Published: June 16, 2008 08:26 am      

Corbin school district changes lunch prices

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

Here’s two quick notices parents of Corbin school district students should know:

1. School breakfasts and lunches are increasing by 25 cents

2. Don’t worry about those school supply lists, from now on just bring a $20 check.

During Thursday’s meeting, Corbin school board members approved a slew of end-of-year business items, including personnel changes, annual policies and bids for construction work. Two of the items approved — concerning the school lunches and school supplies — will effect every student in the district.

The 25-cent increase for school meals was the first increase in 10 years, Superintendent Ed McNeel said, but the change in the school supply policy will likely save parents money. Instead of purchasing their own tissues, markers and glue sticks, parents will be asked to give $20 toward the schools’ purchase of student supplies. Parents who cannot afford the cost will be assisted by the Family Resource Center.

McNeel also shared with the board some good news about the new Corbin Primary School — the Kentucky Department of Transportation has agreed to provide $325,000 toward the construction of turning lanes for the new school.

That $325,000 is expected to cover the cost of the lanes, but if construction exceeds that, the district is responsible for the costs.

According to the contract received this week, the district would also be responsible for maintenance on the lanes. McNeel recommended that the board table signing the contract until July to see if that clause could be changed.

The $325,000 won’t address the dangerous intersection of Black Diamond and Fifth Street Road, and McNeel said he is still asking Gov. Steve Beshear to visit the site and help get state funds to add a stop-light intersection.

Though he hasn’t yet spoken to the governor, McNeel was hopeful, adding, “We have not been turned down, let’s put it that way.”

The district is also going to revisit its facilities plan, last discussed nearly three years ago. Board members voted Thursday to send several plan recommendations for approval by the Kentucky Department of Education, and to reconvene the district facilities committee.

The current facilities plan, approved by KDE in February 2006, called for the eventual closure of Corbin East, Central Primary and South Elementary. With Central and South remaining open, and more pressing needs for expansion at Corbin High School (due to continued growth in student enrollment) the plan will have to be revised. Growth projections show that Corbin High School will have more than 1,000 students in 2017, which, using a national median of 170-square-feet per student, will justify a 65,000-square-foot addition, McNeel said.

The current facilities plan calls only for a 13,625-square-foot addition.

Others announcements during Thursday’s meeting included:

• In July, volunteers from the Central Primary PTO will install playground equipment at Corbin Primary.

• Property was purchased adjacent to South Elementary to expand the school’s playground.

• Next month’s board meeting was moved to 7 p.m. July 22 at the new Corbin Primary.