State Journal, Frankfort, July 2, 2017
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State Journal, Frankfort, July 2, 2017 Local high schools unsure of graduation venues with Frankfort Convention Center demolition looming By Austin Horn
With Frankfort’s Convention Center slated for demolition as early as November, many local high schools — both in Franklin County and beyond — are scrambling to find a suitable new venue. Most have yet to find the right fit.
Frankfort High School and Franklin County High School officials told The State Journal they had not found a new home for commencement ceremonies. Western Hills High School administrators did not respond by press time, but FCHS Principal Charles Lewis indicated that the district as a whole would likely find a venue under Franklin County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Kopp, who formally assumed his post Saturday.
In all, the high school graduations totaled up to seven events at the convention center. Given the center’s likely demolition, a recent study was done by the Legislative Research Commission regarding the economic impact of those event attendees. Robin Antenucci, a former director of the convention center and current director of the Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist and Convention Commission who helped with the report, estimated that number to be $105 per person.
When asked about high school graduations in particular, she did add that graduations may have had a slighter economic impact than other events.
“The local HS graduations would likely not drive the economic impact at the same rate as the state’s average number is for a daytime visitor,” Antenucci said. “For the graduations that we hold for people outside of the community … they bring people from further away. The economic impact would likely be higher, but we haven’t had a specific study done on that category.”
Antenucci did point to one potential solution to keep those attendees in Frankfort: Kentucky State’s Exum Center.
The basketball arena holds around 2,700 attendees in its bleachers. Antenucci noted that it might prove too small for bigger high schools like Western Hills and Franklin County, which often attract several thousand family members and friends.
As for the four adjacent county schools — Scott, Woodford, Anderson, and Spencer — just one told The State Journal that it has decided on a new venue to host its graduation. Spencer County will look to hold its graduation in Louisville at the Kentucky Center for the Arts next year, and then Southeast Christian Church the year after.
Scott County High School Principal Joe Covington gave no indication as to where the school will hold its ceremony, but said that a decision would be made by fall break of this school year. Antenucci pointed to the Kentucky Horse Park or Rupp Arena as possibilities for SCHS, a particularly large school.
Administrators from Woodford and Anderson counties did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
While adjacent counties might seem more likely to find a graduation venue elsewhere, Antenucci is working diligently to find opportunities in Franklin County for its three high schools. “We’re trying to help as many customers as we can,” Antenucci said. “We’re trying to find a place for them — hopefully in Frankfort.” Lexington Herald Leader, July 2, 2017 For second year, Fayette schools had 20 violations on statewide tests in 15-16 By Valarie Honeycutt Spears
For the second year in a row, investigators found 20 violations of the state testing code on Fayette County Public Schools statewide tests in 2015-16, according to records obtained through the Kentucky Open Records Act from the state Department of Education.
Because of the length of the state investigations, Fayette County Superintendent Manny Caulk was not notified of some of the violations by letter until May of this year. Caulk received other notifications late in 2016 or earlier in 2017. Test results from the 2016-17 school year have not yet been released. Schools are rated according to their performance on some of the tests, officially known as the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress. Violations of other required tests also are investigated by the state.
Scores were lowered to zero in three cases. Two were at Bryan Station Middle, when two teachers helped students in responding to items on a test. A third was a teacher at Mary Todd Elementary who gave a special needs student extra time which wasn’t included in the student’s special education plan.
In addition to those staff members, other Fayette staff members will be required to have training or were reminded of guidelines by administrators because of violations, including:
A staff member responsible for letting an untrained volunteer carry test booklets at Southern Middle School. A Leestown Middle School teacher who left a test unattended. Staff who left tests unattended at Dixie and Wellington elementary schools. A teacher responsible for 16 students receiving the wrong booklets at Harrison Elementary. A teacher who gave two students the wrong booklet at Cardinal Valley Elementary. A Millcreek Elementary teacher who gave out a wrong booklet. A Garden Springs Elementary teacher who allowed students to move around the room before tests were collected. Julius Marks Elementary staff who posted confidential student information on a wall. “Our district is committed to following all guidelines and regulations related to the administration of state tests,” Caulk said in response to the state’s findings. “We emphasize the importance of following state and federal regulations strictly, which is seen in the fact that our Building Assessment Coordinators self- report even seemingly minor incidents such as allowing a volunteer to carry a test book or allowing students to read while they were done with math testing, but before the test books had been collected. All of the employees who are still with the district have completed the additional training required and we will continue to be diligent in reporting testing irregularities to our partners at the Kentucky Department of Education.” Daily News, Bowling Green, July 2, 2017 BGHS academy puts students on path to medical careers By AARON MUDD
Starting this August, Bowling Green High School students will be able to pursue career tracks in pre- nursing, fire safety, phlebotomy and more through a new medical arts academy.
“It’s not only to support the community need in terms of medical arts and health care,” said Elisa Beth Brown, assistant principal for instruction and achievement at BGHS. “We want to support students to be well prepared in their transition to achieve their long-term goals, whether that’s college (and) career or straight into the workforce.”
The academy is the result of a partnership between the high school and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce through the Ford Next Generation program, which supports specialized high school career academies.
BGHS has had a medical program for students since the 1980s. But the academy will stand out for its more robust job shadowing, internship, guest speakers and business partnerships “to make sure that what we’re teaching reflects what’s in the workforce,” Brown said.
The academy’s career tracks will include allied health, electrocardiogram technician, fire safety, medical administrative assisting, phlebotomy technician and pre-nursing.
