By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last Tuesday the Trustee Board of the Helen H. Rayburn Public Library of Lewis County took more steps toward the goal of building a new library for the community.

Jeffrey Pearson of Pearson & Peters Architects, PLC, Lexington and Chris Bischoff, State Library Construction Consultant for the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA) attended the meeting.

Pearson shared a Power Point presentation with the board showing the trustees several libraries his company has designed either as brand new libraries or as additions to standing libraries.

Pearson & Peters designed the new library in Jessamine County and then a later addition. They also designed libraries in Robertson, Mercer, Marion and Shelby counties in addition to the Paris-Bourbon County Library and the UK Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library.

Pearson explained the step-by-step procedures to building a new building.

Bischoff advised the board to begin by building a library with 8,000 square feet and then expanding later if necessary.

Both Pearson and Bischoff explained the proper procedures for demolishing the two houses on the site for the new library. That site is between the Post Office and the apartment complex on Railroad Street.

Portions of the houses such as mantles, doors and other such items may be auctioned off or sold by closed bids. 

The board has the option of saving some of those items to use in the new library in order to preserve some of the history of the buildings and the community.

The board authorized library director Marilyn Conway to take four preliminary actions as the body moves toward applying for a construction grant from the KDLA. Conway may arrange a property survey, a Hazardous Materials Survey, Geo-Technical testing and obtain a title opinion of the purchased property.

The board also moved to acquire liability insurance for the new property on Railroad Street and to hire Pearson & Peters to do the feasibility study for the new library.

In other business, Conway announced that the library has received a $7,800 grant from the Bill Gates Foundation for six new computers for the library.

The board authorized Conway to hire someone to mow the grass on the new library site.

The treasurer’s report revealed that last month the library spent over $200 for gasoline for the Bookmobile. That’s the most ever and reflects how the increased cost of fuel affects many businesses and organizations that use transportation in their daily routine.

The director’s report showed that for February and March a total of 8,867 books were checked out of the main library and 2,946 from the Bookmobile. The computers continue to be popular with 1,324 people using the computers for those two months. In February 601 patrons came to the library and 558 in March.

The next regular session of the library board will be on Tuesday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the library.

By Al Owens 

Meeting in a special session at the Tollesboro Elementary Library last week the Lewis County Board of Education was treated to a tour of the new addition and renovation to the facility.

The improvements include two new classrooms in addition to the library, new floor and ceiling tiles to that area and a new sprinkler system. The fire alarm system has also been upgraded to include additional modules, new sensors and a new diesel pump to the sprinkler system. All that was necessary for the system to pass state inspection.

The school has a new foam roof except for the new library. It has a metal roof. The foam roof comes with a 20-year warranty.

A new computer room is adjacent to the library. The computers have not yet been installed since the project was just recently competed.

Tollesboro Elementary principal Tim Douglas expressed pride in the improvements.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. said that so far he has heard many comments from the community indicating that the residents are well pleased with the project.

He informed the board that Phase Two plans call for the construction of new administrative offices in front of the school building.

Reeder told the board that the students had started preliminary testing on Monday, April 17 and that the official testing period would start the next day.

The board approved the reimbursement of $1.00 per day for 26 days during the winter season for the bus drivers who used their own electricity to warm up the school buses’ diesel engines.

The board approved a contract with Eric Bloomfield for the district financial audit for 2005-2006. The cost remains at $12,500, the same as last year.

Two change orders were approved for the Tollesboro addition and renovation project. One was for some valves in the ceiling that were letting in cold air. Those valves were replaced at a cost of $759. The second change order was for the additional fire alarm modules, new sensors and new diesel pump for the alarm and sprinkler system.

The board approved the annual school health contract with Primary Care for $38,000. Primary Care provides two full time nurses for the schools in addition to some voluntary help. The new contract has one new wrinkle in it. Students have to take a physical before participating in the new wellness class.

The board also approved an amended 2005-2006 school calendar. The new calendar sets Thursday, May 25, as the last day of school for the students. School will also be closed on May 16 for Primary Election Day.

The board set high school graduation for Saturday, May 27, at 6:00 p.m. in the Lewis County Middle School gymnasium.

The board approved the first reading of the 2006-2007 Code of Conduct. Kevin Duff told the board that the new code contained only minor changes. They include a few changes in the student directories, some minor details in the excuse and absence policy, and the revised code leaves the regulation of cell phones up to the individual schools.

The board approved the renewal of a contract with Primary Care for bus driver physicals. Each physical will be at a cost $56. That price for a routine physical exam is competitive.

Reeder said the physicals have helped, because the drivers have an important responsibility transporting students. 

He added that as a result of the physicals some health problems have been corrected and a few drivers had to be let go because of health issues. Safety for the pupils is the main concern.

By Al Owens

The Adult Education Program at the Morehead Community and Technical College has a new Director. Bill Teegarden took the office in January.

Teegarden is originally from Montgomery County but now makes his home in Fleming County. He has been a minister for 37 years and has a master's degree from Kentucky Christian University. He got involved in adult education about two years ago.

The Adult Ed Program in Maysville serves Lewis, Robertson and Mason counties.

Teegarden said that he is excited about the way the program is working in Lewis County under Debbie Kennard and Tammy Cooper.

He pointed out several new efforts in Lewis County.

First, Teegarden said that Adult Ed is getting ready to start a satellite program at the Tollesboro Christian School in April. Classes there will be held on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

The new director clarified that GED preparation is only about 30 percent of what the Adult Education program does. He explained that the program helps students pass tests such as the ACT test. It also helps people with high school or college diplomas get ready for some type of work or job where their math, language or reading skills are down.

Second, Teegarden said that they work with the factories presenting the work keys and help folk prepare for the Kentucky Manufacturers’ Standard Skills (KMSS) test. 

He added that the KMSS program could be a drawing card for factories looking to locate in Lewis County.

The program also offers Family Literacy Classes in Vanceburg and is getting ready to start another in Garrison with hopefully another Adult Ed satellite in Laurel.

Computer classes are available in Vanceburg as well.

Teegarden said that they had just finished working with the local Job Fair that was a great success.

Adult Education classes including the GED and work keys are being taught at the Detention Center. The workers spend two hours each with the county and state inmates.

Ben Turner is coming in to take care of the training in the jail and at Tollesboro Christian School.

He emphasized that everything in the program is free, and said that the program will even pay the $40 for the first GED test a student takes.

He invited anyone that has tried the Adult Ed program and dropped out to give it another try and to see for themselves what changes and improvements have been made.

Adult Education in Lewis County is located in the Esham Building located beside Super Quik in Vanceburg.

He encouraged any one with questions to call the program in Vanceburg at 606-796-0245.