Schematic plans for the long awaited Wallins Elementary School renovations were presented by Summit Architectural Business team leader Scott Noel during a Harlan County School District board meeting on Thursday.

Noel said the project will replace the oldest portion of the building, which opened in 1945. Once the new addition is completed, the oldest portion will be razed to make a loop for student pick up and parking.

Noel said some preservation work will take place to “ensure the history of Wallins is carried forward.”

Noel said the new addition will total 18,000 square feet, featuring 11 classrooms, a music room, restrooms, administrative suite, Family Resource and Youth Service Center, guidance office, security vestibule, staff offices, first aid/nurse facility and a protective area to store records.

The board motioned to accept the company’s schematic plan and submission of a BG-1 to the state. It is projected that the selling of bonds for the project will take place in January, with construction beginning in March.

Meetings will be held in Wallins to allow students, parents and taxpayers to see the plans for the new addition.

The board also approved a motion to provide Section 7 funds for school supplies.

“The board felt is was in the best interest of the families we serve to alleviate as much financial burden as possible associated with the purchase of individual student school supplies,” said Superintendent Brent Roark.

“We realize that some of the school supply lists, especially for younger students, have traditionally been extensive and costly. In light of recent — in numerous cases long-term — financial hardships facing so many of our families, the board voted to give each school an additional per pupil allocation of funds, which is specifically earmarked for student classroom supplies.”

The board usually allocates $100 per pupil to each school for instructional supplies. Instructional supplies can be used for any instructional purpose, but normally are not used to meet individual student needs for the classroom. The additional per pupil allocation will be $10 per elementary student and $5 per high school student.

“The allocation must be used to purchase supplies normally included on student supply lists,” Roark said. “By making supply purchases in bulk, we can make the funds go much farther than parents spending $40 to $50 individually for supplies.”

Roark said teachers will be asked to compile supply wish lists for their principals to compile a summary of those requested. An order will then be compiled based on each school and then created. Supplies will be distributed to classrooms before opening day of the 2019-20 school year.

Roark encouraged principals to “ask your teachers to be mindful in creating their supply lists of the financial hardships facing so many of our families.”

The district is also receiving donations of 43,000 pencils from Save the Children, an organization new to the Harlan County School District this year. With the additional funding, Section 7 will provide $1,300 for the 130 students at Green Hill Elementary School and up to $9,850 for students at Harlan County High School. The allotment for all schools total is $37,200.

In other board activity:

• A motion was made to accept the previous minutes from the regular meeting held June 5 and special meeting held June 25. Both motions were passed;

• The board heard updates on renovations taking place at various schools in the district, including light fixtures at Cumberland Elementary School and a new gym floor at Evarts Elementary School;

• The board reviewed the tobacco/vaping policy put in place by new Kentucky statutes. Cards and posters have been ordered and received to properly display the updated policy;

• Brenda Henson, board member of 19 years, submitted a letter of resignation from the board to its members. “Brenda has served us well and I think we should honor her wishes of how she wants to do this,” Roark said. “She was always incredibly supportive of me since I’ve been here. She was adamant about not doing anything for her.” Roark said there are new procedures the board must follow, giving the board 30 days to notify that the seat needs filled and another 60-day window to fill it. Roark said the board “reluctantly” accepted her resignation and would notify the county clerk’s office on Friday.