Barren County school board received construction update, revise school calendar

By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1

Though the monthly meeting was spotlighted by Superintendent Bo Matthews’ announcement of retirement, the Barren County Schools Board of Education members also discussed the ongoing construction, and future construction, at the Trojan Trail campus.

The meeting, which was roughly an-hour-and-a-half long, was well attended with the numerous department heads, various school personnel as well as Alliance Corporation Board Chair Tommy Gumm and President of RBS Design Group Craig Thomas who both treated the board members to an update on the Barren County Renovation Project.

Gumm began by providing an update regarding the baseball press box. Though he said they did encounter “a few elevation issues” the project was proceeding on schedule with paneling on site and some are on the building. Gumm said their sights were beginning to turn to the interior of the structure with things like the stairs and permanent windows, which are likely to arrive and be installed over spring break.

Next, Gumm discussed the elevator that the school is installing in the high school gymnasium. Matthews said the elevator would likely be finished in the coming weeks but definitely before graduation.

The new gym chairs, which is the reason the school is giving away the current chairs, are set to arrive in March, Gumm said.

While the chairs and carpet is removed from the auditorium, the school took the opportunity to repaint the auditorium with a pale, bright yellow. Gumm said the seating and carpet should be installed in the next few weeks.

“All-in-all it’s coming along pretty good,” Gumm said. “I know we have some things that we’re going to try to do over the spring break and come summer we’re going to be very, very busy in several different areas of the [campus],” Gumm said.

In the vein of construction, Gumm also asked for the board member’s approval on construction drawings of the access road, which seeks to mitigate the heavy traffic flow during the morning and afternoon on Trojan Trail.

“You know if you have children,” Matthews said. “If you drive down Trojan Trail between 7:40- 8:15 or between 2:45-3:30 it’s gridlock, and we have tried numerous ways to improve our traffic flow and there are safety concerns. We know parents are frustrated…we are really working on something that’s going to make an impact for everyone for years to come.”

As it stands currently the road is to be a two lane road that will begin at the church on Trojan Trail and run behind the middle and high schools before looping back to connect with the road “between the baseball and football” fields. Though the access road has the potential to connect to Hwy. 249.

“There’s a great vision to that,” Matthews said. “This addresses a multitude of issues.”

Matthews said the name of the road will tentatively be named Bailey Way after Betty Bailey, who ” worked out an agreement to sell the property that joins [the schools] then made a donation to [the] educational foundation.”

“It’s going to be a real added benefit for us,” Matthews said.

After the construction updates came a revision of the 2023-2024 school calendar. Anthony Frazier, director of pupil personnel, asked the board members to approve a revised school calendar that was needed to make up the snow day the district called in January making the last day for students May 17.

“What we’re proposing is just adding that snow day to the end of the school year,” Anthony Fraiser said. “Which works out nicely at the high school making their last day May 17 and they can decide whether to have a Friday or Saturday graduation.”

Joey Bunch, director of transportation, also informed those present that the district had two new buses on routes with the remaining new buses to come this week.

All agenda items were unanimously approved by the board meeting. The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Mar. 14.