Board Member Spotlight: Vice Chairperson Larry Perkins
Oct 19, 2023
Superintendent Mark Kopp
Ever wondered about the transformative journey of an education board member from a humble background? Join us in a captivating conversation with our guest, Larry Perkins, the board vice chairman of Franklin County Schools. Larry, defying his economically challenging upbringing, has become a trailblazer for children often overlooked. He shares his unwavering commitment to giving students an array of prospects outside the traditional college path. You'll be intrigued by Larry's perspective on the pivotal role of board members who put the children's welfare at the forefront.
In a refreshing switch, Larry introduces us to his personal favorites, from food and films to TV shows and tunes. Learn about the game-changing impact of higher salaries, enhanced resources, and new planned auxiliary gymnasiums in the schools' ecosystem. The episode concludes on a high, expressing gratitude for Larry's relentless commitment to the upliftment of Franklin County Schools. Don't miss the chance to be inspired and informed by Larry's remarkable journey and dedication. So, tune in, and prepare to be enlightened!
Ever wondered about the transformative journey of an education board member from a humble background? Join us in a captivating conversation with our guest, Larry Perkins, the board vice chairman of Franklin County Schools. Larry, defying his economically challenging upbringing, has become a trailblazer for children often overlooked. He shares his unwavering commitment to giving students an array of prospects outside the traditional college path. You'll be intrigued by Larry's perspective on the pivotal role of board members who put the children's welfare at the forefront.
In a refreshing switch, Larry introduces us to his personal favorites, from food and films to TV shows and tunes. Learn about the game-changing impact of higher salaries, enhanced resources, and new planned auxiliary gymnasiums in the schools' ecosystem. The episode concludes on a high, expressing gratitude for Larry's relentless commitment to the upliftment of Franklin County Schools. Don't miss the chance to be inspired and informed by Larry's remarkable journey and dedication. So, tune in, and prepare to be enlightened!
Speaker 1:
Welcome to FCS Unscripted, a new podcast for one team, fcs, where we look at the stories behind every one in Franklin County schools. Hello everyone, this is Superintendent Mark Kopp. I'm awfully excited to be with you today. We are going to have a very special episode of FCS Unscripted. We're going to have a board member spotlight today. We're going to have obviously, five of these throughout the course of the year. We have five board members and today we have our board vice chairman. His name is Larry Perkins and we are so happy that he has joined us today, larry welcome.
Speaker 2:
I'm glad to be here, Mark.
Speaker 1:
Thank you for asking me to come, absolutely, so we're going to just go through some questions here with Larry so you all can get to know him and what it's like to be a board member. So, larry, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 2:
Well, I'm Larry Perkins and I've came up in the. I was with the Franklin County vocational school back then. It's now called CareerTech, the electrical program, and I worked 33 years with United Auto Workers. We worked with the building transformers there in Versailles, kentucky I mean, yeah, in Versailles Kentucky and then we. I've been with state government now for about nine years. I've been a magistrate, I've been a school board member for about 10 years. I think I've got about 10 years invested with the school board. But that being said, I just really enjoy Franklin County. Been born and raised here, I love it. I was one of those kids that nobody knew come up very poor, didn't even have inside bathrooms. We was just poor Children, didn't really. I wouldn't a great athlete or anything was unknown in the school system. So that's one reason I wanted to kind of be a part of this program.
Speaker 1:
Well, and you're a great board member and we appreciate having you, and I think you know just about everybody in the county. By the way, I'll mention some name. Oh yeah, I'm a person, so you're my go-to person. For hey, do you know this person, Larry? So I got some scripted questions here on FCS Unscripted, which is always kind of fun. But why did you want to become a school board member to begin with?
Speaker 2:
Well, one of the big reasons is a lot of so many years everybody was pushing college. You got to go to college, you go to college, and there's so many kids out here, such as myself, that never didn't, really didn't like school, really wasn't a part of it was better with your hands than with in the books. So that's why I was really wanted to get on the board so that I could be a voice for those kids that was kind of left behind. That was in great athletes. Parents didn't have a lot of money, have a lot of resources, wanted them to be able to have the opportunity to be successful in our school systems, and that's one of the things that I like about this school system today that we didn't have back many years ago. We've got archery, we've got so many sports now that you can get involved in fishing and different things.
Speaker 1:
And I think that's a really good point that you made there about. You know, for us it's about opportunities for students and not, you know, college isn't for every single student. So I think it's the job of every school system that you know our role is to find that light at the end of the tunnel for kids, and whether it's, you know, vocational, whether it's the military, whether it's finding a job as soon as they complete high school, we want to prepare them to be citizens. So I applaud you for that and I think that's a really admirable trait for a board member is to think about all kids. You know it's not just about college prep. That's not what our, that's not what our role is. So, having said that, you know being a board member is sometimes a thankless job. You get a lot of you know, you get a lot of calls and emails and things like that. So what is the most rewarding part about being a board member?
Speaker 2:
Well, I always say we make about 38 cents an hour for, if you figure it up, the hours that you own and if you really take it seriously, I try to go to all the schools. I try to be involved in that. I'm also like to. I always like to go in and talk to the janitors and to cafeteria workers. As Paul Harvey says. You can find out the rest of the story from those.
Speaker 2:
The one of the big things that I'm really excited about is we've been able to improve our schools over the last several years, build some new schools, do some great things and make some good improvements. We've got people into the schools, as you say, the right people in the seat, on the seat of the bus. Yep, we're getting folks into where they need to be. Yeah, it's, and you can see that we, when we see it there's an issue, as you've been a superintendent again, I've praised you many times over the since I've been a board member. If there's a need, you are quick to address that and the board members that I work with are that's. We're all about the kids.
Speaker 2:
We want to continue to push that and to make sure that we are about the kids and to be able to improve the child's life and prepare them to be able to go out here and be a productive citizen.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and I appreciate those kind words and I'll echo that in terms of the board members all five of you you truly put kids first and you, you know, in all honesty, you can't say that about every single school board in the state not getting into specifics or anything but sometimes, you know, adult center decisions rule the day, so to speak, in a lot of cases. Ours doesn't. You know, our school board really cares about kids and puts them first. Having said that, sometimes you do have to make some challenging decisions and things about taxes and all kinds of different things. So what is the most challenging part about being a board member?
Speaker 2:
Well, I think one of the biggest challenges is, you know, before this COVID situation hit, we was really struggling with money situations and try to come up, be resourceful.
Speaker 2:
Try to make sure that we had didn't have too many people on the top end in big positions and not where they needed to be to be able to get these and that's something that we have to look at as far as each day is when we have to make those cuts, and I'm sure that some of those may be coming in the near future.
Speaker 2:
After this COVID money runs out, that's going to be a tough decision. Each year you have to look at the tax base and what we're looking at. We've been able to cut taxes several years but when it comes down to it, if you got a ear to the community, you hear we're. You know we do need police in all of our schools. So you was quick to, you know, suggest that and all the board members was on board for it and we had to raise some taxes just to be able to fund that. But You're not going to please everyone, but in most parts 90% of them was very pleased that we did put these police in those schools, the psychologists in those schools, because after this COVID we do have a lot of situations where, with last year having several suicides, we want to make sure that we are meeting these kids' needs and trying to intervene before anything happens.
Speaker 1:
The social, emotional and the mental health needs of our kids. It's changed pretty significantly over time. I think that the board has shown with the decisions you've made with funding positions that you care about that and we need to continue to find ways to address that. We appreciate that. Also, in 2017, when the board hired me, we were 90th in the state in teacher pay and the board had said that was one of the goals was we got to raise teacher pay. Thanks to year-olds' efforts over the last seven years we've gone from 90th to 26th in the state in teacher pay. That cost money. We've done six of the last seven years a 2% pay raise. That has helped get us into that level and we still want to continue to push that. We want to pay good wages to attract the best employees. I appreciate that very much.
Speaker 1:
You mentioned earlier about facilities and we've been undergoing a lot of facility improvements. We added turf fields, we've redone both of the auditoriums at both of our high schools. There have been multiple things, new concession stand, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. There's a lot of really big projects that are kind of on the horizon, things like auxiliary gyms and some new greenhouses and lots of different potentials and potentially, a new elementary school coming. What are some of the things that you see coming down the pike that you're excited about?
Speaker 2:
One of the big things I know whenever we can build this new elementary school, that's going to open that space up. We're going to be able to get rid of a building out there on, I think, democratic Drive to get rid of it, which is not a good location for students, but we can have all of our students in one building and we can open up that career tech area to be able to have a HVAC class. That's something that's very needed in this community, not only just in this community, but us, as the school board has been trying to recruit somebody to do the HVAC systems here to harass someone, and state government has been having problems. So if we can develop a lot of good kids and get them involved and get them in that program, it's going to go out here and help those.
Speaker 2:
I'm really excited about these gymnasiums. That's something that's been badly needed. Population-wise, we have been continuing to grow, got more and more sports, but we're using cafeterias for years and hallways to be able to have some practice facilities just to use those. So when we get this, this is going to open up a lot and I think it's going to better provide these kids with opportunities and but it's going to be a great resource for us and anytime you've got good facilities you attract more people. People move into your community. They go to see the good schools and how things are. Well. You've got good teachers. I know we lost several teachers when I first was on the school board to Scott County and different Owen County in different places and a lot of those teachers has came back and they was exceptionally good teachers. Really I'm happy to have those back and with that raise and pay has really made it.
Speaker 1:
You know, I agree, I was in a school today that talked about hiring over the last two years for people from a neighboring district to this year, to last year, and they came here for the increased pay, the resources that the board has provided. They couldn't believe the, the resources that they had available to them with a model curriculum and you know. So it's all the. All those things matter, they're, they're significant and, like you, I'm also excited about the gymnasiums.
Speaker 1:
Right now we're well, you know, when we're filming this, recording this, we're one day away from the big Franklin County Western Hills football game that's going to be played at Franklin County High School, with a brand new set of bleachers that are going to be operational tomorrow night for that big game. So we're really excited about having bleachers on both sides of town for not just big football games but also for graduation. You know, when we lost the Civic Center, we had to find a way to host graduations. We've been lucky to have good weather, knock on wood, the last two years. We're going to continue to hope and pray for good weather, but now we're going to have enough space for all of our families to come. And so big things, big things on the horizon. But you've answered some tough questions, so now it's time for some fun facts with with.
Speaker 2:
Larry.
Speaker 1:
Perkins. Alright, larry, what's your favorite food?
Speaker 2:
Probably hot dogs and and french fries.
Speaker 1:
Okay, anything on the hot dogs in particular, I want everything on it. We used to call that a garbage dog when I was a kid. So what about? What is your favorite movie of all time?
Speaker 2:
Oh gosh, I was trying to think I always liked the movie that I can't think of the name of it. Oh, I'm drawing a blank on this name of this movie.
Speaker 1:
What's it about?
Speaker 2:
It was a Western and it I'll be your Huckleberry. Oh yeah, tombstone, tombstone. That was probably my favorite.
Speaker 1:
That's great. As soon as you said that, yeah, yeah, alright. So what about what your? I think I might know the answer to this question. By the way, what's your favorite TV show or streaming show?
Speaker 2:
Well, probably my one of my favorite shows is I really loved Two and a Half Men and I've got to work here lately. I've watched and some of the old were Becker Becker's really good. I love that show and I thought.
Speaker 1:
I thought for sure you'd say Blue Bloods, you talk about that show.
Speaker 2:
Well, yes, that is probably my. I was sitcoms as those others, but Blue Blood is my favorite. Yeah, I would. Matter of fact, on Wednesday's nights. On one station area it plays all day on Wednesday. I watched it last night, so I went to sleep.
Speaker 1:
Well, what's your favorite style of?
Speaker 2:
music. I kind of like I like Christian music. I like the upbeat Christian real well and I like like Jelly Roll and stuff, like you know, anything that's like that, more up tempo. That's got a good message in it. Okay, got some kind of good message. Not much I can list in some country. Country's kind of got away from where it's going and but it's doing better now. It's a little different.
Speaker 1:
I like the traditional country personally, but yeah. So last question and you're off the hot seat who would be your favorite singer or musical group?
Speaker 2:
Singer's probably Phil Collins. Oh yeah, phil Collins is probably my favorite singer. Steel put that in. I always said I used to, back in the day I'd put in a Phil Collins At that time was an eight track and I'd put that on and had me some chocolate, donuts and a Pepsi Cola and roll the windows down and ride down the road in the middle of the night.
Speaker 1:
Great time. That's great. Well, larry Perkins, we appreciate you. I want to personally thank you for what you do for our kids as our vice chairman on the board, and we love getting to know you a little bit better on this, so I appreciate it. Thanks for being with us.
Speaker 2:
Thank you, mark, and I really appreciate you, and I want to just give a shout out to our late Ray Kornes. Oh, yeah, he was a great instrumental in trying to even the playing field for students all across the state of Kentucky. He was a great man, really had a lot of respect and love for him and again he made the playing field much, even for us here Awesome.
Speaker 1:
I appreciate hearing that and thank you so much for your time today and we are out. Thank you all for listening. Well, that wraps it up for this week's episode of FCS Unscripted. Thank you for listening in and I encourage you to subscribe and follow this weekly podcast where we will share updates, information and interviews with hashtag everyone the wonderful students and staff who make up one team, fcs. Have a great week everybody.