Fayette County Schools Superintendent Chris Perkins addressed allegations and questions raised by board president David Arritt and former superintendent Matt Edwards regarding the possibility that the school system illegally used taxpayer money to promote the recently defeated bond which was intended to consolidate four high schools.

“I’ve been very careful, very diligent to protect my character and my integrity and to protect this board,” Perkins said during Monday’s board of education meeting.

Perkins said he consulted outside sources to ensure the board was not violating any laws or codes.

“We would never attempt to do anything with our taxpayers’ dollars that would compromise the position of this board or compromise my integrity as the superintendent,” he continued, saying suggestions that money was spent in a covert fashion were “ludicrous.”

Perkins said it was time to “move on” following the defeat of the bond and said invitations would be mailed this morning for an organizational meeting to provide input for the upcoming 10-year Comprehensive Educational Facility Plan.

“We’ve got some tough choices to make,” he said. “I’ve never sidestepped that issue. There’s challenges, but I’m up for the task.”

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Arritt, who wrote a letter to the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office regarding the possibility of inappropriate spending during the bond process, explained he had done so based on citizens’ concerns of money laundering.

“If the system didn’t do anything wrong, there’s no need to worry about it,” he said.

Arritt also talked about ideas he had for improving the state of the county’s schools, speaking of some maintenance problems he had seen in the schools and suggesting Perkins and other board members take the time to go to the schools and talk to maintenance workers.

Also, Arritt addressed academic issues, telling fellow members he did not believe the academic situation was in as bad a shape as widely reported.

Arritt suggested Perkins go into the schools and obtain reports from their staffs about their efforts in terms of improving test scores.

“I really think that helps,” Arritt said.

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Debra Elmore told the board her comments were not directed at them, but were instead directed at the public in general, whose comments and negative attitudes she said were not good for the county’s children and were creating embarrassment throughout the state.

“I’m truly concerned about the animosity created by this past bond election,” she said. “It’s over. The citizens were given the chance to voice their choice and it’s over.

“We’re trying to teach our children the golden rule and here we are ripping it apart in front of them,” she said.

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Brenda Troitino told board members the citizens of Mount Hope have “become suspicious and mistrusting” because of what she said were broken promises.

Troitino asked that board members reinstate and enforce attendance boundaries of Mount Hope High School and Mount Hope Elementary School by not allowing children to bus into Oak Hill schools.

Also, Troitino asked that board members take the $1 million insurance money it received when the old Mount Hope Middle School burned and use it to make upgrades and repairs to the elementary school and high school. Also, Troitino suggested reconfiguring the schools, putting fifth and sixth grades in the elementary schools and making the high school grades seven through 12.

“Stop talking ‘consolidation’ and start improving and supporting the existing community schools,” she implored.

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Rick Lewis, of Fayetteville, spoke to the board regarding the state of Fayette County Schools and then announced his intentions to seek a spot on the board in 2010.

“We need to work together...,” said Lewis, who spoke of the good things in the classroom but also touched on some of the problems. “Together we will make a difference.”

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In other business, Elmer Pritt, executive director of RESA IV, recognized Fayetteville and Oak Hill high schools, both of whom received drop-out prevention grants.

Each school in RESA IV’s six counties had an opportunity to enter proposals detailing how they would use the grant money to address the drop-out problem.

Fayetteville received $10,000 for having one of the top three proposals and Oak Hill received $5,000 for its selection as a runner-up.

“Each application was different, yet creative and deals with the problem,” Pritt said.

Also, Pritt spoke to the board regarding the different services RESA IV provides to Fayette County Schools.

Among the services, Pritt said, are financial assistance, staff development, help in obtaining and training substitutes, tobacco prevention in schools and after-school learning programs.

“RESAs touch everyone a lot more than they realize,” he said.

Also, teacher Heather Curnett spoke on behalf of the Fayetteville Elementary School PTO regarding a drainage problem which she said causes exposed roots that present a tripping hazard on the school’s playground.

Perkins told Curnett the problem was being addressed and the county was working with the town of Fayetteville to correct it.

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com