The custodial staff at Cawood Elementary School is the winner of the inaugural award presented by Superintendent Brent Roark and the Harlan County Board of Education for the first round of school inspections.

Roark, who is in his first year as superintendent of the Harlan County School District, implemented an inspection program designed to recognize custodial staffs across the district for their hard work and dedication to providing a clean learning environment for students.

“When I started the job, one of the things I wanted to do is recognize our classified staff for the outstanding work that a lot of them do. I want to do it in a positive, proactive way to improve the cleanliness in our schools,” he said. “The winner of our first award was hands down Cawood Elementary. It was not even close. They were by far our cleanest school. They absolutely earned it.”

Accepting the award for Cawood Elementary were Victoria Brite, Georgina Perkins and Robert Blanton.

Evarts Elementary School placed second.

Three employees visited each school in the district scoring numerous areas such as the gymnasium, hallways, restrooms, school grounds and others. The inspections will occur each nine weeks.

Prior to the board meeting, Roark took the custodial staffs from Cawood and Evarts to lunch at his expense at a local restaurant. Board members Brenda Henson and Wallace Napier also attended. Those schools are in their districts.

Roark said he believes a cleaner learning environment will have a positive impact on student attendance as well.

In other action the board approved:

Payment of claims for the General Fund, Title I and School Food Services totaling $783,997.71;

The monthly financial report for October 2017;

Purchasing walk-in coolers and tables for School Food Services; and

Various trips for Gear Up, KPREP awards, school clubs and class field trips.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for November 20 at 6:30 p.m.