By Dennis Brown

The Lewis County Board of Education received some technology lessons during a regular meeting of the board last week.

Tiffaney Lavoie, an instructional technology consultant with the Kentucky Education Development Corporation, told board members she has been to Lewis County several times over the past year providing teachers with training in utilizing the latest technology in their classrooms.

Lavoie told board members they had made a great investment in the district with the purchase of smart boards, projectors and computers. “This isn’t much use if the teachers don’t utilize it,” she said.

“Technology is an integral part of the classroom today,” Lavoie said.

She gave board members an example utilizing an interactive slate with a computer and projector. She also demonstrated an interactive poll by asking board members to use their cell phones to text a response. The results were immediately displayed on the screen.

Lavoie explained some differences in the use of technology in high school versus elementary school settings and added the importance of training for teachers and helping them to become comfortable with utilizing the features of the hardware in classrooms.

She said she has seen improvement across the district in the use of classroom technology during her time here and stressed the use of technology already understood by students, such as with smartphones.

She said Lewis County has set long term goals and a school-by-school approach in implementing technology. She added that upgrading hardware and keeping up with the latest trends in software will ensure the continued success of the program in the district.

District Technology Coordinator Greg McCane updated board members on the technology hardware inventory for the district.

McCane said there are 950 computers in the district with 675 of those dedicated for student use. That averages about 3.5 students per computer, he said.

He reviewed the numbers of interactive white boards, projectors, document cameras, wireless slates and student response systems in the schools and described the computer labs and mobile wireless computer labs available to students.

McCane also reviewed the technology plan update for board members. He said having the plan in place makes the district

eligible for federal funding to assist with the costs of data and phone lines at the schools.

Board members approved the plan update.

McCane also updated board members on Infinite Campus which would allow parents to follow the progress of students through an Internet connection.

The program was described as an electronic version of the grade book and work is ongoing to get the parent portal online by the end of the school year.

“I’d like to brag on Greg and his team,” Superintendent Maurice Reeder Jr. told board members. “They do a great job.”

Board members heard staff reports from LCHS Principal Gigi Mauney and Tiffany Felty, a vocational education teacher.

Instructional Supervisor Jennie Enix reported that the LCHS Marching Band and Color Guard had recently competed at the state level and received a proficient rating, ranking 15^th statewide, she said.

Reeder suggested conducting the December meeting of the board at the LCHS auditorium to recognize the band and color guard for their accomplishments. Enix said a video of the band’s performance will be shown at the meeting and band members will be invited to perform.

Board members approved field trips for FBLA to attend a leadership workshop in Morehead and a trip to Lacomedia in Dayton, Ohio, for foster grandparents.

Reeder reported the certified resignations of Angela McCall as a teacher at LCHS and Renee Ralston as a teacher at LCMS.

He also reported:

Certified sub hires - Candy Noble and Deborah Weddington as teachers.

Classified sub hires - Johnna Duzan as a bus driver, Carolyn Doyle as a custodian, Brenda Orcutt, Maria Conley, Sheila Polley, Lyn Oldaker, Michelle Teegarden, Joni Shumaker, Tina Sauley, Billie Parson and Marsha Scott as cooks.

Extended school services hires at TES - Linda Breeze, Susie Osborne, Tammy Ginn and Debbie Boling.

21^st Century hires at TES – Linda Breeze, Shelly Crawford, Judy Cosper and Carol Cunningham.

Board members approved the treasurer’s report and payment of bills before adjourning.

Meeting in regular session last week, Lewis County Fiscal Court declined to accept an offer from the state to accept ownership of Ky. Rt. 3309.

 “I don’t believe we have the economic means to maintain additional roadways and suggest we don’t do this,” Judge Executive Steve Applegate told magistrates.

The state has been offering roadways to local jurisdictions allowing the state fewer miles of roadways to maintain. The City of Vanceburg recently accepted ownership of Ky. Rt. 2525 which includes portions of Main and Second Streets.

