Jenn Owens, president of the Bellevue Independent School Board, received a certificate Wednesday night celebrating the fact that she completed Level One training offered by the Kentucky School Boards Association.
Superintendent Robb Smith presented the certificate to Owens.
“Thank you,” she said simply, and indicated that she would be earning more certificates as her training continues.
School board members all over the state are expected to earn a certain amount of training hours based on their years of service. Owens hasn’t been on the school board long, but she is keeping up with her training.
The KSBA hosts regular meetings where members can sign up to receive training, and it is offered at 12 different locations, as well as online.
Ehmet Hayes, from Robert Ehmet Hayes and Associates, gave an update on the renovations being done in the district during the school board meeting.
He told the board that the roofing material for the high school, the elementary school and the gym is all on site, but the crews are waiting for the weather to stabilize. Crews are prepared to work around the clock once the weather is good for a predicted amount of time.
At Grandview elementary, Hayes said the gym floor will take about two more weeks. A newer substance, with a rubber element, is being used on the floors.
Workers are having difficulty procuring the electrical panels that they need, but they are trying to work around that by buying another similar product and they are optimistic they can make them work.
Tiffany Hicks, principal of Bellevue High School, told the board they are reinstituting some of the field trips, including one that hasn’t been held for a few years, called RiverReach. This includes sixth graders going down by the river and learning about the flora and fauna and the creatures in the river. That will be coming up in the next few months.
Smith said face masks will be optional starting Monday, Feb. 28.
He also said enrollment is up, at 625 students. He said the district is enrolling more students from private schools, because they feel that public school is their best option.
Attendance is up, holding at 96 percent.
The board approved a renewal of the student accident insurance policy with Roberts Insurance and Investment for the 2022/2023 school year, through K&K Insurance, underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company, including a $7.5 million catastrophic policy. The total premium is $8,803.40, which represents no increase from last year.
The board also approved an increase of the hourly stipend for certified staff for the summer school seervices from $25 to $50, to be paid from the CARES act funds. This will be for the summer of 2022 only.
The calendar for the 2022/2023 school year was approved. Superintendent Smith said that it is very similar to this year’s calendar, and the district likes to keep the calendars fairly consistent to help families with their schedules.
