The Superintendent of Elizabethtown Independent Schools, Jon Ballard announced his retirement last night. Ballard says after 33 years with the district, the last seven being as superintendent, he felt it was time to move on in his life, and let someone else come in to help advance the school. Ballard also says the thing he is proudest of in his time as superintendent is providing opportunities, be they academic or athletic, for students.
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The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office has determined the cause of death in a case regarding a female located in a field. According to a release from the department, the body of Mary Teresa Ball of Bardstown was found in a field off of Sullivan Lane in Bardstown on December 26th. The cause of death determined by the office of the Chief Medical Examiners has been ruled suicide by an overdose of an over-the-counter sleeping medication. This closes the case, and no charges are expected to be filed by the Sheriff’s Office.
The West Point Independent Schools Board of Education voted unanimously last night to sign the merger agreement with the Hardin County School District. Several topics of discussion regarding the merger were gone over last night, including where West Point’s students will go. Kindergarten students will attend North Park Elementary, first through fifth grades will attend Vine Grove Elementary, and sixth through eighth grade will attend J.T. Alton Middle School. High school age children will attend North Hardin High School, however, those still attending Elizabethtown High School will still be allowed to attend there. Also discussed was where the staff of West Point would end up, and Dr. Sally Sugg, interim superintendent, ensured that Hardin County Schools would attempt to find a place for all tenured staff in the same schools that the children from West Point would be attending. Should Hardin County agree to the merger agreement at their board meeting on Thursday night, the effective date of the merger would be scheduled for July 1st.
Governor Andy Beshear announced yesterday that the Commonwealth of Kentucky is officially the nation’s leading exporter of whiskey, including bourbon and rye, according to 2019 export reports. Beshear made the announcement while filling the sixteen-millionth barrel of Jim Beam at the American Stillhouse in Clermont. Kentucky sent over $485 million in whiskey exports in 2019 and it is considered to be a booming industry in many Kentucky communities, including Elizabethtown which has been advertised as being Bourbon’s Backyard.
A former Hardin County Schools teacher, principal, and associate superintendent has been asked to once again take on a role for the district. Bobby Lewis is set to return to Hardin County School as the interim Chief Support Officer. Lewis will lead the district’s student services and human resources department for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. After retiring in 2015, Lewis spent nearly an entire school year as interim principal at GC Burkhead Elementary School in 2016, and came back to serve as interim principal at Vine Grove Elementary School in 2017. He replaces Chris Bauer, who retired as the Chief Support Officer on February 14, 2020.