Trimble County Board of Education Meets September 18, 2013

     The Trimble County Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting last Wednesday in the school’s administration building. Robert Arvin, an accountant with the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative Financial Services, introduced the final budget to board members to approve for the 2013-’14 school year. He explained the changes from the projected budget back in the spring were due to a decrease in the average daily attendance, which total around a 1.4 million dollar shortfall.  Arvin continued that there was an increase in funds in the general account totally almost a million dollars and that would be helpful. The annual budget for Trimble County Schools is around 12.6 million dollars.

     After board members voted unanimously to approve the budget, the conversation about student attendance took place. High School Principal Rachael Adams instructed board members that attendance at her school continues to be a problem. She added that she and many members of her staff and students have been trying to come up with solutions to help her students avoid multiple absences. Adams said there are many different reasons why high school students are missing school.

 “Some students,” Adams said, “are missing school because they are needed at home to care for a sick parent or grandparent. “

      Board members exchanged ideas about ways to reward students for not missing school and agreed that this would be a priority for them to tackle.

TCMS Football Raiders Demolish GCMS Wildcats

      It was a great day for football, last Thursday, when the Gallatin County Middle School Wildcats arrived in Bedford to challenge the Trimble County Middle School Raiders. Coming off their worst defeat in years last week against KCD (46-14), the Raiders were eager to get back on the field, protect their home turf, and put on a show for their parents, teachers, and fans.

     Kicking off for the Raiders was Brayden Luckett, who is gaining popularity for his deep kicks. The Raiders defense went directly to work at dismantling the Wildcats and sent their offense off the field after big tackles for losses by Keegan May, Nick McCutchen, and James Pipes. Stevie Swanger was back deep for the Raiders to receive the punt. Swanger returned the punt almost 20 yards before being brought down by the Wildcats.

     The Raiders offense took the field with Quarterback Cole Wright leading the team. Wright was able to move the ball down the field by handing off to running backs Stevie Swanger and Reese Poe. Swanger used a burst of speed to score the first touchdown of the game for the Raiders. Running back Joe Pollock ran up the middle for a two-point conversion making the score 8-0 with 3:15 left in the first quarter.  The next drive for the Wildcats was just as futile as the first. The Raiders defense smothered the Wildcats forcing them to punt again. Swanger was back deep for the Raiders to receive the punt. Zig-Zagging his way down the field, Swanger returned the punt for the second Raider touchdown of the day. Poe scored the 2-point conversion, making the score 16-0 with just 51 seconds left in the first quarter.

     The Raiders defense did not let up in the second quarter causing the Wildcats to go three and out again before punting the ball back to the Raiders. The Raiders moved the ball down the field with precision that set up a 15 yard run by Joe Pollock for another Raider touchdown. Swanger scored the 2-point conversion, making the score 24-0.

   The game went on with Swanger, Pollock, and Poe each scoring a touchdown apiece lifting the Raiders to 46-0 before the Wildcats were able to break free and run for a 60 yard touchdown toward the end of the game. The final score was 46-8.

   The Raiders next home game will be Thursday, September 26 at the Trimble County High School at 6PM against the Owen County Rebels. 

Click here to see Images from the game.

TCMS fumbles their way to a loss at Walton-Verona

     Last Tuesday, the Trimble County Middle School Football Raiders traveled north to Walton-Verona to take on the Bearcats. The Raiders were holding the Bearcats on first and second down, but gave up big third down yardage to allow the Bearcats to score a touchdown on their opening possession. The extra point try was no good for the Bearcats and the score was 6-0. The Bearcats kick-off after the score was fumbled by the Raiders which gave the ball right back to the Bearcats and a short field to work with. The Raiders defense played tough again on first and second down plays but allowed the Bearcats to move the ball down the field to take the lead of 12-0 before the Raiders offense was able to get one play in the game.

    After half-time, the Raiders offense was able to get into a rhythm and start moving the ball down the field. Quarterback Cole Wright connected with Nick McCutchen for a 32-yard pass, catch, and run. The next play, Reese Poe ran for a touchdown.  Unfortunately, the Raiders were not able to convert for extra points leaving the score at 12-6 with a quarter and a half remaining in the game. The Raiders defense was ready for action and forced the Bearcats offense off the field after four plays when they could not make a first down. Raiders Quarterback Wright was able to get back into action by completing another pass to McCutchen who ran for the 75-yard touchdown that tied the game early in the fourth quarter.  The Raiders were unable to convert for extra points, leaving the score all knotted up at 12 each. It took the Bearcats 4 minutes and 31 seconds to march their way down the field to score for their third time of the game. They could not score the extra point, leaving the score at 18-12. With 3 minutes and 13 seconds left in the game, the Bearcats kicked off to the Raiders who, once again, fumbled the kick-off return. Despite the Raiders great defensive efforts, the Bearcats went on to run out the clock and finish the game beating the Raiders 18-12. 

Photographs from the game.