The tracks will offer nationally recognized certification tests, Brown said, so students will be more employable once they graduate. The school is also working to add an EMT program in the 2018-19 school year, Brown said.
BGHS also offers career pathways in JROTC, business and information technology, transportation education, construction technology, and family and consumer science through the Warren County Area Technology Center.
There are currently 177 students enrolled in the academy, which Brown said couldn’t happen without the Ford Next Generation Learning program and the Chamber. The school already opened its Joseph Tinius LEAD Academy for freshmen this year.
The program has created leadership opportunities, increased connections between students and staff and decreases in the number of days freshmen missed school and in the number of discipline referrals.
Meredith Robinson, the chamber’s chief operating officer, said its partnership with BGHS on the academy is part of its broader SCK Launch initiative, a program that aims to make high school students more employable by connecting schools to industry partners’ needs.
“Our goal as a community is for them to understand all the opportunities that are available to them and choose where their passion lies,” said Robinson.
Along with purchasing some equipment for the academy, the Chamber helps to form partnerships with local medical providers for other equipment and job shadowing opportunities. It recently helped coordinate a teacher externship with the Medical Center to help to “give them an idea of all the opportunities that are available to the students,” in health care, Robinson said. Kim Phelps, the chamber’s vice president for communications and public policy, said that experience provided a forum for teachers to learn about both the breadth of medical jobs and preparation required. “They asked really what they need to be talking to their kids about,” she said.
As the Baby Boomer generation retires and needs increased medical care, medical jobs, especially nurses, are expected to increase in demand.
Emily Martin, The Medical Center’s vice president for nursing, is looking forward to the future employees the BGHS academy will produce.
“The (registered nurse) workforce is expected to grow from 2.7 million in 2014 to 3.2 million in 2024,” said Martin, citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “That’s an increase of 16 percent.”
According to a 2013 survey conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 55 percent of the registered nurse workforce is 50 years old or older, Martin said.
Martin said the shortage creates problems for medical providers wanting to avoid drops in healthcare quality, such as having to provide incentives for nurses to pick up extra shifts and reliance on travel nurses.
“It’s a huge challenge,” she said.
Martin sees the BGHS academy as a positive step to meet the needs of both the community and students.
“They can certainly give them a foundation that they can build upon,” she said. Fox 19 TV, Cincinnati, July 1, 2017 Attorney general questions Kentucky school board member’s HS diploma By Ken Brown
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office is questioning the validity of a Gallatin County school board member’s high school diploma.
Chad Murray and the Kentucky AG are in the midst of a case through the Gallatin County Circuit Courts in which the Attorney General’s Office Claims Murray never graduated High School.
Murray has a physical diploma from Loveland Baptist School but it was obtained after his schooling had completed.
In documents submitted to the courts, Murray outlines a family issue that prevented him from attending the very end of his educational career at Loveland Baptist School in 1994.
The board members says he reached out to his old school several years ago and inquired about what he needed to accomplish to obtain his Diploma, according to a transcribed conversation between Murray and a detective.
A copy of a conversation with Loveland Baptist School’s principal, Kitty Carpenter, is also on file.
Carpenter concluded that Murray had accomplished enough of his education to receive a diploma, documents submitted by Murray’s legal team show. The principal of Loveland Baptist School issued Murray a diploma that, court documents say. was back-dated to 1994.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office submitted an affidavit which was allegedly signed by Mrs. Kitty Carpenter. The affidavit said Mr. Murray had not completed the 12th Grade at Loveland Baptist School and had not graduated.
Murray and his legal council are now questioning whether that document was forged.
Murray’s Attorney sent the affidavit and multiple other documents signed by Kitty Carpenter to a handwriting expert. The expert’s findings were then submitted to the court and read in-part “…it is my professional expert opinion that the Kitty Carpenter signature on the questioned document ‘Q5’ is highly probably a traced signature as the ‘Q5’ signature displays multiple stops and starts, pen lifts, touch-ups, and patching, and does not conform to the handwriting characteristics seen in the other signatures and handwriting.”
Q5 represents the signed affidavit and this sample was compared to four other documents with Mrs. Kitty Carpenter’s signature on them - one of those documents being Murray’s diploma.
The case will not be back in court until the judge has a chance to review what has been submitted by both sides.
Murray tells FOX19 NOW there are some individuals who are not happy about the accountability that he says he has brought to the Gallatin County School system. Murray is an unpaid member of the Gallatin County School Board. WFIE-TV, Evansville, July 1, 2017 Work continues as Daviess Co. schools undergo new security measures By Evan Gorman
A dozen Daviess County schools are undergoing new security measures. On Friday, work continued at Burns Elementary.
Leaders with the Daviess County school board told 14 News vestibules are being put in many of the buildings throughout the school district, and one of the main purposes is to slow down an intruder should the situation ever arise.
Burns Elementary is one of 12 Daviess County schools upping their security over the summer.
While walking in, visitors will go into a secure area where a bulletproof glass window will separate them from school officials.
If permitted, the office door can be opened. Then with approval, a door into the school can be unlocked. Security officials said police can be at most of the schools in a matter of minutes, but these practices are in place to prevent a quick entry.
Jim Barr, the safety, and security coordinator said, "Until they get here, our main goal is to first protect the children and get them in a secure environment, which is behind a locked door, and the second thing is to slow the intruder down."
A dozen schools in the district getting the additional security measures will have them ready to go by the beginning of the new school year. Messenger Inquirer, Owensboro, July 2, 2017 OPS track project complete Grand opening will be in August By Bobbie Hayse
The Owensboro Public Schools track, soccer and football field project at its middle school campuses was officially completed on Friday.
