MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Educational Service Center is in a relatively good financial position right now, according to Treasurer Heather Darnold.
Speaking during Wednesday’s board meeting, Darnold said cost containment measures such as limiting purchase orders and realigning staff have been effective. She said that with the staff cuts, the ESC payroll is $9,500 less per pay.
On the other hand, she said, the federal Alternative Center Challenge grant, used to pay part of a teacher’s salary, has been reduced by nearly $4,000. General fund money will now have to cover that amount.
Regarding personnel, the board accepted the resignations of Alternative Center tutor Ina Marie Curtis, retroactively effective Aug. 20, and of teacher Cheryl Garvin. It employed Stephanie Travis as a classroom aide and offered several supplemental contracts to employees to teach KCeClasses. It also contracted with a number of other individuals, not directly employed by the KCESC, to teach additional KCeClasses. The board approved the substitute teacher and substitute teacher aide lists, contracted with Jill Williams for speech services for the 2010-11 school year, and hired Trena Leonard, via supplemental contract, for the weightlifting after school program. The following individuals were employed for the Alternative Center, and will be paid through 21st Century Grant funds: Lauren Downes, grant coordinator; Trena Leonard, counselor; and Daniel Shuman, as-needed short-term after school program instructor and time-out counselor.
In other action, the board approved a contract with Clear Fork Local Schools to provide a speech therapist for two days per week of speech services. Kelly Wilcox is the assigned speech therapist. The board approved Cheryl Groves as a special education aide to work with identified students from the Mount Healthy School District currently residing in Knox County. Linda Gibson was hired as a tutor for St. Vincent de Paul School and the board approved Sean Stevens as a bus driver for East Knox Local Schools, and John Doretich and Timothy Allerding as school bus drivers for Danville. It also authorized the implementation of several new and revised polices in order to comply with changes in state and federal regulations.
Prior to adjournment, the board went into executive session to discuss legal issues. No further action was taken.
