Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Board of Education held a regular meeting at the Butler County High School on Tuesday, May 12. The meeting discussed topics including construction and open positions within the system, choir and band activities, as well as the amount of college visitation days BCHS seniors would be allowed in upcoming school years.
The agenda, minutes, and treasurer’s report were approved: the ending balance for the month of April was $2,511,630.20, a figure which is up from last year according to treasurer Eric Elms.

The board presented dozens of award certificates to BCHS students for their efforts and accomplishments at area band competitions, FCCLA, KYAEA, as well as the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Show and WKU Bridge Building competitions.

The board recognized the following students:

• BCHS FCCLA Student Ivy Donaldson – 1st Place – Advocacy – FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Kortney Barbier, Caitlin Coleman, and Rebecca Daugherty – 2nd Place – Chapter in Review Display - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Annabelle Cooper and Emily Wallace – 1st Place – Chapter in Review Portfolio - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Student Ashlynne Brooks – 2nd Place – Illustrated Talk - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Lydia Bratcher, Emma Robbins, and Molly Sanders – 2nd Place – Interpersonal Communications - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Erica Daugherty, Haley Ford, and Brandon Jones – 2nd Place – Life Planning Event - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Gracie Deel and Lauren Tyree – 1st Place – Chapter Service Project Display - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Matthew Embry, Payton Howard, and Lennon Johnson – 1st Place – Entrepreneurship - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Bailey Hunt, Allison Kurfiss, and Rachel Johnson – 2nd Place – Focus on Children - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Connor Brown, Tori Hampton, Mikayla Iller, Hannah McClelland, and Rylee McKee – 1st Place – Parliamentary Procedure Team - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Amber Blunk, Kiana Coleman, and Kane Gott – 1st Place – National Programs in Action - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Evan Johnson, Carlee Mitchell, and Ellie Moore – 1st Place – Focus On Children- FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Jessica Camp, Aaliyah Dockery, and Jenna Hawkins – 1st Place – Chapter Service Project Display - FCCLA STAR Event Region 4 Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Connor Brown, Tori Hampton, Mikayla Iler, Hannah McClelland, and Rylee McKee – 1st Place – Parliamentary Procedure Team - FCCLA State STAR Event Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Students Emily Wallace and Annabelle Cooper – 2nd Place – Chapter Showcase - FCCLA State STAR Event Competition

• BCHS FCCLA Kane Gott, Kiana Coleman, and Amber Blunk – 3rd Place – National Programs in Action - FCCLA STAR Event Competition

• BCHS Art Student Emma Robbins – 1st Place – Fiber Arts – 2015 KYAEA Caveland Region All-State Competition -

• BCHS Art Student Emma Robbins – 2nd Place – Fiber Arts – 2015 KYAEA Caveland Region All-State Competition

• BCHS Art Student Emma Robbins – 3rd Place – Fiber Arts – 2015 KYAEA Caveland Region All-State Competition

• BCHS Art Student Emma Robbins – Honorable Mention – Fiber Arts – 2015 KYAEA All-State Competition

• BCHS Art Student Emma Robbins – Honorable Mention – Fiber Arts – 2015 KYAEA Caveland Region All-State Competition

• BCHS Art Student Hallie Berry – Gold Key and American Visions Nominee – Drawing – Scholastic Art and Writing Award Show

• BCHS Art Student Ashton Garrison – Silver Key – Watercolor – Scholastic Art and Writing Award Show

• BCHS Art Student Ashton Garrison – Honorable Mention – Drawing – Scholastic Art and Writing Award Show

• BCHS Art Student Carelissa Young – Silver Key – Photography– Scholastic Art and Writing Award Show

• BCHS Art Student Carelissa Young – Honorable Mention – Photography– Scholastic Art and Writing Award Show

