MOUNT VERNON — Festive napkin folds and fancy vegetables were featured at Thursday’s meeting of the Knox County Career Center Board of Education. Students in the Hospitality and Facilities Care program had previously transformed the boardroom into Narnia with snow-covered Christmas trees and snowmen strategically placed around the room.
Two HFC students, Sierra Smith and Angelita Conkel, then demonstrated how to fold cloth napkins into a festive fan shape and a classic restaurant diamond fold. Kyle Olson of the Chef & Catering program sliced up vegetables to create a cucumber fan, a carrot triangle and a tomato rose.
A quartet of Teacher Academy students also addressed the board, discussing their experiences in area classrooms.
The board subsequently approved a Teacher Academy field trip to the International Future Educators Conference in Atlanta in February, and voted to provide one-third of the funds needed for the trip. Fundraisers and student contributions will cover the rest of the costs.
Regarding personnel, the board approved an extra-service stipend for Kim Giles to serve as the mentor for new teachers, a position required by law. It also approved instructors for short-term adult programs, pending adequate enrollment and completion of all requirements.
In addition to approving routine fiscal actions, the board renewed membership in the Ohio School Boards Association and its Legal Assistance Fund. It also accepted the donation of a circular saw from Mike Wilson to the Building Trades program and a $1,200 donation from CenturyLink to be used for a SMART Board for the social studies department.
The 2011 budget hearing and organizational meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 with the regular January meeting immediately following. Richard McLarnan will chair the organizational meeting until a new president is elected.
