Whitley BOE ends corporal punishment

Corporal punishment is no more in the Whitley County school district.

During its regular monthly meeting Thursday, the Whitley County Board of Education updated its policy and procedures immediately removing corporal punishment as a disciplinary option in the school district.

Currently there is a bill pending in the Kentucky General Assembly, which would ban corporal punishment in all public schools.

Whitley County Superintendent John Siler noted that this is a punishment rarely used in the school district, and that the change is just school district trying to stay ahead of the curve.

“I don’t know that the middle school or high school has done this in years. Most of the elementary schools haven’t either,” Siler added.

The 2020-2021 school calendar was also a topic of discussion at Thursday’s meeting.

Director of Pupil Personnel Patrick Bowling said that the calendar committee has gotten back over 400 responses about next school year’s calendar, which will look a lot like the current calendar.

The committee is planning to keep a full week spring break, a two-day fall break, and a two-week Christmas break in the calendar, which should be ready for approval at next month’s board meeting.

In addition the board made several presentations Thursday, including:

• Presented Diana Stanley with the Community Partnership Award. Stanley is a school-based counselor at Whitley Central Intermediate School, who works for Cumberland River Behavioral Health. “Not only does she serve as our students’ counselor, she takes the role of liaison between families and health care professionals ensuring necessary medical care is rendered. In the spirit of going above and beyond, Diana has been known to drive families to doctor’s appointments. It is in these seemingly small details you see poignant evidence of genuine compassion, the kind of compassion that yields a lasting impact,” Principal Susan Brashear wrote in her nomination letter.
• Recognized WCHS student Lauren Matney, who finished in third place in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Women’s Wrestling tournament.
• Recognized Whitley East Elementary School student Buddy Moore, who won first place in the Daughters of the American Revolution Essay Contest.
• Recognized Whitley County High School Welding Team members Brent Howard, Kyle Kubat, Ryan Monhollen, Hagan Nicholson and Dakota Nicely, who recently competed in Grant County Welding Competition.

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  WCHS student Lauren Matney finished in third place in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Women’s Wrestling tournament.

  

  Whitley East Elementary School student Buddy Moore won first place in the Daughters of the American Revolution Essay Contest.

  
  

  

  The WCHS Welding Team recently competed in Grant County Welding Competition.

  

  Diana Stanley was presented with the Community Partnership Award.