Construction began in August 2016 on the new combination football and soccer field and the new track between the Owensboro Middle Schools' north and south campuses along South Griffith Avenue. The $2.6 million project was a partnership between OPS, Kentucky Wesleyan College and Owensboro Health, according to OPS spokesman Dave Kirk.
Kirk said Wednesday the new press box includes restrooms and concessions. Also new is the actual turf field that will serve as a soccer and football field for the middle schools and the track around the field that has been built to host regional and state events.
The turf field will be cheaper in the long run, Kirk said, because it won't require the same kind of regular maintenance as a grass field.
Players won't have to purchase special footwear, as the same kind of cleats can be worn on the turf field, and when soccer and football games occur, a special mat will be rolled out to protect the track surrounding the field.
The lighting has also been replaced with more "directional lights," Kirk said, that will enable them to light up the stadium and not the neighborhood.
"This should just keep light here in this area, which hopefully will keep neighbors happy, because it won't get light into their houses," he said.
KWC will also be using the track, and it has been built to accommodate NCAA meets as well, Kirk said.
Rob Mallory, the KWC athletic director, said the college was interested in being a partner on the project because the school's officials "believe strongly in these types of community partnerships."
"This is certainly a project that will benefit the Owensboro community," Mallory said. "And it allows us to provide a state-of-the-art facility for our track and field programs to utilize for practice and competition."
He said there is also an opportunity for the college to use the facility in other ways because of its proximity to the KWC campus.
Brian Hamby, the director of marketing for Owensboro Health, said the OH mission is to heal the sick and improve the health of the communities it serves. Providing funding for such a facility "looked like a tremendous opportunity to do that," he said.
"We want to see children and families healthier, happier," Hamby said.
Owensboro Health will have naming rights for the facility for its contribution to the project, Kirk said.
Hamby said the name is in the works, but OH isn't yet ready to announce it.
An official grand opening for the facility will take place in August, Kirk said. Messenger Inquirer, Owensboro, July 2, 2017 Robbins weighs in on district’s future By Bobbie Hayse
Matt Robbins, who took over as superintendent of Daviess County Public Schools on Saturday, said his first objective will be a rebranding of the school district, which comprises 11,790 students and 2,300 staff members.
Kids First will become the district's primary message, and its central point is that everything the district does will be based on what is best for students. It will be the lens through which district educators will look when making decisions.
"A lot of things will hang off that message for us," Robbins said.
He said the district's previous goal, Great Expectations, was built on a college- and career-readiness model from kindergarten through 12th grade, one that has been successful for the district. Robbins' plan doesn't steer away from this, in fact, it builds upon it, he said.
Through the Great Expectations model, the district's high school students have an average college- and career-readiness rate of 78 percent. Robbins wants to build on that success and has set what he called a "lofty" goal -- to reach a rate of 100 percent.
"I think that's a fair goal to set," he said. "I think we should graduate students that are college- and career- ready 100 percent."
He said that early childhood learning is a passion of his, and something the district will be researching more in the future. He said the district may find that change isn't necessary, but that he wants "to make sure we can turn over all the rocks that apply."
The district is currently looking into whether or not it would be advantageous to invest in a more centralized facility that would house all preschool programs as opposed to the current system that serves preschool students at the individual elementary schools.
There are pros and cons to both methods, Robbins said, and he wants to study both models further during the upcoming school year.
A new grant opportunity for the district has also allowed for a pilot program at Southern Oaks Elementary School. Preschool students will be participating in a wrap-around program where they will be able to have all-day classes at the school.
"We want to spend some time getting outside the box of preschool," he said.
Robbins also has a plan to continue with career pathways in both Daviess County High School and Apollo High School, and specifically to create an agriculture science academy or program because that would "fit very well with our community," he said.
High schools have changed in the last decade, and Robbins said encouraging students to explore and further their career expectations or education while they are still in school is essential. There are some Daviess County students who graduate high school with two diplomas: one from the high school, and an associate's degree.
This is the direction he would like students to head toward, he said, because it's more economical for students and their families, and it helps them get ahead. From a human resources standpoint, Robbins said the district will be focusing on what he called a "dispositional hiring" process. Dispositional hiring would involve the district targeting qualities it seeks by hiring teachers and other employees "that really are successful in the culture of what we are trying to accomplish in DCPS."
He said the district is trying to develop teachers into new leaders.
He plans to continue the breakfast in the classroom program in county schools that provides free breakfast to all students every school day; as well as online registration, which streamlines that process and makes it more efficient for parents.
Robbins, a native of Hancock County, began working in the DCPS business office in 1996. Before that he worked as a senior accountant for Riney Hancock CPAs after he graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1993.
In 1997, he was offered a position as assistant superintendent for finance and maintenance at Owensboro Public Schools. He returned to DCPS in 1999 as the accounting manager, business manager and director of finance before moving into his current position.
Some of his responsibilities in this role included overseeing a budget of $142.7 million, hiring and mentoring key district-level directors, implementing the DCPS eLearning initiative, and overseeing district facilities plans.
He has worked with the district's Graduation 2010, Community Campus, and College-Career Readiness initiatives and was responsible for the implementation of the School Safety and Healthy Schools Programs initiatives. State Journal, Frankfort, July 2, 2017
COMMENTARY Hello (again), Franklin County By Mark Kopp
I am so excited to be the new superintendent for Franklin County Schools, and just as excited to return to Frankfort with my family and once again be a part of this amazing community. My wife, Carrie, my daughter, Ava, and I lived here from 2005-2009 and absolutely fell in love with Frankfort and Franklin County. The entire community is a very special place, and I am looking forward to doing my part to ensure that our students become productive citizens who contribute to its prosperity.