Trimble County Schools Closer to Having New Athletic Facility

    The Trimble County Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday June 5. The board heard from David Eddy, a representative from the Family Resource Center. The Family Resource Center operates under the Kentucky Education Reform Act. Eddy says he helps families with children in grades Kindergarten through Grade 5, while Denise Hall assists students in the middle and high schools. Eddy explained his position within the district as,”30% social worker, 50% educator, and 20% everything else.” He said the main part of his job was to remove barriers for academic success for all students. Eddy said it is alarming how many families in Trimble County truly need assistance. He went on to explain many of the programs that the Family Resource Center offers local families with children enrolled in Trimble County schools. One of the programs includes the weekend backpack program that Eddy explained is to, “help eliminate weekend hunger.”  The backpack program feeds nearly 162 children per week.  In addition to helping the children, the Family Resource Center helps parents earn their GEDs and offers them referrals to help find employment.

     In other news, the board heard from Bob Haferman from K. Norman Berry Associates Architects from Louisville, KY about Phase II of the athletic grounds project. He informed that board that there were some minor changes but everything was going according to plans. He said that after reviewing the cost they are between $85-90 thousand higher than initially expected. Haferman added that contractors will have to pay approximately $75 for plans to bid on the project. Plans will be made available August 6, 2013. Contractors will have 21 days to review the plans and submit sealed bids by August 27. If everything continues to go as planned construction on the new athletic compound is set to begin on Monday, September 30.

     The next school board meeting will be held Wednesday June 19 at 5:30 in the Trimble County Board of Education building. 

Trimble County High School will Host Track and Field Meets in 2015

     On Wednesday, May 1, the Trimble County school board met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Bedford Elementary School. Eighth grade Science teacher Mrs. Teena Drake introduced part of her Student Energy Team to the board for a presentation on energy conservation. Students Kolton Starks, Daniella Tebib, Breanna Perry, Shelby Murray, Candice Neal, and Breanna Neal each informed board members about something specific they had learned throughout the year about saving energy. Board member Scott Burrows asked the students “Are you making changes at home?” The energy team members unanimously replied “Yes.”  Mrs. Drake likened the team to an energy police with manners. She pointed out how the team went around the school turning out lights in rooms that are not in use and how they politely remind other students to do the same. One student said the biggest lesson learned is to unplug electric cords to appliances that are not in use. The team will travel to Frankfort in June to receive an award on the state level.  

         In other business, the board approved the transfer of $746,508.59 from the General Fund to the Construction Fund for Phase II of the Athletics Project. Phase II of the Athletics project is to reconstruct the football field with a running Track around it as well as sand pits for Field events,  a new concession stand, bleachers for spectators, and many more much needed improvements.  If the construction goes as planned, the modernized facility will be ready for use before 2014-2015 school year begins that will allow the Track and Field team to host meets for the first time in school history as early as 2015.

     The board also agreed to approve the items on the consent agenda. The Boys’ Basketball team will be travelling to Transylvania University for a basketball camp from June 3 to June 5, 2013. Members of the Trimble County Middle School Beta club will be flying to Mobile, Alabama for the National Beta Convention June 15 through June 18. The board approved Bertke, Sparks, and Kremer as Auditors for the FY13 school year and named Roberts Insurance as the provider for Student Accident Insurance.  Balfour was awarded the bid to do the yearbooks for 2013-2014 school year and LifeTouch Portraits will be doing the student photographs.

    The next board meeting is scheduled for May 15, 2013 at 5:30 at the Trimble County School Administration Building. 

Pictured above (from Left to right) Mrs. Teena Drake, Kolton Starks, Daniella Tebib, Breanna Perry, Jaiden Beatty, Candace Neal, Shelby Murray, and Breanna Neal

Pictured above is the official drawing of Phase II of the Athletics Project at the Trimble County High School

Trimble County School Board Meeting

Trimble County Schools has approval to move forward

     The Trimble County School Board met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 3, 2013 at 5:30pm in the School Board office. Shortly after the meeting was called to order, the board approved the following individuals to serve the school as substitute teachers;  Johnathan Papal, Kathleen Adams, Lynette Barr, Catelyn Teague, and Autumn Chamness.

     In other business, the school board heard a report from Architect Bob Haferman of K. Norman Berry Associates & Architects, PLLC about the outdoor sporting facilities update at the Trimble County High School. Haferman informed the board that the Kentucky Department of Education has approved the plans for a running track around a new football field for the school’s Football and Track and Field teams. Board members have the daunting task of thinking about dates to begin the much-needed project and the different kinds of grass for the field. The board will be weighing the pros and cons of two unique start dates. Construction could begin as early as August, but the football team would not be able to host any games until next year, but the proposed project might be ready by March 2014, which would be in time to host some Track Meets. Starting the development toward the end of September would allow the football team to host a few games and continue the statewide tradition of Homecoming and Senior Night games. Different board members expressed deep concerns to accommodate everyone, but the consensus remained that it would be hard to please everyone.

     The board must reach a decision by May in order for them to move forward on the plans so they can release the architectural drawings of the facilities update to the public by June 15 to attract contractors to bid on the seven-month job by July 10.  Members of the board discussed travelling around to neighboring facilities to get some ideas about the different kinds of grass for the field. Board member Scott Burrows added that input from coaches and other athletic personnel would be important since they were the people who would be using the field.

 

     The next scheduled school board meeting is Tuesday, April 17, 2013 at 5:30 in the Trimble County school board office on Wentworth Ave in Bedford, KY.