By Steven Hoffman

Staff Writer

A local legend is being honored in Kennett Square.

The school board of the Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) voted on July 14 to induct Nathan Kendig as a KCSD Legend, just the second person to ever receive this honor. A plaque recognizing his service to the school district will be displayed at Legacy Fields.

Kendig was hired at Kennett High School in 1952 and he became a coaching legend. He coached baseball from 1953 to 1961, and his teams won the Southern Chester County League championship in 1953, 1955, and 1957. He also coached basketball from 1953 to 1968, and his teams won six straight league championships from 1960 to 1965. Several of those teams won district playoff games. Kendig retired as a coach in 1968, but he continued to work for the district as the high school athletic director and vice principal until his retirement in 1983.

“He was a great guy and was really respected in the community,” said school board member Dominic Perigo, who went to Kennett High School during the time when Kendig was the athletic director.

Kendig will join Shirley Annand, a longtime school board member, as the two individuals who have been selected as KCSD Legends thus far.

In other business at the July 14 meeting, the school board responded to a donation request from the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library. The library needs more computers that can be used by the community, especially as part of the technology literacy programs that are offered. The school district has a schedule for replacing its oldest laptops and other technology so there are some old computers that the district will no longer be using. The board approved the donation of ten MacBooks that were first purchased in 2006. Donations of other equipment to support the library’s programs are also possible in the future.

The district is spending $73,979.60 for a new camera system for the school buses used by Krapf Bus Company to transport students. The administration has been looking at viable alternatives to enhance the quality and reliability of the surveillance cameras used for recording on student transportation vehicles. The Krapf Bus Company will purchase, install, and maintain recording systems in 70 buses, and the $73,979.60 is a one-time, all-inclusive payment for the equipment.

Fees for school events during the 2014-15 school year were approved by the board. Tickets to musicals at the high school will cost $10 for adults and $6 for children. At the Middle School, the cost for tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for children. The Senior Class Play tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children. Dances are regularly $5 per ticket with a $7.50 charge for holiday dances. The Homecoming dance is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Tickets for athletic events will be $3 for students and $5 for adults.

The school board approved a host of retirements and resignations, including the retirement of Loren Pearson, who served as the district-wide psychologist for the last 23 years.

The board voted to approve the extension of the bus transportation service with five local licensed child-care centers. The agreement will allow children attending these child-care centers to be transported to their residential elementary school even though the child-care center is located outside the attendance area. The child-care centers then reimburse the district for the actual cost of the extended bus service.

The first day of school for students is Monday, Aug. 25. With no meeting scheduled in August, the school board will meet again on Monday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Kennett High School.