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Joseph Phillips– 1st Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Jacob Courtenay– 2nd Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Emily Coy– 3rd Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Cameron Price – 4th Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Collin Coots – 5th Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Tony Perez – 6th Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Isaiah Arnold – 7th Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Tyler Vincent– 8th Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Eddie Phelps – 9th Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

• BCHS Bridge Building Student Harlie Deweese – 10th Place – 20th Annual WKU/SkyTeach/GRREC Regional Bridge Building

BCHS teacher Robert Ayer spoke about the Rocket Team.
“This team placed 15 Alternate at the 2015 TARC Fly-Off,” stated Ayer.
“…83rd doesn’t sound that good, but there were 695 teams to start with. They got into the top 101… If you put it in perspective, that’s a pretty good team.  First place team that’s representing the United States right now goes to Paris with that trip paid for.”
This is Ayer’s final year at the school, and he went on to say the following: “I’d like to thank you all as a board for the support you’ve given the BCHS Rocket Team. This is 13 years… in those [13 years] there’s been about 650-700 teams each year… we’ve been in the top 100 teams 11 of the 13 years. Butler County High School can compete with the best of them when they are given the opportunity… The students of Butler County, you just can’t beat them.”

The board also heard communications from Student Body President Kelsey Hughson. Hughson addressed the board to discuss additional days students will be allowed to visit colleges. BCHS currently allows less than half of what some schools in the surrounding counties offer. Hughson stated the following: “I want seniors to be able to visit colleges and be aware that there are different options around here besides WKU and BG tech. I want them to be able to go out and explore without having to worry about unexcused days.”

The board approved the following:

• BCHS Science Club Trip Request to Visit the Huntsville Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama on May 19, 2015

• BCHS Yearbook Staff Trip Request to Attend Yearbook Camp in Tell City, Indiana on July 21-22,

• BCHS JROTC Trip Request to Attend Mini-Boot Camp at Artemus National Guard Training Center in Barbourville, Kentucky on June 8-11, 2015

• BCHS Chamber Choir Trip Request to Visit the New Orleans Music Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 17-20, 2016

• BCMS Boys’ Basketball Trip Request to Attend Summer Basketball Camp at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky on June 8-10, 2015

•  BCMS Girls’ Basketball Trip Request to Attend Summer Basketball Camp at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky on July 20-22, 2015

•  BCMS Yearbook Staff Trip Request to Attend Yearbook Camp in Tell City, Indiana on July 21-22, 2015

•  Creation of Reading Teacher Position at Butler County Middle School for FY 16 School Year

•  Creation of Band Position at Butler County Middle School for FY 16 School Year

• FY 16 Salary Schedules

• FY 16 Tentative Working Budget

• FY 16 Property Insurance Renewal in the amount of $93,422.00

• FY 16 Fleet Insurance Renewal in the Amount of $45,897.00

• FY 16 General Liability Insurance Renewal in the amount of $30,670.00

• FY 16 Umbrella Insurance Renewal in the Amount of $12,894.00

•  FY 16 Inland Marine Insurance Coverage in the Amount of $600.00

•  FY 16 Workers Compensation Insurance Renewal in the Amount of $68,975.46

•  FY 16 Student Accident and Student Athletic Year Insurance Renewal with Roberts Insurance in the amount of $35,100.00

•  FY 16 Barren River District Health Department School Nurse Satellite Clinics at Butler County High School, Morgantown Elementary School and North Butler Elementary School    

•  FY 16 Vision Services Contracts with Russellville Independent, Logan County, Edmonson County and Todd County Boards of Education      

•  Authorization for Application for Federal, State, and Private Grants for the FY 16 School Year

•  Participation in Non-Certified Substitute, Emergency Substitute, and Paraprofessional Programs for the FY 16 School Year   

• One Year, Emergency and Provisional Certification for Teachers of Specified Areas of Shortage in Order to Fill Unanticipated Vacant Teacher Positions for the FY 16 School Year

Story and photos by J. Harris, Beech Tree News