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Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Every Feb. 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of Valentine’s Day. Most students across the county will also have a chance to receive Valentine’s Day gifts at their schools from loved ones on that day.

Parents, grandparents, friends and other loved ones will need to remember any student who is transported to and from school will not be able to take Valentine’s Day balloons or glass vases on the bus. According to Joan Anderson, Director of Transportation for the Harlan County School District, Kentucky law, as stated in 702 KAR 5:080, prohibits students riding a school bus from bringing balloons or glass onto the bus for safety reasons. She said the balloons can obstruct a driver’s view and glass can be broken causing injury to students.

Most of the schools across the county have the same general rule when it comes to receiving deliveries and distributing gifts on Valentine’s Day with the exception of Harlan Independent Elementary, Middle and High schools, who do not allow any deliveries to students on Valentine’s Day.

Cumberland Elementary School also doesn’t allow deliveries from florists or other outside businesses on Valentine’s Day, however, they do allow parents, grandparents or friends to bring Valentine’s Day cards to the school, which will be delivered to the students by staff.

Evarts elementary, Black Mountain elementary, James A. Cawood elementary schools all said when deliveries are made to their schools the gifts will be kept in the office until 2 p.m. at which time they will then be given out to the students by staff.

Green Hills Elementary School said they keep the delivery gifts in their office until 1:30 p.m. and then distribute them to the students.

Wallins Elementary School keeps the deliveries in their office area until 1:20 p.m. and thereafter staff will distribute the gifts to the students.

Cawood Elementary School staff said they keep the Valentine’s Day deliveries in the office area until the room fills up. They then call students to the office and allow them to take the gifts to their respective classrooms. Staff said when more deliveries arrive, the same procedure is followed until the end of the school day.

Rosspoint Elementary School students receive their Valentine’s Day deliveries as soon as the gifts arrive at the school. Students may keep the gifts in their classrooms until the end of the school day.

Harlan County High School’s policy is that all deliveries remain in the office area until students pick up their gifts during fifth period.

Victory Road Christian Academy said their policy is to hold the deliveries until after the students have lunch and then the gifts are distributed by staff.

Harlan County Christian School notify students as the deliveries arrive and allow them to come to the office to look at their gifts. They aren’t allowed to take the gifts to their classes. The gifts are held in the office area until the end of the school day. Staff noted no balloons or glass vases will be allowed on their school buses.

Students at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College will be notified when a delivery arrives. If staff is unsuccessful in locating the student, the Valentine’s Day gifts will remain at the switchboard area.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@civitasmedia.com