Every year, Trigg County’s 300-plus athletes must take a drug test before they suit up for their respective seasons.
During Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting, members unanimously approved for Trigg County Hospital to have the contract for testing — once again opting for a local option costing the schools under $30 per player.
The decision, however, didn’t come without discussion.
Charlene Sheehan raised two concerns, both of which pointed to earlier staffing issues at TCH — who had the contract last year and through 2018 and 2019 — and incomplete testing of Trigg County’s talent.
It first led to a conversation with Director of Pupil Personnel James Mangels.
And then with Superintendent Bill Thorpe and Board Attorney Jack Lackey, Jr.
Thorpe noted the school’s end of the bargain comes through the athletic director’s office of Matthew Wilder, which Thorpe further noted “wasn’t the issue” during the 2022-23 campaign.
The student-athletes are staggered with their testing throughout the year and can be subject to random drug testing if so required.
Thorpe announced what he called “bittersweet” news Thursday evening, revealing that longtime board assistant and Community Education Coordinator Sarah Jessup Elliott is moving on in the education world, having accepted a teaching position for eighth grade reading at Christian County Middle School.
Under Option 6, Elliott was able to work for a master’s degree through the University of the Cumberlands while employed at the district.
Prior to her work on campus, Elliott, a Wildcats graduate, spent considerable time as a reporter for Paxton Media Group and The Cadiz Record. She said her daughter would remain at Trigg County.
— Thorpe also noted that 33 jobs had been filled at the district level since May. SBDM’s are responsible for larger hires, and principals in charge of full evaluations. He said adding another school psychologist, finding an MST teacher and replacing Elliott have become key priorities in the coming weeks.
— Newly-installed for Karen Solise, Matt Boehman delivered his first report upon his return, noting that Camp Catapult had 337 students in week one, and 378 students in week two. He said it’s been an active 14 days for Trigg County’s second, third and fourth graders.
— District officials also took another brief tour of the co-curricular and vocational school construction taking place on the property. Thorpe and Director of Operations Matt Ladd both agreed the work is coming along, and that they can’t wait for the public to see everything in its completion.
