By HEATHER ONEYEditor

SALYERSVILLE - With less than a month until school is back in session, the Magoffin County School Board held a special-called meeting on Tuesday, July 12, discussing the upcoming school year.

Magoffin County Schools Superintendent Scott Helton updated the board, explaining that the new Magoffin County High School is currently being cleaned and furniture and teaching supplies will be moved in on July 25.

Helton said they are working on developing the bus schedule to incorporate the new school and the district will let parents know the changes once finalized.

He informed the board that several retirements have taken place at the district level and he said he is trying to combine and disburse some of the job duties without having to replace those positions. Helton said he is looking at trying to save $200,000, some of which will be able to go back to the schools.

The first day of school for students is slated for Thursday, August 11. Helton reminded the board that there are some changes within the school culture to keep in mind, noting that district-wide the sixth grade classes are moving to the middle school. With the high school relocating to the new school on the Parkway, the middle school will have a lot more room, occupying the old high school building (where they've been located since the 2012 tornado). The elementary schools will have to adjust to being Kindergarten through fifth grade, as well, he said.

"We're working so that we will be ready to hit the ground running come August 11," Helton said.

The board agreed to bid out for quotes of the cost of building a storage building at the Magoffin County High School Football Field for track equipment. Helton explained that the equipment that they purchased back in the spring is just sitting out, currently, and needs proper storage.

Helton made the board aware of the high school site base council's decision to abolish the carpentry teaching position and create

INSIDE: Summer feeding program locations listed on page A3! 50¢

VOL. 101, No. 28 Pages 18 UPS 944-240Thursday, July 14, 2016

Friday60% Chance Storms

87/67

Saturday40% Chance Rain

85/65

Sunday40% Chance Rain

89/66

ExtendedCoverage

Inside This WeekHIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALLMagoffin County football team returns to practice -B1

SalyersvilleIndependent

@Salyersvilleind

Henry "Butch" Williams

CONTRACT APPROVED FOR LIBRARY ARCHITECTBy HEATHER ONEYEditor

SALYERSVILLE - The Magoffin County Public Library (MCPL) Board met in regular session on Tuesday, July 12, accepting the contract with Summit Engineering for architectural services and selecting two candidates to be considered to fill one of the

two vacant positions on the board.Following last week's meeting, Summit

Engineering incorporated MCPL Board Attorney Michael Fox's requested changes to the standard contract, and per Fox's recommendation, the board approved the contract, and authorized the chairman to sign all documents pertaining to the contract.

Board members David May, Barb Patrick and Heather Ward reviewed the six applications

they have on file for the vacant trustee positions, selecting two applications to be sent to the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives for approval. Once the candidates are approved, the names will be sent to the Magoffin County Fiscal Court, and the Magoffin County judge executive will appoint the next board member.

SCHOOL BOARDSERVING THE COMMUNITY

BOE prepares for beginning of school year

Free meals for all kids through July 29By HEATHER ONEYEditor

Now through the end of the month children all over Magoffin can get a free meal Monday through Fri-day at several locations through-

out the county.Magoffin County Schools Food Service Di-

rector Andrew Oliver said this is the third year Magoffin has participated in the summer feed-ing program, though this is the first year they have been able to deploy a mobile unit to de-liver lunches to areas where the need is greater.

One year they tried to run buses to bring stu-dents to the school, though they were only able to run on main roads, often leaving out many of the children that could benefit the most from the program. This year they working toward bringing the food to the children, instead, Oli-ver said.

Through July 29, each week day the meals are prepared at Salyersville Grade School. Per the principal's request, a food services staff member is staying at the school to serve the children who are at the school, including camp members, teacher's kids, and extracurricular participators.

Two churches, Licking River Baptist and

Royalton United Baptist Church, pick up the meals at Salyersville Grade School, then take them back to their own locations to feed the children out in the community.

Mobile units set up at Allen Drive Apart-ments and College Heights Apartments for 30 minutes each day, Monday through Friday, to serve free lunches to all kids, as well.

"At first people didn't understand what we were doing, but they're welcoming the idea of it, now," Oliver said.

Per the state regulations of the program, the only requirement to receiving the free lunch is that the children must eat it at the site, unless there is a heat advisory or inclement weather. All children under 18 years old are eligible for a free meal, regardless of where they live, house-hold income, or otherwise.

"They don't have to live in Magoffin County," Oliver said. "They could be here just visiting a cousin or participating in a camp, but all kids will be served a free lunch."

Last year the summer feeding program served approximately 80 meals a day at three sites, and as of Tuesday, June 12, Oliver re-ported that roughly 150 to 180 meals are being served daily, currently.

Oliver said he hopes to add more mobile

See BOE| Page A3

See LIBRARY| Page A2

Project moving forward

See FOOD| Page A3

First Day for Students: August 11