BY KATLAN THOMERSON
On April 4, several educators, family members, and students filled the Central Office for Caverna Independent Schools for the Board of Education’s regularly scheduled meeting at 5 p.m. All five members of the Cave City Board of Education and Superintendent Amanda Abell were present.
Chairman Wayne Hatcher read the district’s vision statement and mission statement before calling the meeting to order.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer led by Abell, Hatcher opened the floor for public comment. A representative from MCS Lawn Care presented a letter from Erik Wrick, MCS Lawn Care Operation Manager, and two separate bids. One for treating the entire campus and one for treating the district’s sports fields.
During the superintendent’s report, Abell informed the board that Kentucky state testing begins May 9 and congratulated Caverna’s Winter Guard for placing fifth in their first competition at an event that occurred at Western Kentucky University on April 6.
After her report, she gave the floor to Tyler Richardson, Director of Student Services, who provided an update on a recent transportation review that happened on March 11.
“Our transportation review consisted of three parts. A physical inspection of busses, a review of bus folders, and a review of driver folders,” Richardson said.
According to Richardson, two buses were inspected; bus 701, which is a spare bus that isn’t used on a daily route, and bus 162 that is used as a daily route bus.
“During the physical inspections, there were some minor issues that were found that we to address before we operated those busses on a daily route again. On bus 162, the no child left behind alarm was not functioning properly. There were some loose seat bottoms on that bus. 701 had some loose seat bottoms. There was a gap in the seal at the rear exit door between the top of the frame and the rubber seal, but those were quick and easy to be fixed. We got them fixed and we were ready to go the next day. Other than that, there were no issues with the bus folders or the driver folders other than a new form that we needed to be using during inspections, but we got that, and we have them in rotation,” Richardson said.
Before Richardson took his seat, Hatcher spoke.
“I want to compliment how well the busses look visually. They’re clean, neat and well kept. They look good out on the road,” Hatcher said.
Abell next invited Billy Hampton, Director of Maintenance, to speak about Caverna’s facility maintenance.
“Before we get started, I want to brag on Billy. He does a phenomenal job. Every day he comes in early. He’ll come in on a Saturday to fix something if it’s need. He’s an extremely hard worker, he gets what we’re trying to do,” Abell said.
Hampton focused on five topics: Implementing a preventative maintenance program on Daikin units at the high school, switching their wax brand to buckeye wax, improving the district’s pest control standard, placing new LED lighting in classrooms at the elementary, and testing an elastic foam spray on the roof above the kitchen at the high school.
“Folks all I’m trying to do is be looking out for the district and do the best that I can and make sure that I do a good job for Mrs. Abell and Tyler Richardson,” Hampton said.
Following Hampton, Abell announced the student of the month certificates to the following students:
- Rayne Smith — Caverna Elementary
- Cooper Briggs — Caverna Middles School
- Ayviana Olsen — Caverna High School
- Athlete of the month — Preston Caummisar
Terry Smith, Caverna’s Family Resource and Youth Services Center Director; Dr. Bharat Mody, Children’s Day Founder; and Randy Burns, Children’s Day Vice President, presented awards to three students who demonstrate leadership skills and help make a difference in their school and community.
The recipients were:
- Elainna Barker — Caverna Elementary School
- Channing Burnett — Caverna Middle School
- Kadence Brown — Caverna High School
“Children’s Day has been going for 20 years now, I think, and the main reason is to help all of the students with school supplies, basic needs, backpacks, food. Over time, their needs changed. So then we started adding gas cards for the families and last year we started adding utilities in the case that they cannot get the funds from anywhere. Last year Terry asked us why is there a line? Why is there not anything for high school and middle school? So now, we also include the high school and middle school in our Children’s Day program,” Mody said.
Once the student awards were concluded, the board listened to student presentations. The first presentation was given by students Shaunta Green and Avyiana Olsen who discussed their recent accomplishments at the DCON Key Club Conference where they received an award for community service.
Students Shaunta Green and Avyiana Olsen discuss recent achievements made by the Key Club. Katlan Thomerson/Glasgow News 1
Following the Key Club presentation, students Sanya Belisle, Zach Ballard, Justin Colgate, and Kaylee Purlee discussed their submission for the Great Adaptive Kitchen STEM Challenge where they designed and printed a 3D cup for 17-year-old Jenson Day who has cerebral palsy.
Students Justin Colgate, Zach Ballard, Soyna Belisle and Kaylee Purlee, discuss their submission for a STEM project. Katlan Thomerson/Glasgow News 1
Before concluding the section for student presentations, Colgate showcased photos from his trip to England with the Center for Gifted Studies at WKU.
“Dr. Julia Roberts from the Center for Gifted Studies at WKU reached out to us and said that there was a young man who attend SCATS and we would for this young man to go with us on this trip. We will provide the scholarship.”
After thanking those who attended, Abell invited those who want to leave before the board moves to their business items for the night to do so, before moving to item five on the agenda.
The board then motioned to approve all of the consent items listed under agenda item number five.
Next, Whitney Paul, Director of Student Achievement discussed the district’s upcoming Professional Development Program.
“We have been working on the PD [Professional Development] plan for about two months. It was a process that started with me sending out a survey to all of the staff to see what professional learning that they wanted to partake in. After talking with them, working with some people at GRRECC, we developed a plan,” Paul said.
Before voting on item number 11, “Approve salary and stipend schedules for the 2024-2025 school year,” Abell said, “I think that I had already mentioned that this includes a 3% raise for our classified as well as our certified. Substitute salaries stay the same. ”
The board voted to approve the salary and stipend schedules; then proceed to approve items twelve through 15, including approving a new position and job description for Director of Human Resources.
Before adjourning, the board agreed to add a working session to their next meeting to further train the members on the finances.
Caverna Board of Education Meeting Agenda
April 11, 2024
- Approve agenda as prepared and presented
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Public Comment
- Superintendent’s report: Student/Staff Recognition/Student Presentations, Children’s Day Recognition
- Consent Items
-Board Minutes from March 14, 2024 meeting
-Orders of the Treasurer
-Finance Reports, Monthly Activity Funds, Lunchroom Accounts
-Bus Inspections
-Superintendent’s Travels
-Season Travel
-Grants
-School wide fundraisers/ fields trips
6. Approve blanket order for school year 2024-2025 to cover anticipated number of Emergency Substitute Certificates (CA-4 Educational Professional Standards Board).
7. Authorize Superintendent to utilize GRREC for bidding for the 2024-2025 school year: Instructional Supplies, Office Supplies and Equipment, Tires, Custodial Supplies, Yearbook and School Photographs.
8. Approve Campbell, Myers, and Rutledge to conduct yearly audit for year ending June 30, 2024.
9. Approve the 2024-2025 Caverna Independent Schools PD Plan.
10.Approve to renew contract with Fastech for the 2024-2025 school year as long as both parties are in agreement.
11. Approve salary and stipend schedules for the 2024-2025 school year.
12. Approve the continuation of the learning plan (Non-traditional instruction plan)
13. Approve renewal of Roberts insurance quote with AIG for student accident insurance.
14. Approve position and job description for Director of Human Resources
15. Adjournment
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