BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education highlighted student success and advanced several initiatives during its April 14 meeting, including renewal of elementary intervention teachers, progress toward forming a district police force, and approval of a student IT apprenticeship program.

Following student recognitions (see related stories in this edition), the board approved conference and vehicle requests, fundraisers and use of district property. District 1 Chairman Mickey McCoy remarked on the volume of requests.

“It’s actually another page and a half,” McCoy said. “Our kids are going places. They’re going all over the country. To me, that is so desperate in the education of a child—for them to get out and see how they relate to the rest of the country. I’m just so happy to see so many.”

Financials

The board approved $590,669 in paid warrants, which included $237,174.78 in items paid outside the board. Treasurer’s orders totaling $531,741.71 also received approval. Finance officer Ernest Hale reported that $359,782 went toward regular operations, $86,366 for construction costs, and $85,593 for bond payments.

RTIs renewed

Board members approved renewing contracts for three Response to Intervention (RTI) teachers for the 2025–26 school year—one at each elementary school. RTI specialists identify students who are struggling, provide targeted instructional support, and track progress.

Despite students missing two months of instruction due to weather, the interventionists reported significant growth. Schools Superintendent Larry James noted this would mark the third year of the RTI initiative.

“I think they’re making a difference in our grade schools,” James said.

Police force

In a continued effort to establish a district police force, the board approved the job description for a school resource officer. Last month, it approved a job description for a police chief.

“I’m just trying to get things in order,” said James, who noted he submitted the district’s application to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council. “It takes four to six weeks for approval. I’m just trying to get all of our policies and job descriptions in order so that when we get approval, we’re ready to roll.”

Maintenance truck

The board declared a 2009 Chevy two-wheel-drive maintenance truck as surplus property and authorized taking bids for its sale. It also approved the purchase of a new four-wheel-drive truck at state contract pricing, which James estimated at around $48,000.

District 3 board member Lorna Cassady inquired about the need for the truck. James said it would serve both the maintenance and transportation departments for hauling equipment and checking road conditions.

“The Chevy is 2-wheel drive and it’s about useless in the winter,” James explained. “This is a 4-wheel drive and it’s very much needed.”

KEDC, Dataseam

The BOE approved a cooperative membership agreement with the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation for support services.

Board members also approved a Dataseam district registered apprenticeship participation agreement, which the district’s technology director Roscoe Mullins outlined at McCoy’s request.

“It’s a fantastic program for kids,” Mullins said.

The program allows student apprentices to work 600 hours alongside certified systems technicians in a structured training environment. Students begin in September of their junior year and finish in May of their senior year. They also complete about 300 hours of online instruction through Dataseam.

“The district pays them $7.50 an hour for the first 200 hours, $8 an hour for the second 200 hours, and $8.50 an hour for the third 200 hours—so an average of $8 an hour for 600 hours,” Mullins said. “That gives us a part-time employee and gives a kid an excellent opportunity.”

He added that the district receives iMac computers through Dataseam in return.

“There isn’t a downside to it, really,” said Mullins. “It’s just getting kids to be involved in it. We could handle up to three—I would really like to do two—but we can handle three good candidates.”

The main challenge, he noted, is scheduling: many students are enrolled in dual-credit courses and would have to sacrifice a course each of the two years.

“That hurts their ranking in their class,” Mullins explained. “That’s kind of my sticking point, but we can generally work with whatever they’re available for. Hopefully, we will get some good candidates.”

He cited a former western Kentucky student who secured a $75,000-a-year job immediately after graduation thanks to the program.

“It depends on what [students] want to put into it,” he said.

James called the arrangement a “win-win,” given the equipment received, while McCoy added, “You sold me, Ross.”

Special services

The board approved a new contractual agreement for occupational therapy services. Special education director Dena James clarified that it would continue current telehealth services.

“If someone comes along who wants to be hired to do in-person services, we can terminate this contract at any time,” she said. “This just keeps our services going when our current contract ends.”

She noted that the position remains posted on the state’s job portal.

Board members also approved an agreement with state agencies for a community work transition program targeting juniors and seniors with individualized education program (IEP) plans. Dena James said district personnel take these students to community job sites to help them learn real-world employment skills.

“This is for students who plan to go into the workforce immediately after graduating high school,” she said. “They are not going to college or vocational trades and things like that.”

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 12 at 5 p.m