The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS — The 2019-20 school year in Bath County will begin Aug. 14 and conclude on June 5.
During its regular February meeting Tuesday night in the library at Bath County High School, the Bath County School Board adopted the 2019-20 division calendar.
The calendar committee met on Jan. 24. After reviewing and discussing two drafts of the calendar, the committee reached accord on the proposed calendar and sent it to the school board for consideration.
The calendar includes the following dates:?First pupil day, Aug. 14; High school exams will remain before the winter break; Winter break, Dec. 23-Jan. 3 (10 days); Spring break, April 6-13 (six days); Last pupil day, June 5.
Five makeup days and two at-home teacher workdays are built into the calendar.
“Our recommendation is that you accept it,”?Superintendent Sue Hirsh suggested to the board.
The school board adopted the calender by a vote of 4-0.
During the focus on schools, BCHS/Mertz Career and Technical Center portion of the agenda Tuesday night, the school board was introduced to the “Aeolus Project,”?the latest endeavor from KidWind students.
Students provided a preview of the next generation project featuring student constructed electromagnetic (friction-less) bearings.
The project is encouraged and supported by faculty, but it is entirely student-led and driven.
“That is impressive,”?said school board member Roy Burns.
Students providing the presentation included Jake McComb, Matthew McCune, Tyler Thompson and Clay Sharp. Mertz instructor Joey Altizer is the KidWind coach.
“Get a patent,”?school board member Eddie Ryder added.
Aeolus?was the keeper of the wind in Greek mythology.
In other business Tuesday night, the school board:
— adopted history and science textbooks for grades 2-7;
— approved additional dual enrollment courses;
— accepted the resignation of Valley Elementary School teacher Karen Hollowell at the end of the current school year;
— appointed Charles Hise as a substitute bus driver;
— accepted the resignations of Hunter Brown, Robert Plecker and Mikayla Miller and authorized the superintendent to advertise and fill these vacant spring sports coaching positions;
— entertained comments from Mountain Grove resident Stephen Hiner, who addressed the board on budget concerns and suggested an executive summary of the budget “that people can understand.”