Based on our prior time here and on all I’ve learned as part of the process of becoming superintendent, I already know we have a wonderful school district with an extremely supportive Board of Education, great teachers, administrators and staff members, and amazing students, parents and community support.
As your new superintendent, my intent is to build on the progress that’s already been made in our schools. My vision is that our district will always keep students first when making decisions, and we will work diligently to promote rigorous and relevant instruction for our students. We will also promote teamwork and unity in all that we do.
While we may have 13 individual schools, I do not want us to be viewed as a “system of schools.” Instead, we will be a “school system,” and our vision will be to work together as one team to ensure that our students have the very best education and opportunities available. On social media, we will be using the following “hashtag” to promote this idea of teamwork: #OneTeamFCS. I am already encouraging all of our staff members to share all the wonderful things going on in our schools on social media using this hashtag.
I am also looking forward to working with educational partners in our community and the surrounding area. Of course, this includes Frankfort’s own Kentucky State University, but it also means working closely with Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Georgetown College, Midway University, UK, U of L and other postsecondary institutions. At the same time, our focus must also include working with our neighboring school districts. While we are all competitive with one another, we also need to collaborate to ensure that we are helping every student, regardless of their race, ethnicity, economic standing, disability, place of residence or any other factor.
Our district will focus on five extremely important initiatives over the course of this year and for the next several years. First, we will work diligently to develop strong relationships with the Franklin County community. We will seek out these relationships, and we ask you, as community members, to do the same with us. Our goal is to create opportunities for our students that are mutually beneficial, both for our students and for the community. We all must work together to ensure that the needs of our community are met, as the students we are teaching today are destined to become the leaders of our community tomorrow.
Second, our district will continue to focus on increasing the graduation rate and the college and career readiness percentages of our students. While a great deal of focus is placed on the numbers themselves (and the numbers are very important), even more important is the goal of creating good citizens for our community. This entails focusing on ALL students by providing rigorous and relevant instruction and creating opportunities for EVERY student. To be absolutely clear, we must meet the needs of every single student we educate. To do this, we have to expand our uses of alternative pathways to graduation, increase our opportunities for a wide variety of career pathways for students, and continually look for partnerships with area universities and colleges, industries, small businesses and other community organizations. Third, we all know technology is a critical tool in the modern-day workforce. We therefore have an obligation to make sure our graduates can use it to its fullest potential. Our One to World initiative — which will put a Chromebook computer in the hands of every middle and high school student this fall — will have a huge impact. But we want our students and teachers to use computers as much more than just a word processing tool. Toward that end, we are providing training opportunities so our teachers know how to use this powerful tool to benefit students in the classroom. Many of our teachers are being trained this summer here in Frankfort, and just last week we sent a team of more than 20 educators to a national conference to focus on how best to use technology in the classroom.
Fourth, we will focus on being efficient in the use of taxpayer dollars. Our Board of Education and our district as a whole have done an outstanding job of making student-centered, efficient decisions when it comes to resource allocations, and we will continue to focus on that goal. We will continually strive to make sound financial decisions while doing everything we can to provide our students and staff members with the tools and resources they need to be successful.
Finally, we must improve our teacher and staff retention. We have to do everything in our power to retain the amazing teachers who make our district so successful. There are two keys to attaining this goal: First, we must make Franklin County Schools a place where people want to be and work. Simply put, we need to create a climate and culture that is positive and rewarding for all of our stakeholders. Second, we have to take a very close look at teacher pay. As I write this column our school district ranks 90th in the commonwealth for teacher salaries. This is completely unacceptable. Former Superintendent Chrissy Jones discussed this during the June board meeting, and I agree with her completely. We will be addressing this issue soon, as we cannot afford to continue to lose good teachers to neighboring districts over the issue of compensation.
In closing this initial column, I want to state once again how incredibly excited I am to begin this new journey with our schools and our community. I truly believe in transparency, honesty and open lines of communication, and I therefore welcome your feedback, comments, questions and concerns at any time. My email address is [email protected] and you can follow me on Twitter at @FCSmarkkopp. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Mark Kopp is superintendent of the Franklin County Schools. You can reach him by telephone at 502- 695-6700 or at the above email address. Lexington Herald Leader, July 2, 2017 New director brings vision to 30th year of GSA, ‘a program for people who want to change the world through their creativity’ By Emma Austin
In a small dance studio with mirrors lining the walls, a group of high school students dance across a black mat taped to the wooden floor. A Latin-American song, “Lástima Que Seas Ajena” by Oscar D’León, plays from a speaker as the students listen to their instructor call out the steps.
When they’re told to find a new partner, the students scatter. One of them is left partnerless, but he dances confidently alone around the clump of his peers anyway, swaying his hips and shouting along with the music.
All the students are artists, but most of this group are not trained dancers. On a Thursday afternoon during their first week at the Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts, the high school students are taking a “Smorgs” class, where they learn about an art form other than what they specialize in and came to study at the summer program.
“It’s more than an art camp, and it is more than a summer camp,” GSA Director Nick Covault said. “GSA is a place for young artists to come and to be accepted as artists and to be held accountable as artists.”
This summer the Governor’s School celebrates its 30th anniversary with 256 students from high schools around the state attending the program in Danville at Centre College, each specializing in one of nine art forms: architecture and design, creative writing, dance, drama, film and photography, instrumental music, musical theater, visual art and vocal music.
