STEARNS — The McCreary County Board of Education received some good news during their June meeting, when Fixed Asset Manager Anthony Reaves updated members on equipment reported missing from McCreary Central High School.

In May, Reaves advised the school board that nearly $60,000 worth of fixed assets (which can include everything from electronic equipment to furniture) had gone missing from the high school since renovations began last year. By way of comparison, the other four schools in the district — McCreary County Middle School, Pine Knot Intermediate, Pine Knot Primary and Whitley City Elementary — reported a combined total of less than $10,000.

In giving the original report, Reaves suggested that several items may have been thrown out during a move over Christmas break. Since the board’s policy is to recover the cost of missing items by reducing a school’s site-based decision-making funding, Superintendent Donnie Wright told board members that he would work with school administration to locate items and prevent MCHS from losing more than half of its SBDM budget.

Renewed efforts to find the items were successful beyond expectations. Reaves reported June 25 that more than $30,000 had since been accounted for — slashing the MCHS deficit to $29,116.92. Districtwide, the report decreased from some $68,000 to $32,235.

“It’s still not a good number but its better than before,” Reaves said. “Our biggest problem has been the remodeling. If not for the high school, this probably would have been our best year.”

When asked if there was still a chance to find other items in storage at the former Smithtown Elementary School, Reaves replied that he and other employees had searched the facility several times already. However, if additional items do turn up, they can still be used.

“I carry missing items on the books for three inventory cycles,” Reaves said. “I won’t write anything off without giving it time to show up.”

Reaves stressed the importance of school employees completing the proper paperwork before retiring inventory. While some items do have to be junked, the district can also recover some of its investment through surplus sales.

In other business, school board members selected the Kentucky School Board Insurance Trust to underwrite the district’s property, fleet, general liability, educators legal liability and workers compensation policies for a total of $306,821.70.

KSBIT, who had the contract up until two years ago, underbid Ohio Casualty — represented locally by Buddy Wilson — this year by some $110,000.

Wilson acknowledged having the higher bid, explaining that the past year was a bad one for the district. Six workers compensation claims were filed in a single day, while another large claim involved storm damage to the Pine Knot Intermediate gymnasium.

With a projected increase in premiums of 42 percent, Wilson urged Superintendent Wright to bid the insurance contract out.

Following the board’s unanimous vote to purchase insurance through KSBIT, Wilson also presented suggestions that the school system should strengthen its efforts to curb fighting and clarify its policy on outside parties using school facilities.

Wilson explained that two teachers were injured last year trying to break up student fights resulting in at least $13,000 in medical expenses. Additionally, there has been confusion over principals renting their facilities to third parties and requiring the renters to purchase insurance for the event. Wilson noted that it was unclear whether the insurance was to cover injury liability or property damage.

KSBIT representative Melinda Lewis then advised the board that their policy should cover instances of property damage.

When schools charge rent, the renter perceives that coverage is included with the fee. “My suggestion is to let them use the facilities and require separate insurance if the event involves a greater risk of injury like an adult basketball league,” Lewis said.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for July 23 at 5:15 p.m.