The South Central School Board handled a number of start of school preparations at its Wednesday night school board meeting.
There will be a $19 fee added to middle and high school students registration costs this year to pay for a PE uniform. The fee has been waived for the past six years through grant funding that has been cut.
Students in all grades will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of income.
The first day of school at South Central will be August 13th. The school calendar for this year includes two weeks for Christmas vacation and projects the end of school on May 19th if no additional emergency days have to be added.
Registration for all students will be at the South Central Middle School in Kinmundy on July 30th from 11 am t0 7 pm and July 31st from nine to noon.
The board was told the new roof over part of the grade school building is now complete.
A public hearing was held at the beginning of the meeting to discuss the district’s e-learning plan. No one attended and the board later voted to keep the plan as is. E-learning days can be used for up to five school days during emergencies, such as severe weather.
In personnel news:
- The board accepted the letter of resignation from Shane Lother as Certified Employee, Choir Director, Assistant Girls Basketball Coach at South Central Middle School, and Head Track and Field Coach at South Central Middle School effective July 16, 2026. Lother had been placed on leave after being arrested for allegedly grooming a 15-year-old female student. The case is still pending.
- The board approved the hiring of Aaron Minard as a certified staff member.
- The Board approved hiring Shawn Garrett as an unpaid Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach for South Central Middle School effective the 2026-2027 school year.
- The Board accepted the letter of resignation from Kaleb Welch as Student Council Sponsor at South Central High School effective the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
