell said. “This is how we can have two people for the price of one.” Motion was made by Binder, seconded by Reed and unanimously approv-ed.
Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.
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