By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The Carter County Board of Education welcomed new board member Chris Perry on Monday night as they honored student scholars, moved to approve amendments to the school calendar, set graduation dates, and approved the district facilities plan for a new consolidated high school building.
“This doesn’t mean we will be building (a consolidated high school),” superintendent of schools Dr. Paul Green emphasized. “It means it’s on the list of options.”
While it doesn’t mean the board is approving the idea of a consolidated school just yet, it is the next step if they decide to go that route. As part of that process the board also moved to appoint a hearing officer for the district facilities plan. The board moved to appoint Paul Christy, an outside third-party, to serve as hearing officer. Christy served as moderator for the previous public hearings related to the plan.
The board also moved to set the next hearing date for the public facilities plan for April 7, at the board office in Grayson. Neither the school board nor the local planning committee will be present for that meeting, which will be a forum for parents, educators, and other members of the community to hear details and provide their feedback.
Board chair Lisa Ramey-Easterling did take time to thank the local planning committee, particularly chair Andy Lyons, for their work in preparing the facilities plan and helping guide the process.
Dr. Green echoed Easterling’s praise.
“I agree with Ms. Easterling, the committee put in a lot of work,” Green said.
In other discussion items, the board moved to amend the school calendar, setting May 26 as the last day of school for students after accounting for the seven days missed due to inclement weather and days banked by the district.
Graduation dates will be May 26 for East Carter High School, and May 27 for West Carter. Both graduation ceremonies will begin at 7 p.m.
In other action, Dr. Green recognized students who participated in the Eastern Kentucky Technology Student Association Regional Competition. East Carter students who competed in the event, at Morehead State University, competed in various technology and engineering events. Earning third place in board game design were Wyatt Griffith, Petyon Fannin, and Mary Sherrard. Fannin and Sherrard also placed third in the technology bowl, along with Jennifer Nguyen.
Nguyen also took first place in extemporaneous speech and first place in the webmaster event.
Earning first place in for their chapter team were Tristen Sexton, Gracey Copeland, Anna Salyers, Garon Castle, Ella Kiser, and Maria Hayes. Copeland also earned a first place honor as future technology teacher and Hayes earned first in prepared presentation.
Adrian Cordle, Destiny Gullett, Emma Berry, Andrea Ferguson, and Alena McCall took first place for the school in children’s stories.
Addie Tiller, Maddie Moore, Elle Thomas, and Savannah Adams earned first place honors in fashion design.
And in the structural engineering category Rylan Yoak and Benji Ferguson brought home a first place award.
Director of Districtwide Programs Jennifer Carroll also recognized students during her presentation to the board. In addition to noting a variety of programs taking place across the district, Carroll recognized East Carter’s Maria Hayes for earning Transylvania University’s William T. Young Scholarship, which covers up to $50,000 per year in academic expenses.
Carroll also recognized East’s Jennifer Nguyen, who was honored as a Rogers Scholar.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
