MOUNT VERNON — Liz Springer received the Outstanding Teacher of the Month award at Wednesday’s meeting of the Governing Board of the Knox County Educational Service Center.
Springer started out as an itinerant preschool teacher with the ESC during the 1992-93 school year. She later worked for two years in an integrated classroom at the New Hope Early Childhood Center and, since 2003, has conducted a preschool class at Centerburg Elementary.
Linda Spurgeon, preschool consultant, said Springer creates a warm, inviting and stimulating environment for her pupils, and plans fun, exciting and purposeful learning activities. She said Springer also fosters a sense of community between the pupils, their parents and the staff and makes every child feel like he or she is special.
Kelly Hawkins, grant coordinator, was another guest at the meeting. She told the board about the 21st Century Grant awarded to the Knox County Alternative Center, and highlighted some of the after-school programs being funded by the grant, as well as educational field trips and career education activities.
The legislative update by board vice president Richard McLarnan touched upon recently enacted and proposed changes to the health care benefits provided to retired school employees through the State Teachers Retirement System. Discussion ensued as to the financial impact those changes may have on school districts.
In addition to approving routine fiscal reports and actions, the board accepted a grant from the Community Mental Health and Recovery Board to educate pregnant girls on the harmful effects of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Regarding personnel, the board approved salary schedules for the 2008-09 school year and renewed a number of administrative contracts. It also renewed the contract with Shawna Benson as an adaptive special education consultant for the 2008-09 school year, and hired Jennifer Highnam as preschool director effective July 15.
The board added to the substitute teacher and teacher assistant lists, and granted supplemental contracts to several employees for duties performed outside normal working hours. At the request of the Mount Vernon City Schools, the board employed Janice Giffin on a limited contract as speech pathologist, for two hours per day, retroactive to Feb. 22. The board also accepted a list of medical professionals approved to administer bus driver physical exams.
Before adjournment, the board changed the location and time of the April meeting. It will be held at the Red Fox Country Inn at 9 a.m. on April 9 and be immediately followed by a board work session. The board also changed the time of the May 14 meeting to 1 p.m.
