Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

Bell County Superintendent Yvonne Gilliam advised the Bell County School Board on issues involving the Bell County Day Treatment Center during a school board meeting earlier in the week.

Gilliam presented a report gathered by Tom Gambrel to the board, which possessed information from those in charge of sending students to the center from various surrounding counties. Gilliam stated the district is losing $125,000 this year alone on the center.

“It’s getting really hard to provide everything these schools need with money as tight as it is,” said Gilliam. “We are going to have to get really serious about trying to build some revenue.”

Gilliam and the board worry about the ability to continue funding the center. She said since she has been gone, some schools have started their own centers.

Gilliam also stated she does not believe the center will get the amount of students needed to be able to afford the center. She said the school only has two funding sources for the center.

“I told you all when I was interviewed…one of the things I’d like to do was rebuild the day treatment program,” said Gilliam. “I can’t believe that I’m setting here now just a few months later telling you that I don’t know if it’s salvageable.”

Gilliam did state she believes if the day treatment program ended, Knox County would pick it up. If that were to happen, the district would have to pay a driver to transport the children back and forth. Gilliam estimated the cost for the driver would be around $18,000 at the most.

If the day treatment program continued, the center would continue to receive students because of court ordered placements. Gilliam did not give a recommendation at the school board meeting, but advised the board they would need to make a decision by early 2013.

Other business taken care of during the meeting included:

*Approval of minutes from previous meeting;

*Approval for a shortened school day for a student;

*Approval of fundraising requests;

* Approval of out-of-state bus requests;

* New employees/resignations/personnel actions;

* Out-of-state professional development requests;

* Medical leave request;

* Attorney invoice;

* Payment of bills;

* Approval of non-resident student contracts;

* Superintendents report.

Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 208.