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Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

At the beginning of the Bell County School Board meeting, the board once again elected Kenneth Sams as the board chairman. The board also elected Dean Knuckles as the vice-chairman. The school board meetings will now take place at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month.

Non-resident student contracts were also discussed. The board approved student contracts from Harlan Independent and Whitley County schools. Both contracts are any-and-all contracts.

Director of Pupil Personnel Chris Warren explained Harlan Independent will accept any student from Bell County and Bell County will accept any student from Harlan Independent. The school will receive full funding for the student received in their respective schools. The same applies for the agreement between Bell County and Whitley County schools.

Warren stated the school typically receives less than five students from Harlan Independent, but receives a good amount from Whitley County.

“The law states if we have one student (from a different district enter our school), we have to have a contract in place,” said Warren.

The board did not receive a contract offer from Harlan County schools during the meeting. The contracts with Pineville schools were not addressed during the meeting.

The initial contract offered to the Pineville Independent School District was a one-to-one contract, which would mean the districts would exchange students simply on a one-to-one or an equal number basis.

The offer was declined by the Pineville board. Pineville school had originally offered an any-and-all contract, which had been in place between the two schools for approximately eight years according to earlier reports from Pineville Superintendent Terry Hayes. That offer was denied.

Both sides stated they would be willing to work with the other to find a solution to the stalemate.

Anthony Cloud can be reached via email at acloud@civitasmedia.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 208.