Students have classes or studio time related to their art form every day and attend workshops throughout the week, like the “Smorgs,” to learn about other art forms.
Guest speakers and performers also visit, including 2004 GSA alumnus Kevin Olusola, member of Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix.
Covault said the program places an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction, so students studying different art forms collaborate to work on projects together. Architecture and design students might work with dance students to create a structure out of human bodies, Covault said.
Covault is GSA’s first director who is also an alumnus of the program. He attended as a student in 2002 and still has his acceptance letter, which sits on a shelf in his office next to framed photos from his time at the program. He worked as an intern during the summer program for three years while studying vocal music and arts administration at the University of Kentucky.
As a college student, Covault said he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to pursue a career as a professional performer. When he met with his adviser to discuss his future, he remembers telling her he was interested in running a program like GSA.
This fall, he “became the luckiest guy in the world” when he was appointed director. Looking out at the students at the opening ceremony was like looking at himself from the other side of the mirror, he said.
“This place feels so much like home,” he said. “There’s so much of this program in me.” Governor’s School intern and UK student Ruthie Sangster said Covault “definitely encompasses the spirit of what arts administration is” through the fun he brings to his role and the encouragement he offers students.
Covault and three other full-time administrative employees work year-round to facilitate the audition process and plan the three-week summer program.
A little over half of the program’s funding comes from the state, Covault said, and the rest of the budget is funded by individual donors and corporate sponsors.
About 1,400 students apply and audition for the program each year, around 20 percent of whom receive acceptance.
“We’re not just a conservatory for the crème de la crème, the elite students of Kentucky,” Covault said. “We’re just a special place where students get fed in ways they don’t necessarily get fed the rest of the year.”
Atherton High School senior Haley Hack is studying visual art at GSA and said she loves getting to focus on art every day. She said so far her experience has also strengthened her appreciation for art forms other than what she’s used to being around.
J. Graham Brown School senior Noah Bunch said “it’s cool to be around a bunch of people that have the same passion as you.”
Bunch also mentioned the inclusive spirit he has found at GSA. Rather than competing to be the most talented, he said, students build each other up.
“There’s so many aspects of this program that aren’t just about creating great artists but creating great citizens,” Covault said. “We’re a program for people who want to change the world through their creativity, and you just can’t go wrong with that concept. The world needs that.” News Enterprise, Elizabethtown, July 3, 2017 HCS has a new look on the web By Becca Owsley
Hardin County Schools has a new look to its online presence.
According to officials, the new site gives uniformity to sites across the district with school, teacher and classroom websites. The district can create e-surveys and allow alumni to register and search for former classmates with the new design.
“We wanted to ensure that our students, parents, staff and stakeholders have an easy way of finding information about our district and our schools,” the district’s Community Relations Specialist John Wright said in a news release. “The new-look website gives users a much clearer path to information and ways to contact the people they need to reach.”
In a few days, the district will launch an app.
“The app will not have the detailed information the full site does,” Wright said. “However, it will be a direct link to information that students, parents and staff need each day like the Parent Portal, Infinite Campus, an events calendar, district news, lunch and breakfast menus and other information.”
The app can send push notifications on devices for major district announcements such as school cancellations.
Superintendent Teresa Morgan described the website as cleaner, more organized and user-friendly.
SchoolPointe created the new website for the district.
“I applaud our friends at SchoolPointe for their hard work, creative design and superb customer service they provide,” Morgan said in the release. “I also want to commend our staff who has worked diligently on this project.”
Someone at each school took ownership of the new design for their school, the release said.
According to the release, a few adjustments and changes still are being made on the new site.
“But, a website is a living, breathing creature. It needs constant work,” Wright said. “Our main objective is to give our stakeholders a clear path to information they need to ensure children are successful.”
The website is at www.hardin.kyschools.us or www.hardin.k12.ky.us. Links to schools and social media outlets also can be found on the district website. Lexington Herald Leader, July 3, 2017 KSU awarded $147,469 grant to partner with Kentucky high schools on agriculture, STEM education
Kentucky State University has received a three-year, $147,469 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to help establish an agriculture-STEM education and outreach program geared toward K-12 students across the state.
With this grant, KSU will provide participating high school students with short lectures and hands-on demonstrations to deepen their understanding of STEM fields, including agriculture and aquaculture, in particular.
So far, KSU has committed to work with seven high schools: Western Hills High School (Frankfort), Boyd County High School (Ashland), Trinity High School (Louisville), Mason County High School (Maysville), Clay County High School (Manchester), Harrison County High School (Cynthiana) and Carroll County High School (Carrollton).
KSU will also collaborate with Alltech and the Newport Aquarium’s Wave Foundation to host a multidisciplinary Ag-STEM Day event at Kentucky State’s Aquaculture Research Center in Frankfort.
School administrators who are interested in participating should contact Ken Thompson at [email protected] or 502-597-8107. Politico, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2017 Red-state school leaders vent frustrations with GOP health bill They say Medicaid funding cuts would hamper their ability to serve low-income and special education students. By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health care bill is getting failing grades from red-state school leaders — even in his home state of Kentucky.
Fleming County Schools Superintendent Brian Creasman was taken aback when he discovered the bill would make cuts that could devastate his ability to provide health services to needy and disabled kids.
Here in rural Kentucky, the heart of Trump country where three out of four voters cast ballots for Donald Trump and many regard McConnell as their political protector, Creasman initially thought the bill’s potential cuts to school districts must be a misunderstanding.
Only they weren’t.
