The Harlan County School Board discussed the remaining school calendar and set a new graduation date for Harlan County High School during a special-called meeting Tuesday.

The school board approved a motion Tuesday that will change the date for graduation ceremonies at Harlan County High School from the June 6 approved by the HCHS site-based council to June 7 at 2 p.m.

District officials said the change was made to accommodate those who will be attending the Poke Sallet Festival, which is scheduled for the same weekend.

“We have got an issue about the day we have graduation scheduled on,” Harlan County School District Superintendent Tim Saylor said referring to the original graduation date of June 6. “The Poke Sallet Festival is scheduled for that weekend, and we have had a lot of people call in about that.”

The board also amended the district’s school calendar. The last day for students will be June 5, with the closing day for staff scheduled June 15. The approved calendar includes a regular school day on Saturday, May 16, and a holiday on May 25 (Memorial Day).

“I don’t think too many people are fond of going on Memorial Day. We can go on the Saturday and allow the last day for students to be June 5,” said Harlan County School District assistant Superintendent Mike Howard.

“I, for one, am not for going on Memorial Day. There are a lot of services around the county on that day,” added Harlan County School Board chairman Gary Farmer.

In other action, the school board approved the consent agenda, which included:

-- Payment of claims in the aggregate amount of $741,521.53;

-- Approve out-of-state trips for: Black Mountain to Cincinnati; Evarts fourth grade to the Knoxville Zoo; Cumberland eighth grade to Orlando; Cumberland academic team to Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Green Hills academic team to Johnson City, Tenn.; Green Hills Beta Club to Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Harlan County High School softball team to Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Harlan County High School National Honor Society to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio; James A. Cawood primary classes to Morristown, Tenn.; Rosspoint eighth grade to Cincinnati; Black Mountain to Dollywood; Black Mountain to the Smoky Mountain Aquarium; Evarts seventh and eighth grades to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio; and Rosspoint primary students to Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.;

-- Approval for school food services to advertise for bids on beverages, bread/baked goods, condiments, dairy, fruits, fruit juices, grains, meats, spices, vegetables, vegetable juices, cleaning supplies and paper supplies for July 1 through December 31;

-- Approval for school food services to apply for the ARRA 2009 equipment assistance grants for school food authorities;

-- Approval of district evaluation plan;

-- Grant permission for the transportation department to advertise for bids for bus maintenance parts and supplies, tires, gasoline, oil and ultra low sulfur diesel;

-- Approve payment of $19,497.93 to Sunnytime Seeding and Landscaping LLC, for landscaping supplies and plants for Harlan County High School;

-- Approval of audited contact with Gaw and Associates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 for $23,000;

-- Approve revised salary schedule for vehicle maintenance supervisor;

-- Grant permission to apply for fruit and vegetable grants;

-- Approve medical leave of absence for Deborah Woliver, Evarts Elementary School, for the remainder of the 2008-2008 school year and for Wynona Hatfield, Cumberland Elementary School, for six to eight weeks up to the remainder of the 2008-2001 school year;

-- Approve a request for a family leave of absence for Kim Howard for the 2009-2010 school year.