Principal reports ACT gains and major FFA wins; kitchen construction at Salana K8 hits hidden electrical lines

At the April 11 meeting the Clay County School Board heard a principal's report that highlighted academic and extracurricular successes and a construction problem that will affect the district's kitchen project at Salana K8.

As ACT coordinator the principal reported the district's junior-class composite ACT score was 18.7 this year, a 1.9-point increase from the previous year. He cited subtest gains of 1.7 points in English, 2.0 in math, 2.7 in reading and 1.5 in science. The board applauded the students for the improvement.

The principal also presented a long list of FFA accomplishments: five state degree recipients, state winners advancing to national competition (including an agroscience fair entry), a fourth-place team finish in Farm Business Management, notable placements in milk-quality and food science contests, a platinum plow award (the state's highest honor for plow committees) and a superior chapter award recognizing broad excellence. Several students were named during the report and the board gave them public recognition.

On facilities, district staff reported an unanticipated construction issue at Salana K8: while removing flooring in a second-grade classroom contractors found electrical lines that were not expected. District officials said relocating the lines would be costly and would require substantial shutdown time, potentially delaying the project. Contractors recommended installing a grinder pump near the grease trap as a practical — if imperfect — workaround. The director said the grinder pump will require maintenance and will increase project cost; the district expects a change order and an accompanying recommendation letter from contractor Alan Hill.

District administrators also noted other items in the packet, including work on a new CTE building funded by an Innovative School grant, a pending 21st Century Learning Program Grant application for before- and after-school tutoring, ongoing gym-lighting improvements tied to a TVA grant, and a Wildcat Carnival fundraiser that raised more than $110,000 for school needs.

The board asked operational questions (for example, who provides sports physicals); staff said the district contracts with WellChild for sports physicals and eye exams. Officials said they will receive contractor change-order documentation from Alan Hill and will bring any required actions back to the board.