About $4 billion in annual Medicaid spending goes to U.S. schools to pay for school nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and school-based screenings and treatment for children from low- income families, as well as wheelchairs and even buses to transport kids with special needs.
The funds make up just 1 percent of Medicaid reimbursements, but school leaders in economically depressed parts of Appalachia, the Rust Belt and elsewhere say they are critical to providing services they are required to provide to special education students. Creasman said he’s seen firsthand how mental health services funded by Medicaid have connected families to help at a time when his state is struggling with an opioid addiction crisis.
“I wonder what the senators think is going to happen?” Creasman said. “Do they think everything is just going to go away? It doesn’t. … What happens is we either have to cut something or increase taxes.”
Creasman is lending his voice to scores of other school superintendents — many, like him, from red states critical to Trump’s presidential victory — writing letters and making calls.
The school leaders have become an unexpected and forceful voice opposing the deep Medicaid cuts in the Senate’s healthcare bill. AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is organizing what it estimates could be thousands of letters and emails to senators.
And there are signs they may be getting traction with Republican lawmakers on the fence.
Joseph J. Roy, a superintendent in Bethlehem, Pa., who was Pennsylvania’s 2017 superintendent of the year, joined Democratic Sen. Bob Casey at a recent news conference to highlight what a reduction in the annual $600,000 his district receives in Medicaid funding would mean.
“It’s a major impact on us, and it’s kids who are most vulnerable,” Roy told POLITICO. “They have mental health issues or physical issues that require assistance, and they are the ones that receive services.”
“It just seems completely wrong,” Roy said. Sasha Pudelski, assistant director for policy and advocacy with the superintendents group, said some Republican senators' offices have heard from so many people connected to the effort that they’re getting angry about it, asking for it stop.
“We are getting under their skin about this issue,” Pudelski said.
A GOP aide said they are “absolutely” hearing from superintendents and other educators — and listening to their concerns.
“It makes a difference because it helps us to go back and say, ‘OK, is there something more that should or could be done?’” the aide said.
The initial Senate draft, yanked last week for lack of support, would end Medicaid as an open-ended entitlement and, beginning in 2020, cap federal funding to states based on their number and type of enrollees. The federal government would spend 35 percent less on Medicaid in two decades if the bill becomes law, the Congressional Budget Office projected Thursday.
Even though the bill does not spell out cuts to school-based services, school leaders say the erosion in Medicaid funding would put schools in competition with hospitals and doctors' offices for coveted funds — a shift they say that’s sure to leave them short-changed.
Creasman said he appreciates that McConnell and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul have been to Fleming County and believes they support the schools. But, he adds, “I don’t think they really understand how it impacts schools.”
That this fight on Capitol Hill follows proposed Trump administration cuts to career and technical education programs, teacher training and after-school funding only adds to school leaders’ frustration.
“It’s going to make a massive impact in what we’re trying to do in each of those areas,” said Allen Pratt, executive director of the National Rural Education Association, based in Chattanooga, Tenn. “We’re already behind, and now you’re going to cut more and you’re going to be further behind.”
While Republican leaders were forced to pull a procedural vote due to the lack of support, McConnell is hoping to find agreement on a new draft.
Supporters of the Senate health bill have said the gradual phase-in gives states and school districts time to adjust to the funding changes. In addition, they say that stopping Medicaid’s juggernaut growth would free up money for other important issues, such as education.
The superintendents say informing the public and Congress about the importance of Medicaid to schools has been an important part of their effort.
Rebecca Malamis, deputy executive director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania who helps connect 13 districts with state services, said she doesn’t think many congressional members or their staffs realized that schools used Medicaid funds until the recent push.
But she’s noticed a shift when calling lawmakers’ offices.
“I know that some of the staff that I’ve talked to, they’ve been very respectful, and they too have been concerned about making sure that now that they are aware ... this program remains intact,” Malamis said.
Still, Malamis said she understands the political realities when it comes to protecting school services amid the larger health care debate.
“Health care is overwhelming and it’s complex, and we’re just one small part of it,” Malamis said. Brad Seamer, a high school principal in Salem, South Dakota, is also planning calls even as he tries to rein in his own expectations.
The chairman of the advocacy committee of the National Association of Secondary School Principals says he will contact his home state senator, John Thune, even though he’s not optimistic he will change his mind.
Seamer said his high school, with 225 kids, is so small that a county nurse across the street provides hearing, vision and scoliosis screenings for all the students — and Medicaid helps pays for the services.
“I’ve always been supportive of expanding Medicaid, not reducing Medicaid,” Seamer said. “As an educator, I want all my students to have every resource possible.” Daily News, Bowling Green, July 3, 2017 Henry F. Moss Middle School seeks Chromebooks for student success By AARON MUDD
With as many as 41 percent of the students at Henry F. Moss Middle School classified as English language learners, ESL teacher LoriAnn Martin often wonders if she’s reaching every student she can.
It’s why Martin started a Donorschoose.org campaign to raise money to purchase Chromebooks with headphones and microphones to enhance their learning. Martin is joined by the school’s Parent Teacher Student Organization, which is also raising money to buy Chromebooks for every student to use in their classes.
“It will enhance and accelerate the learning of English for those students,” Martin said of her English learners, adding it ultimately affects the community. “The students are here. They’re going to be within our community.”
Chromebooks support a wide range of educational functions, Martin said. On her Donorschoose page, Martin describes the experience her students have trying to understand unique vocabulary spread across seven classes every school day.
“Can you imagine what it is like to sit in classes all day and constantly try to figure out what the teacher is saying or wanting you to do?” she wrote.
