1-25-12 —  Roger Keith will continue to be the middle and high school principal  

at Monticello Independent, following official notification from the  

commissioner of education.

    Monticello Superin-tendent Gary Abbott informed members of the board  

of education about the commissioner's decision during their monthly  

board meeting Monday evening, February 23. He noted that he had  

received a letter from the commissioner of education stating that  

Keith would be able to continue in his position as principal.

    Abbott also informed the board that the commissioner of education  

had selected Chad Davis to serve as the new assistant middle/high  

school principal. Davis is a native of Lincoln County and is  

currently serving as principal at Sturgis Elementary in Union County.  

He will assume his duties as assistant middle/high school principal  

on February 6.

    In other news, Abbott told board members that the new mission,  

vision and belief statements are now in place and are posted at  

various places on the school campus. The completion of this process  

takes care of Deficiency 1 on the school's leadership assessment report.

    In other action, the board:

    • heard a presentation on projects that students in Tonya Marcum's  

high school art classes have been working on this school year.

    • heard a presentation about a web based Accelerated Reader program.  

The program, Renaissance Place, is a web-based system, and would  

replace the current desktop system the school currently uses.

    • approved participation in a foreign exchange program that is being  

coordinated through Eastern Kentucky University. The program involves  

a partnership between Monticello Independent and a school in Hong  

Kong. Through this partnership, students from Hong Kong would come to  

Monticello and stay with host families and attend classes with local  

students. This is a short term exchange program and students would  

only be in Monticello for less than two weeks. The students are  

scheduled to be in Monticello the end of April.

    • heard academic updates.

    • accepted the KETS first offer of assistance.

    • accepted the School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC)  

offer of assistance.

    • approved the nutrition and physical activity report card.

    • approved two individuals as emergency substitute teachers for the  

remainder of the school year.

    • heard a personnel report.

    • was informed that February 3 is a make up day for snow.

    • entered into an executive session to discuss real estate. No  

action was taken.