MOUNT OLIVET — The Robertson County School Board approved a measure that will allow the district to apply for the use of non-traditional instructional days.
The action was approved during a regular meeting of the board of education Monday.
RCS Superintendent Sanford Holbrook said he was not a proponent of NTI days, but he understood the need for them.
“It’s just another tool to put in the toolbox,” he said. “I’m not a big fan of NTI days. I think us and Bracken County are probably the only two districts in the 20 that surround us that don’t have them. Some districts have been hit hard with sickness and weather. It just gives you a chance, if you did get a bad year of sickness or weather, you can use some of these to keep from going into June.”
According to Holbrook, if the district gets approved for NTI days, students would be given packets to take home.
“It’s mixed emotions for me,” he said. “I know why we need it, but do I really want to use it that much? No, I don’t really want to use 10 NTI days. Because then it goes back to 10 days they’re not here, there’s no meals, but do I want my kids going to school in June? No.”
Director of Pupil Personnel Holly Linville said Holbrook would have discretion on whether or not to use NTI days when school is called off.
“When Mr. Holbrook calls a day, you have discretion at that point,” she said. “So you don’t have to say the first 10 days off are NTI days. We don’t have to decide up front when to use them.”
Holbrook said so far this school year, the district has missed three days; one for weather and two for sickness. President’s Day was used as a makeup day and the other two days were dropped from the calendar.
“We’re even right now,” he said.
Linville said she will submit the application to apply for the NTI day use.
During the meeting, Holbrook also said the district could possibly received a Tenco Workforce grant again this year. Last year, the grant totaled $73,000 and put 25 youth to work in the county.
Holbrook said the decision is not final, but he does believe the district will receive the grant again this year.
“It’s not final yet, but once we get it finalized, we’ll be going out,” he said. “We’re looking at 40 to 50 kids this year.”
Holbrook said the grant would also allow the district to pay $8 per hour this year instead of the $7.25 that was paid last year.
Other items discussed during the meeting included:
— Approving the contract with Denise Keene to continue as the district auditor.
— Approving fundraisers.
— Approving MOA with MCTC.
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