Through the Chromebooks, Martin said, each student has access to their own Google account and to Google Classroom. They can use their accounts to research their school subjects and store it online, build their own vocabulary notebooks and use images, translators, videos and online books and practice sites to learn English faster.
Altogether, Martin is looking to raise about $1,800 to purchase roughly 15 Chromebooks.
Adam Vincent, the school’s technology teacher, has seen the collaboration between students that Chromebooks can provide. Technology literacy is also a critical piece of a student’s 21st century skill set, he said.
“We’re trying to get a laptop into every single student’s hand,” he said.
The school currently uses laptop carts, Vincent said, but needs to do more to “give every student access to the same tools.”
Leigh Mooneyhan, a parent on the school’s site-based decision-making council and the PTSO president, said the Chromebooks for the school’s English learner students will go a long way in leveling the playing field.
“We have to kind of adapt to be able to help them learn at the same pace with our kids, and the Chromebooks help them,” she said.
More Chromebooks across the school will help every student, she said.
“Right now we don’t have very many. They’re shared and they can’t use them in every class,” she said. “It’s going to benefit all of the kids, not just a certain group.” – To support Martin’s classroom initiative visit her campaign online at www.donorschoose.org and search for “Tech for ELL Teens: Promoting English Proficiency.” To support the schoolwide effort, contact Martin at 270-843-0166. Courier Journal, Louisville, July 4, 2017 Acting JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio jumps into his duties By Allison Ross
In his first official media briefing as acting superintendent, Marty Pollio on Monday morning reiterated his push to improve the climate in Jefferson County Public Schools.
"Culture and morale in our schools is at the lowest level it's been in years," Pollio said, pointing to recent survey results of district employees. Those survey results also showed that many JCPS employees don't think the district manages funding effectively.
"In this district, we should never have teachers who feel they do not have the supplies, tools, support or professional development to provide the absolute best instruction to every single one of our students," Pollio said. He said he is going to work with schools to ensure staff members are getting what they need.
Pollio on Monday talked about central office staff spending time in schools to understand what is going on, and said he wants to improve communication so schools don't feel that JCPS decisions are made without input from people in their buildings.
Pollio — who was chosen more than a month and a half ago as acting superintendent to succeed former Superintendent Donna Hargens — officially began his new role Sunday. He has made it clear he is interested in the permanent superintendent job. Hargens officially resigned Saturday.
Pollio already has some plans for immediate changes, including doing press briefings every two weeks to better communicate with the public and get the district's message out.
In addition, Pollio announced Monday that he expects to fill the open chief academic officer position as early as this week. He was less clear on his plans for the chief business officer job, the other top JCPS cabinet position that is currently open.
Pollio stressed the district's efforts to bring "deeper learning" to all JCPS schools, noting that having engaging instruction helps not only academics but things like school culture and behavior and discipline issues.
Pollio is stepping into the top JCPS job in the midst of a sweeping audit of the state's largest school district by the Kentucky Department of Education.
At its most extreme, the results of the exhaustive, top-to-bottom audit could lead to a state takeover of JCPS, with the state handling finances, administration, operations and other responsibilities that would ordinarily be handled by the superintendent and the school board.
At the least, though, it will result in a report with recommendations, which Pollio said Monday that he will plan to use as a "roadmap" for improving the district. He said he has spoken with the state's education commissioner, Stephen Pruitt, as well as the state education secretary, Hal Heiner, about his plans for JCPS and said both men were supportive.
The audit is not the only major thing coming down the pike during Pollio's tenure; during the briefing, he mentioned the passage of charter schools legislation by the state as well as plans by the Kentucky Department of Education to start rolling out a new school accountability system.
Plus, JCPS is in the midst of reviewing its student assignment plan and its facilities, issues that are likely to drum up a lot of passion in the Louisville community. Indeed, Pollio said Monday that he has already heard different perspectives from community members about how JCPS should assign students to schools in the short time he's been acting superintendent.
"We are at a critical time and a critical juncture in our district," Pollio said. "Staff members and community members need to see I'm committed and serious about the work that we're doing, that I'll be present in schools and make sure we begin to move this district forward in a serious way."
He said that "whether I am here for the short-term or the long-term, I am committed to being a passionate leader who confronts these issues head-on." News Democrat & Leader, Russellville, July 3, 2017 Former teacher indicted for sex with student Decker charged with 37 counts, including rape By Chris Cooper
A former Chandlers teacher and coach has been indicted on 37 counts of sexual crimes against a student in the Logan County School system.
A warrant for the arrest of Adam L. Decker, 29, was granted by a Logan County Grand Jury on Friday, June 30 after Decker was indicted following an investigation by the Kentucky State Police.
Decker was also a former assistant baseball coach at Logan County High School and served as the boys basketball coach at Chandlers.
Logan County schools superintendent Paul Mullins said that he could confirm that Decker resigned in February of this year from his teaching and coaching positions, but could not comment further because it was a personnel matter.
The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on one count of prohibited use of an electronic communications system to procure a minor referenced sexual offense when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, knowingly and unlawfully used a communication system including computers, computer networks, computer bulletin boards, cellular phone, or any other electronic means for the purpose of procuring or promoting the use of a minor in sexual activity or other prohibited activities when he, while being a staff member of the Logan County Board of Education, used a cellular phone to send or receive inappropriate photos to and from female juveniles to procure sexual acts from the female juveniles.
The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on 10 counts of third degree rape when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, knowingly and unlawfully committed the offense of rape in the third degree when being 21-years-old or more engaged in sexual intercourse with another person less than 16-years-old when he had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old female.
