Published: July 09, 2008 10:33 am            

Clarksville school board honors donors

CLARKSVILLE — Before getting a new, more technologically efficient sign in front of Clarksville High School, Principal Tina Bennett was getting out on a ladder to post announcements each day.

But thanks to local residents and businesses, the high school is now able to keep pace with the technological revolution — and keep Bennett off the ladder.

“We are now disseminating a lot of information on a daily basis,” Bennett said.

“This is an information age and we need to utilize all aspects of that technology.”

Eight individuals — some with the help of the companies they work for and others simply out of their own pocket —donated $30,000 to construct a new LED, or light-emitting diode sign, to post announcements up to the second and change them with hardly a moment’s delay.

“It is a day of change. Technology is taking over and we’re glad we can keep up with that,” said Clarksville Superintendent Stephen Fisher, addressing the honorees. “It’s very hard for a school stuck between two larger school systems to get some attention, but you guys certainly did that.”

The donors were honored at the Clarksville Community Schools board meeting Tuesday, receiving hats that make them five-star generals of Clarksville High School and framed copies of the advertisement thanking them. And it doesn’t hurt that they also get free advertising for funding the sign.

In other business

• The Clarksville school system is in the midst of creating a 2009 budget, and House Bill 1001, commonly referred to as the property tax bill, is making it much more difficult than usual.

“Every superintendent in the state is worried about it right now,” Fisher said. “There’s not anybody in this county that knows what is going on.”

Fisher is hoping to create a group with all the other taxing units in Clark County in the hopes of coming together to form a comprehensive funding plan for county expenses. Though the school districts are the only taxing unit not required to have their budget approved by the Clark County Council, Fisher said the taxing units still need to operate in conjunction to avoid any shortfalls.

• Three school system teachers requested transfers at Monday’s meeting. Chrissy Faulkner will be transferring from a position as an English teacher at Clarksville High School to become a library media specialist. Faulkner is completing necessary educational requirements, and will begin in the new position this fall.

Stacy Sillings is transferring from special education to become an English teacher at Clarksville High School. She is also completing necessary education requirements and will begin the new position this fall.

Kacey Carlton is transferring from teaching special education at Clarksville Middle School to the same position at Clarksville High School.

        

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