McCoy joins district planning committee, Middle School will get softball team
“I would like to get it out to the public that when they buy a car, they should license it here because [our motor vehicle tax] is the lowest.” –Mickey McCoy, BOE member
BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education met Monday evening. The first topic of discussion was the motor vehicle tax rate for Martin County. The board sets this rate, which is currently 22.3 cents per $100, the lowest rate in Kentucky.
“I recommend we keep it the lowest in the whole state,” Superintendent Larry James said with a chuckle. “We’re at least No. 1 in something.”
Board member Mickey McCoy announced that he was not in favor of raising the tax from its current rate.
“But I would like to get it out to the public that when they buy a car, they should license it here because it is the lowest,” McCoy said. “License it here in the county because you will pay less.”
The board unanimously voted to keep the Motor Vehicle tax rate unchanged.
The board went on to approve a memorandum of agreement with Morehead State University to establish and accept a set of dual credit courses at Martin County High School.
Another memorandum of agreement was approved for behavioral health services from Mountain Comprehensive Care. The BOE is only required to provide spaces for the services to be provided.
The board accepted a third memorandum with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Education, and Labor Cabinet. The memorandum will establish a program in which students with disabilities receive additional programming throughout high school to build skills needed to enter the workforce.
The Board also approved a Work Ethics program at the high school to improve student focus and motivation when completing tasks.
Due to recent policy changes, the District Planning committee is now required to have a member of the BOE on the committee. Mickey McCoy volunteered to join the committee and the board approved the new list of committee members.
Martin County Middle School will be getting a softball team. The board approved creating the position for a softball coach and established their salary to be the same as the baseball coach. According to Superintendent James, the only factor preventing a softball team in the past was a lack of interest.
Emergency funds were allocated last year for Inez Elementary. While plans are being made, treasurer Ernest Hale pointed out that they should not leave the funds in low-interest-bearing accounts. Hale proposed setting a special board meeting to approve the best bid for a fixed-rate investment of the funds to maximize interest earned. The BOE approved advertising for bids through U.S. Bank.
Superintendent Larry James announced that the school district and the sheriff’s department have been unable to find a single Student Resource Officer to be stationed at any of the five schools in the county. As of Aug. 1, each school district was required to have one law enforcement officer stationed at each school.
“We’re gonna do everything we can to make sure our schools are locked up and secure,” said James. “And hopefully we’ll be able to attract an SRO or several SROs.”
Cutine
The Martin County BOE met Monday at the central office. Pictured l-r: board secretary Dena James, BOE member Mickey McCoy, BOE member Steven Gauze, Schools Superintendent Larry James, BOE member Lorna Cassady, BOE member Bowie Clark and BOE member/chairperson Kathleen Price.