Mason County Middle School teacher Brian McDowell was recognized Monday night during the Board of Education meeting for being selected as Kentucky Science Teacher of the Year.

McDowell, who teaches eighth grade science, was nominated for the awardby MCMS seventh grade science teacher Grant Felice.

McDowell, as well as the entire staff of MCMS science teachers was on hand to give a presentation to those in attendance about the students' outdoor classroom located on the campus of the middle school.

Funding for the continued expansion of the outdoor classroom was made possible through a $10,000 Toyota TAPESTRY grant for excellence and innovation in science education from Toyota and the National Science Teachers Association, which McDowell applied for and was awarded.

In addition, the outdoor facility was made possible through efforts of MCMS science teachers as well as a $24,000 donation from Carmeuse Lime and Stone.

With the funding, additions to the outdoor classroom trails include several new stations. A large column of the Paleozoic era allows students to investigate a 6 foot by 4 foot, four-sided concrete tower that uses different textures to represent four different geologic challenges. One side simulates rock stratigraphy as a series of flat rock layers. Two additional sides simulate rock stratigraphy that has been folded or faulted through geologic forces.

An additional side shows fossils that are found throughout the area. The fossils were embedded into the wet concrete during the construction of the tower. Each layer of fossils is aligned with the rocks of its era.

Different layers have different populations.

New signs have been added throughout the outdoor classrooms which clearly label the different stations and provide additional information for students and visitors.

A new station made possible by the TAPESTRY grant involves students interpreting a dinosaur trackway imprinted on a concrete pad. Students are asked to make observations about the tracks of different dinosaurs that appear on the concrete pad and create stories of what occurred based on their inferences.

In other business, the board:

— Approved an offer of assistance from the Kentucky Department of Education School Facility Commission for technology assistance. The district receives $15 per student for technology enhancements, for a total of $45,000 for the current school year. The amount is based upon the daily average attendance of the district.

— Approved a duel credit agreement between the Mason County School District and the Maysville Community and Technical College. The agreement allows high school seniors to take general education classes at MCTC for $50 per credit hour, allowing students to earn 18 to 24 credit hours before entering their freshman year of college. The agreement also applies to students enrolled at Mason County Area Technology Center.

— Heard a report from Transportation Director Gerald Fulk. Fulk delivered good news to the board, advising fuel expenses for the district dropped by $7,000 for the month of October 2009, compared to fuel costs in October 2008.

— Heard from Ron Ishmael and Liz Petit that the Comprehensive District School Improvement Plan will be presented for board approval at the December meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Mason County School Board is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.; the meeting will be held at the Board of Education Central Office.

Contact Marla Toncray at marla.toncray@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 275.

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