MOUNT VERNON — Both high school and adult cosmetology programs were featured Thursday during the Knox County Career Center’s school board regular meeting, which followed an executive session that started at 6 p.m.
Using visual aids, junior class instructor Becky Worby and junior student Katie Frye discussed the junior lab, and seniors Keara Van Dyke and Jamie Moxley assisted their instructor Sherry Curry in presenting information about the senior lab activities. Starcy Kight, adult cosmetology instructor, also addressed the board. Because hands-on experience is an integral part of the program, each of the labs has salon hours open to the public. Senior lab salon hours are Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The junior lab salon, opening the first full week in March, will be from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The adult lab salon hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Regarding personnel, the board voted on a resolution to rescind its December resolution to provide extra stipends to teachers maintaining a certain number of students in their labs. The staff association had asked the board to reverse its previous decision to offer $500 stipends to those instructors with 22 or more students enrolled at the end of the school year. The union believes not every teacher has an equal opportunity to qualify for the stipend. Since board member Jody Goetzman was absent, the vote on the measure was a tie. Paula Barone, Margie Bennett and Ruby Miller voted to rescind the stipend, and Ken Boeshart, Richard McLarnan and Mary Jean Theaker voted to keep it. The motion to rescind therefore died.
The board also approved five extended days for pre-professional mentorship instructor Kelly Hawkins, employed Sierra Smith as a student cafeteria worker and employed several students as summer maintenance and/or grounds workers at $8.50 per hour, effective May 1.
Concerning adult education, the board approved a collaboration with the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County in providing free computer classes through the Connect Ohio initiative. Adult education director Jane Marlow said KCCC will receive funds for the necessary computers and will serve as another location for the free classes, which are open to everyone.
The board added Making Taxes Less Taxing to the short-term adult class list, amended the student leave of absence policies to reflect changes in the Ohio Nursing Program Administrative Rules and approved the adult education massage therapy calendar for the 2012-13 school year. It also accepted the donation of medication handbooks from Dr. Brent Nimeth for the medical assisting program.
In addition to approving routine fiscal actions, the board accepted the following donations: A Goosen Bale Chopper to the horticulture program from Prescription Turfe Care; $100 to the automotive technology student activity fund from an anonymous donor; $50 to the Business & Finance Academy from The Community Foundation of Mount Vernon and Knox County; $93.98 to the financial assistance fund from the Altrusa Club; $425.50 to the Mildred Bennett Fund; and $75 to the Ray Richardson Children’s Garden from the family of Randy McLarnan. The board also gave approval to proceed with plans to expand the library and early childhood education classrooms. That work will be a summer project, with contingency plans in place in the event work has to continue after school resumes in the fall.
Other actions taken by the board included the approval of day school field trips and the 2012-13 day school calendar. The board also moved its May meeting to Wednesday, May 16, 7 p.m.
Prior to adjournment, engineering drafting instructor Steve Jefferson addressed the board. He presented the board with material, including letters from industry leaders, which refute what he feels is some apparently inaccurate information disseminated to the board in the past few months.
