By Paula Franke

Jayne Elliott, third grade teacher at Tollesboro Elementary School, was named WalMart Teacher of the Year during a surprise ceremony Tuesday morning in the school cafeteria.

Her students gathered earlier in the cafeteria along with members of Mrs. Elliott's family: her husband, Herry, sister, Norma Taylor, and brother and sister-in-law, Herbie and Linda Johnson. TES Principal Tim Douglas was kept busy with the logistics of moving students and guests through the building in an attempt to keep the surprise under wraps.

WalMart co-manager Brenda Bias presented a plaque to Mr. Elliott. Other Teach of the Year amenities included a $100 gift card for her classroom, a $1,000 check for the school and a Teacher of the Year tee-shirt.

Paula Franke/Lewis County Herald

2006 teacher of the year Jayne Elliott, at left, accepts a check for $1,000 from WalMart co-manager Brenda Bias during a ceremony Tuesday morning at Tollesboro Elementary School..

Mrs. Elliott was selected by students and their parents in a six-county region comprising Bracken, Fleming, Lewis and Mason counties, as well as Adams and Brown counties in Ohio. She is now eligible for statewide WalMart Teacher of the Year.

The effort locally was spearheaded by Juanita Highfield and her daughter D.J., who are both active parent volunteers at TES.

This is the second year in a row that TES has been recognized. Second grade teacher Robin Ruggles was selected 2005 Teacher of the Year.

Principal Douglas proudly points to Mrs. Elliott's academic success.

"Along with Mrs. Stanfield, Mrs. Elliott had the highest third grade CTB scores in school history in the Spring of 2005 with an overall score of 93.8," he pointed out.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Lewis County Fiscal Court was presented with plans for a new residential development in Tollesboro on Route 57 South toward Flemingsburg.

The road is inside the city limits, but the Vanceburg City Council refused to adopt the road into its maintenance program because of the cost. The move was tabled so Road Supervisor Dane Howard can inspect the road and report back to the court and so County Attorney Clayton “Buddy” Lykins Jr. will have time to check on the legality of the county adopting a road inside the city limits into its system.

Lykins said that the county would probably have to enter into an Inter-Local agreement with the city council in order to adopt the road into the county road system.

County Judge Executive Steve Applegate noted that some county businesses and/or organizations are on that road.

The court opened closed bids for the sale of two dump trucks and for the purchase of two trailers for the road department.

The court accepted the bid of $15,327 from Robert Huddleston for a 1997 Chevy 7500 dump truck but refused all bids for a 2002 GMC truck. The guaranteed auction price is higher than any bid received for that truck.

All bids for the purchase of a 20-ton tag trailer and a 35-50 ton equipment trailer were put off so the road department can review the bids and make recommendations in the June session.

The court approved its annual $500 contribution for the fireworks for the Vanceburg/Lewis County July Celebration.

The court adopted a resolution approving the County Road Aid Cooperative Contract for the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year. Applegate told the court that the county would receive over $520,000 for road aid this fiscal year.

The court also approved an annual donation of $1000 to the Lewis County Little League for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. That donation will be made after July 1 as part of next year’s budget.

The court moved to switch funds from the current office expense allowance to the salary for the County Attorney. The official’s salary is $20,000 under the state’s permitted salary cap. The transfer of funds in the Sheriff’s department was approved as well.

County treasurer Kathy Dillow explained that the funds would be moved around within those offices but the bottom line would not be affected.

By Al Owens

Meeting in regular session last week the Lewis County Board of Education heard a presentation from Belinda Forman about plans for teacher professional development over the summer.

The training sessions begin on May 30 and are available on a variety of topics through August 2. One of the highlights of the schedule is an Administrators Retreat at the Middle School July 12-14. Topics on the summer’s agenda include Reading First, Science Alliance, Geography Alive, Math Cadre and Calculator Training. The teachers take professional development to learn how to better conduct these special learning programs.

Training will also be provided on technology by Jamie McKenzie from California, on LCHS Core Plus, Core Content roll out and 4-Square Writing.

Superintendent Maurice Reeder, Jr. said, “This is heavy duty professional development. It’s not Mickey Mouse stuff. This is big time heavy duty stuff.”

Reeder brought two large student portfolios with him to show the board members.

Forman explained that the portfolios are scored. The portfolios require a lot of hard work by both the students and teachers.

She explained that a portfolio rated “distinguished” means that the portfolio got a score in every area of study.

Diane Johnson told the board that the school district has received an HP Technology grant that provided $35,000 worth of equipment. That included five laptop tablet PCs, five projection devices, five digital cameras, five high-speed printers and some professional development for the teachers about driving safety and using the technology in that program.

She said that the district also got a Partnership Enhancement Project Grant through the Appalachian Math/Science Partnership, and that Lewis County will be working with Rowan County, Bath County and Carter County on a chemistry unit this summer. That grant was for $30,000.

Forman pointed out that in the second round of the technology grant the schools received they were able to purchase 21 workstations and laser printers for the high school.

Returning to the subject of portfolios Forman reported that since 2002 the district has made marked improvement in the portfolios across the board. This Spring of 2006 Garrison Elementary had a rating of proficient on all its portfolios as did Laurel and Tollesboro. 

Central Elementary had three distinguished portfolios and 71 rated as proficient. The Middle School had about 15 portfolios rated as distinguished, and the High School had five. Their novice portfolios were reduced to five and two. The rest of their portfolios were rated as proficient.

Forman reminded the board that they have retired teachers coming in to help with the portfolios, and that is paying off.

The board approved the summer meal program at Tollesboro, Garrison and Central Elementary Schools. The program provides free breakfasts and lunches for students aged 18 and under. The program runs from May 31 to June 23.

The board gave the code of conduct for the 2006-2007 school year a second reading and approved it.

The board also approved the tentative budget for the 2006-2007 year. This is the second look the board has had at the new budget, and it changed very little from the first budget effort. It includes a two percent salary increase for all employees both certified and classified plus the STEP increases. Extra funds were added to cover the increasing costs of fuel and energy.

The board approved the beverage marketing bid from Pepsi as opposed to the bid received from Coke. The contract is for five years. Pepsi had better prices for their products.

The board also approved an annual contract for student accident insurance with the Bob Roberts Insurance Company at a cost of $29,277.

A BG-1 for Phase II of the Tollesboro Elementary school addition and renovation project was approved. Phase I has just been completed. Phase II will see the construction of a new administrative wing in the front of the school plus replacing the windows with thermal windows, renovating some restrooms and perhaps replacing some doors. The project totals $1,120,000.

Related to the Phase II Tollesboro Elementary Project the board approved the owner/architect agreement. That is with Lucas/Schwering Architects, Lexington.

In order to expedite the procedures the board approved the schematic design for that project in advance. The design is subject to approval by the Kentucky Department of Education.

The board approved a BG-1 to replace two HVAC units and to replace a section of roof at Central Elementary at a cost of $85,000. That project must also be approved by the state.

The board approved the KEDC 2006-2007 Cooperative Membership. The program provides a technology retainer who will come in and do wiring or help with the technology. That membership costs $24,731.29.