Magistrates authorized Applegate to sign an agreement with the Department of Transportation to resurface Trinity Station Road, pending a review by the county attorney. The state’s estimated cost of the project will be $217,500.

Magistrates accepted the apparent low bid for piling projects on various roadways including Toller Hollow, Cabin Creek, Crooked Creek, Kinniconick and Dunbar Road.

E&E Construction submitted a total bid of $111,810 for the projects. The only other bidder for the work was Kingcrete Drilling of Beattyville. That bid totaled $152,235.

Magistrates adopted a resolution to transfer ownership of a portion of Fuller Branch Road to People’s Self-Help Housing. Applegate said a new roadway has been constructed and the new roadway right-of-way will be transferred to the county.

Magistrates gave their approval of several appointments to various boards including Dee Potter and Geraldine Fields to the Lewis County Cooperative Extension Council; Granger T. Liles to the Garrison, Ky-O-Heights Water District Board; Douglas Hamlin to the Lewis County Planning Commission; and Terry Thomas as Commissioner to the Western Lewis Rectorville Water and Gas District.

Magistrates also acknowledged the receipt of the annual budget for the Rattlesnake Ridge Water District.

Applegate announced the state recently awarded $217,500 to the county to resurface Trinity Station Road and recognized the attendance of incoming officials Thomas Massie and Johnny Bivens at the meeting.

Massie will be Lewis County Judge Executive and Bivens will be Lewis County Sheriff. They will assume their duties on January 3, 2011.

As officials were presenting their monthly reports to magistrates, E-911 Director Carl Chaney announced that dispatcher Patty Beth Moore had recently completed training and passed an exam in Richmond. He said Moore is newest certified dispatcher working at the local dispatch center.

Jailer Tim Underwood also addressed magistrates. Underwood had earlier presented letters to Applegate and the magistrates outlining his concerns about the jail budget.

Underwood said state law mandates that no more than 65 percent of the fiscal budget for the jail may be expended before December 31. The law applies to county officials who will be leaving office at the end of the year.

Underwood said the budget for fiscal 2010-2011 is $829,400. That amount, he said, is only $7,000 more than that budgeted for the previous fiscal year which was nearly $180,000 short.

He stated in a letter to officials that although the jail is on a current track to spend the allotted amount, he is concerned that just one emergency issue could run the amount over budget.

Underwood said during the meeting if he had talked with County Treasurer Kathy Dillow before composing the letter, his concerns would have been eased.

Underwood said he understood the fiscal court would pursue all avenues available to ensure there is adequate funding in place to operate the jail within the required financial constraints.

Underwood said he has cut unnecessary expenses at the facility, is closely monitoring utility usage and has adjusted schedules to have the minimum number of deputies on duty allowed by law.

He added that he is keeping an eye on daily food purchases and has even canceled contracts for a water cooler and rug service.

“I am giving $14,000 to the general fund from the jail’s commissary fund to help offset medical expenses with the understanding that this $14,000 will be budgeted by amendment today to the jail budget to help with operating expenses,” he said.

Magistrates approved the budget amendment.

Underwood told magistrates the jail underwent a recent inspection and received a good report. He added the incoming jailer, Chris McCane, was on hand during the inspection.

Underwood said McCane has been making regular visits to the facility since the May Primary and has been spending a lot of time reviewing policies and procedures at the jail.

“We have already implemented some of the new policies he has recommended,” Underwood said. “He’s looking for ways to reduce expenses and will be attending new jailers training in December,” he added.

“I believe he will do for the jail what Bill Lewis has done for the sheriff’s office,” Underwood said of McCane. “He’s doing a great job.”

He said McCane’s training and experience will be an asset to the county when he takes over the facility in January.

Underwood also noted the Rough Riders Saddle Club at Garrison had recently hosted a successful event at their new facility. “They are great for the community and promote family oriented activities,” he said.

Magistrates approved the payment of bills and fund transfers before adjourning.