The Lewis County Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lewis County Middle School Auditorium located on Park Avenue South. With the exception of Chair Glenda Atkinson, all members were present, Vice-Chair Johnny Clayton, Derek Cotham, Cassie Couch, Paula Dyer, Blake Farr, Lindsey Himes, Jackie Holt, and Phyllis Townsend.

The invocation was given by Mr. Holt. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Townsend.

Upon motion by Mr. Farr and seconded by Ms. Couch, the Consent Agenda was approved:

Approved minutes of the January 12, 2021 regular scheduled board meeting.

Adopted agenda.

Director Benny Pace reported the following:

Approved leave of absence of Carson Tanner, LCES teacher, effective February 15, 2021 to May 21, 2021.

Accepted the resignation of Penny Thompson, Full-time LCHS custodian, effective January 7, 2021.

Approved revised leave of absence of Mary Ellen Boyd, LCES Paraprofessional, effective November 5, 2020 to January 29, 2021.

Approved revised leave of absence of Melissa Hill, LCHS Paraprofessional, effective January 6, 2021 to February 12, 2021.

Employed Samantha Tiller, LCIS Paraprofessional, effective January 29, 2021.

Director Pace informed the board members that the high school gym roof and the repairs to the gym floor have been completed. He stated that he met with Tim Little, OLG Engineering representative, last week and checked out the valley of the roof joining the breezeway and the signs of leakage. If the leak is occurring on the old roof side where the two roofs join, then the school would be responsible for these repairs. He stated that the contractors will be sending someone to check the roofs and that he will keep them posted on the progress being made. Once this issue is resolved then the school will pay OLG the $258,000 that is owed to them.

Director Pace asked Coordinated School Health Director Sasha Powers to present the COVID updates. Ms. Powers informed board members that as of today there were 6 positive cases in the school system. No staff or teachers are included in these positive cases. There are 22 systemwide that are in quarantine. There are no teachers or staff included in the ones that are quarantined. Ms. Powers further stated that she does have a list of school personnel that are interested in the COVID vaccine. She stated that Lewis County is not opened yet to receive the vaccines for teachers. She stated that there were a couple of the staff that have gone to another county and received the COVID vaccine. She further explained that there is no definite assurance that once you receive the vaccine that your quarantine procedure might change. At the current time, if you are in contact with someone that has tested positive and you have received the vaccine, then you still must be quarantined. Mr. Pace told board members that there is COVID information included in their packets.

Director Pace informed board members that he had received an email from USDA indicating that the pre-application had been approved for the loan to build the new high school. He stated that the next step would be the application process and that Hewlett Spencer Group has already been working closely with the Engineers and Architects to fulfill the requirements of the USDA. He stated that he will be meeting with the USDA and Hewlett Spencer group next week to get a better estimated cost of building the new school. He stated that if the cost comes in more than what we can finance, then the board would have to come back to the table. He further stated if the cost s more than the 25 million that has been projected, then he would not feel comfortable moving forward unless USDA tells him that the interest rate has been lowered and the payment less. The projected payment for 25 million will be approximately $570,000 per year. He stated that the school has been able to save more than that each year to put into Capital projects and that will be the money that will be making the payment. Mr. Pace stated that there will be a $9,000 fee for the architects to complete the process. He stated that he would keep the board updated after the meeting next week.

Mr. Pace informed members that bids were opened on Tuesday, February 2nd for the replacement of the Intermediate School Windows. There was only one bid submitted and that was from Lawrenceburg Glass. Their bid was in the amount of $319,000. He stated that the work will be able to be completed during the summer break while there are no students in the building.

New Business included: a) Approval for the replacement of the Intermediate School windows

Upon motion by Mr. Farr and seconded by Ms. Couch, the approval to replace the Intermediate School Windows by Lawrenceburg Glass, was carried and approved.

b) Board Policies

Upon motion by Mrs. Townsend and seconded by Mr. Cotham, to vote on all 7 board policies under one vote. The motion was carried and approved.

Upon motion by Mr. Cotham and seconded by Mr. Farr to approve all 7 board policies as presented, the motion was carried and approved. The policies included Policy 1.901 - Charter School Applications, Policy 4.400 - Textbooks and Instructional Materials, Policy 6.303 - Interrogations and Searches, Policy 6.402 - Physical Examinations and Immunizations, Policy 6.405 – Medicines, POLICY 5.302- sick leave, and Policy 6.500- Special Education Students.

Vice-Chair Clayton announced that the next regular scheduled meeting will be March 9, 2021. He reminded everyone to keep Chair Glenda Atkinson in their prayers for her recent surgery. He also asked everyone to keep Deb Willis’s family in your thoughts and prayers for the recent death of her mother. Vice-Chair Clayton asked board members if they would prefer to move the board meetings back to the board room instead of meeting in the Middle School Auditorium. All members agreed to move the board meetings back to the board room.

Upon motion by Mrs. Townsend and seconded by Mr. Holt, the meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.