Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Board of Education recognized many middle and high school band students and quickly dispatched routine business at their regular monthly meeting Tuesday night at the Butler County Education Complex.
 
A full house of students and parents were on hand as Superintendent Scott Howard recognized BCHS and BCMS band students for their achievements.  BCHS band members Madison Wells, Zack Taylor, and Morgan Embry were recognized for being in All District Band.  BCMS band members Chloe Dockery Cole Johnson, Bonnie West, Jared Kurfiss, Clay Johnson, and Lillian Dockery were recognized for their All District Band participation.  BCMS band members Delaney Embry, Justin Hudnall, Cole Johnson, Clay Johnson, and Ellie Moore were recognized for participating in Eastern Kentucky University Middle School Honor’s Band.  BCMS band members Tori Hampton, Bonnie West, Garret Embry, Justin Blunk, and Hannah Logan were recognized for participating in Murray State University Honor’s Band.
 
Superintendent Howard updated the Board on contact with lawmakers.  Howard said that several trips were planned to Frankfort during the current state legislative session.  He stated that preliminary conversations coming out of Frankfort are encouraging for K through 12 funding, but he cautioned that a lot of people want a piece of the state budget pie.  Howard reported that he met with Holly Lewis, field representative for Sen. Mitch McConnell.  He mentioned conversations on Common Core and how he told Lewis the school district didn’t need any more unfunded mandates; he added there is talk from Washington about heading off the sequester.
 
Howard told the Board that the BCHS Chamber Choir will perform during the KSBA Annual Conference Jan. 30 through Feb. 2; he said he thought it was the first time a BCHS choir has performed at the Conference.
 
Karla Coles, Coordinator of the Butler County Youth Services Center, gave a brief report to the Board.  Coles touched on the YSC’s activities to serve and counsel middle and high school students and to support organizations such as Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.  Coles reported that YSC joined with the Morgantown Mission and other groups to help provide 429 Christmas gifts to youth in the county.
 
In other business the Board approved several school group trips: the BCHS girls basketball trip to the Lady Dragons Holiday Invitational at South Oldham High School which was Dec. 20-22; the BCHS softball trip to the Marshall County Slugfest Tournament on March 21-22; the BCHS softball trip to the Woodford County Spring Break Classic on April 3-5; and the BCHS rocket team’s weekend trips to Holland, Indiana for TARC 2014 Qualifying from January through May.  The Board also approved the FY 15 Technology Report, the FY 15 Draft Budget, FY 15 Non-Resident Contracts with surrounding school districts, an FMLA request for a BCHS teacher, the revised Fund 2 Title 1 budget, and an offer of assistance from the School Facilities Construction Commission of $5,709 for annual debt service.

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Story by Don Thomason, Beech Tree News