Looking to stay up-to-speed on all things in the district, the Trigg County Schools Board of Education received an update from Laura Shelton and Horizon Youth Services Thursday night — as family resources remain key for all grades on campus.
Shelton said it was her job to “remove non-academic barriers” from the classroom, and that this can go far beyond needs for specific items and/or programming.
She called her two-year continuation plan a “living, breathing document,” one that she can add and subtract “to-do” lists as students and families either find their way through certain hurdles, or come across something unforeseen.
Mostly responsible for the welfare of middle and high school students, state mandate requires of her to positively maintain five key components of district life:
+ Health services and referrals;
+ Career exploration and development;
+ Summer and part-time job development;
+ Substance abuse, counseling and awareness;
+ And family crisis, mental health detail.
All of these kinds of accommodations, she said, can be privately directed, based on student and family situations.
She did confirm that, as of last year, the Little River Baptist Association no longer supports the annual backpack program, but for unique reasons. Last year, only nine kids across the district took part, and what she and school leaders were finding is that several gifted items were being “thrown away,” and only a few items kept and taken home.
Rather than continue using the blanket program, she said several generous donations have allowed for more targeted assistance. For example, one middle school student still has a backpack filled, and this undisclosed youngster keeps their food to make it through weekends.
Shelton said grants and private donations from the community have gone a long way over the years, and during the last academic calendar, Happy Feet provided a stockpile of 75 new pairs of shoes for kids of all ages — just another way to lift those less fortunate.
Furthermore, Shelton said explorations do continue on possibly bringing a “reality store” to the high school, but those conversations remain in early stages.
In other school news:
+ After some considerations and conversations, board members approved the 2026 calendar of meetings that moves the body from twice-a-month to once-a-month gatherings. Future dates include February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 15, November 12 and December 10.
Some of the reasoning behind the shift does center on months like May, June, July, October, November and December either having many conflicts like holidays or graduation, and spring/summer/fall breaks often muddying up the routine. Officials said this year would be a “trial run,” subject to change, and that special-called meetings could be legally rallied on a 24-hour notice.
FULL DISCUSSION:
