THE LAWRENCE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MET MONDAY IN REGULAR SESSION.  THE BOARD HONORED LONG TIME LORETTO HIGH SCHOOL GENERAL BUILDING AND CARPENTRY INSTRUCTOR HENRY BECKMAN AS RETIRED EDUCATOR OF THE MONTH.  THE BOARD APPROVED 2017-2018 GENERAL PURPOSE BUDGET REVISIONS.  IN ADDRESSING THE REVISIONS, SCHOOL DIRECTOR JOHNNY MCDANIEL INDICATED THAT WHEN HE MET WITH LAWRENCE COUNTY LEADERS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS ASKED NOT TO REQUEST AN INCREASE IN "MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT" FUNDING PAID BY COUNTY SALES TAX.  THE COUNTY ALSO ASKED THAT $300,000 FOR GEOTHERMAL COSTS BE PAID BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S FUND BALANCE AS IT WILL NOT BE COVERED IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION'S UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.  THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE BUDGET REVISIONS BY A 5 TO 3 VOTE WITH ONE MEMBER ABSENT.  THE BOARD PASSED A NUMBER OF ATHLETIC COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR PROVIDING FOR STUDENTS AT SMALLER SCHOOLS WITHOUT SPECIFIC SPORTS PROGRAMS TO PARTICIPATE WITH STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.  MEMBERS ALSO APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2017-2018 ACADEMIC CALENDAR MOVING GRADUATION UP ONE WEEK FOR ALL THREE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS.  THE MOVE WILL PUT GRADUATION EARLIER THAN THE STATE FINALS FOR BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND TRACK AND ALLOW SENIOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN BOTH GRADUATION AND STATE SPORTS TOURNAMENTS RATHER THAN HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE EVENTS.