The Union County Board of Education heard a number of updates on various programs during their meeting Monday night.

Following a musical program by the Sturgis Elementary School second and third graders, three Sturgis Elementary teachers provided insight to new programs the school is initiating. Guidance counselor Brooke White told the board that her office has implemented the “Leader In Me” program which is allowing her to teach guidance classes to students. The sessions include programs on leadership skills and learning to work together. Lighthouse Team member Blair House reported that school wide students and staff are practicing “7 Minutes for 7 Habits,” a program which allows students to be leaders in the classroom as well as work at various school “jobs.” Teacher Ashley Standifur reported that students are also being taught how to properly greet adults and make announcements on the intercom. They are also working to develop a school song about “7 Habits” as well as develop a common mission statement for the school.

Following the SBDM presentation, Superintendent Patricia Sheffer introduced Henderson Community College president Dr. Kris Williams who provided an update on the dual credit program at Union County High School. The overview included data regarding the number of dual credit courses offered, the number of students taking those classes and the success rate of those students. Williams noted that the dual credit program allows high school students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. In the fall of 2011, 83 UCHS students were enrolled in the program, with that number dropping to 81 in the spring of 2012. During the last school year, 63 local students participated in the dual credit program. Williams noted that the decline in numbers last year was likely due to the fact that students had to begin paying tuition for classes per a state requirement. She added that the program has some scholarship opportunities which could help make the classes affordable for the students. This semester, UCHS students are taking a total of 119 dual credit classes from eleven offerings including English, biology, psychology, equine studies, mathematics, speech and statistics. Union County’s Maggie Hancock is proof of the program’s success. Hancock earned 26 college hours through the local dual credit program and was classified a sophomore when she entered college.

Sheffer thanked Williams for her commitment to the program and for the partnership Union County and HCC share.

In other business, Sheffer told the board that much of the next board meeting will be spent reviewing test data which will be released later this week to the public.

The board also learned from Steve Carter, DPP, that the first month’s attendance was 96.51 percent with both Uniontown and Morganfield posting over 97 percent attendance for the first month of school.

Assessment and Accountability Director Sherri Collins reported that tenth grade students will take the PLAN test this week and that eighth graders completed the EXPLORE test last week. She added that she will review accountability data at the next board meeting. After Friday, the public will be able to access the most recent test data through the Kentucky Department of Education website and the school report card.

Carter, who met with the facility plan committee last week, told the board that the committee has recommended changing the UES project from Priority 2C to Priority 1C. The board approved the request.

Board members also heard the annual energy review from Darryl Pfingston who reported that the district has held energy costs stable over the past two years. In 2011, the district expended $530,000 for energy; that amount held firm for energy costs in 2013, he said. Pfingston added that about 80 percent of the district’s energy budget is spent for electricity. He added that he and Carter have targeted the highest increase and biggest use areas and will work to reduce energy costs in those targeted areas. One of the district’s best savings came from the high school where energy use was reduced by 13 percent. All the elementary schools met their established energy goals Pfingston said.

The energy savings goal for 2014 is to reduce energy use by three percent district wide and to revise lighting at the high school to increase efficiency.
Following Pfingston’s report, the board heard a review of the district’s 2014 $27.9 million working budget, a reduction of about $650,000 from the previous year. Director of Finance Amy Morris told the board that the largest reduction to the budget came from the general fund which was reduced by about $1.1 million. There will also be a reduction in Fund 2 projects and a reduction to capital outlay expenses, Morris said. Approximately 70 percent of the district budget is earmarked for salaries and wages. Morris also reported that the district’s SEEK funds have been reduced by about $350,000 from last year. She provided the board with a year to year comparison of funding for a three year period so they can seek exactly how decreases in state and federal funds are affecting the district budget. The board will continue to review the budget as the school year progresses.

Before adjourning shortly before 7:00 p.m., the board approved 11 consent items including field trips, fund raisers, training hours, staffing allocations, changes to the salary schedule to include nurses’ salaries and BGs for the UES roofing project.