The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on 10 counts of third degree sodomy when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, knowingly and unlawfully committed third degree sodomy when being 21- years-old or more engaged in sexual intercourse with another person less than 16-years-old when he had a 15-year-old female perform oral sex on him.
The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on 1 counts of third degree sodomy when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, knowingly and unlawfully committed third degree sodomy when being 21- years-old or more engaged in sexual intercourse with another person less than 16-years-old when he performed oral sex on a 15-year-old female.
The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on 10 counts of third degree sexual abuse when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, knowingly and unlawfully committed third degree sexual abuse when he subjected another person, specifically a 15-year-old juvenile to sexual conduct without her consent.
The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on one count of first degree unlawful transaction with a minor less than 16 years of age when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, knowingly and unlawfully induced, assisted or caused a minor, specifically a 15-year-old juvenile to engage in illegal sexual activity. The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on two counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, knowingly and unlawfully committed possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor when having in the defendant’s possession or control matter which visually depicted an actual sexual performance by a minor person when he possessed nude images of a 15-year-old juvenile.
The Logan County Grand Jury indicted Decker on two counts of distribution of obscene matter to minors when between Sept. 1, 2016 and Feb. 17, 2017, the defendant knowing the person to be a minor, and with knowledge of the content and character of the material, sent or caused to be sent, or distributed, or offered to distribute, obscene material to a minor when he sent nude images of himself to a 15-year-old juvenile. Grayson County News Gazette, July 3, 2017 Parker named new GCMS Principal By Matt Lasley
After more than two decades at Grayson County Middle School, Gary Parker has been named the school’s new principal.
Parker recently completed his 22nd year at GCMS and 24th year overall as an educator.
A Logan County native, Parker taught music and band, and originally came to Grayson County as Grayson County High School Band Director, a position he held for about eight years.
While he is “super excited” to begin his tenure as GCMS Principal, Parker said he does so on “a bit of a somber note,” leaving behind the band program he spent so many years cultivating and leading.
However, he said, he feels content about leaving the program in the capable hands of Aaron and Ashley Bell.
Parker said he began working to become a principal after some of his colleagues thought he would excel in an administrative role.
Those colleagues encouraged him to get involved with the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, an organization that provides resources to educators taking administrative classes.
Parker has been involved with that program for the last two years and completed his administrative classes this summer.
Though he has always loved his students and teaching, Parker said, the administrative facet of education allows him to broaden his scope of influence.
“I have a lot of love for this school,” said Parker, citing the “amazing faculty and staff” and the progress he has seen the school make during his tenure there.
“I’m looking forward to keeping that positive momentum going,” he said.
One of Parker’s primary goals as principal is to bring GCMS faculty, staff, parents, and community partners together to establish a new, shared vision for the school.
Parker wants to allow all the “stakeholders” in the school’s success the opportunity to give their input.
And Gary Parker said he has a big stake in the school, as well, as his two oldest sons, Jackson (soon to be a GCHS Senior) and Mason (soon to be a GCHS Freshman), both went through GCMS, and his youngest son, Davis, is soon to be a 6th grader at the school.
Gary Parker is married to Tonya Parker, who will begin her 24th year of teaching at H.W. Wilkey Elementary School this fall.
Parker replaces former Principal Jim Blain, whom moved to the Grayson County Technology Center to serve as that school’s principal and also assume responsibility for Title 1/Federal Funds programs, according to Grayson County Schools Public Information Officer Caryn Lewis. Grayson County News-Gazette, July 3, 2017 Reinventing summer camp By Amy Lindsey
Camp Invention took place June 26-30, at Grayson County Middle School, from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Campers were able to attend this year on scholarship for $30.
Camp Invention is a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing inventors and inventions, promoting creativity, and advancing the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
For students entering kindergarten through sixth grade, Camp Invention is a weeklong adventure that turns the summer from ordinary to extraordinary through hands-on problem-solving, collaboration, and the use of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Inventive young minds exercised their creativity and used their imaginations, all while learning and developing new skills they typically don’t get to use in the classroom.
Children were empowered to have big ideas while they took on challenges that inspired them to question, brainstorm, work as a team and build amazing invention prototypes.
This year’s curriculum featured several hands-on modules:
“Duct Tape Billionaire”-Campers designed duct tape products to market and sell to mock investors.
“Have a Blast”-Children built high-tech Bubble Blasters and competed as a team in friendly air battles that used physics to boost their advantage.
“Mission Space Makers” Teams hatched eggs, sprouted living plants and grew crystal trees, all while on a mission to locateand prepare a new planet for human habitation.
“Operation Keep Out”- Campers learned to reverse engineer old machines and devices, and used their parts to create the ultimate Spy Gadget Alarm Box.
For more information about Camp Invention contact Lea Ann Frank, Grayson County Director, [email protected] or visit www.campinvention.org. WKYU-FM, Bowling Green, July 4, 2017
Charter School Concerns Voiced by KEA President By BECCA SCHIMMEL
An organization representing public school employees in Kentucky is worried about the impact charter schools will have on the commonwealth.
A law that went into effect this year allows applications for charter schools in Kentucky for the first time. Charter schools will receive taxpayer funding, but will also be exempt from most state regulations governing public schools. Stephanie Winkler, president of the Kentucky Education Association, is worried charter schools will focus on profits, not children.
“Taking money from our traditional public schools, and putting them into the pockets of private companies that are making money on the backs of our children,” Winkler said.
Charter school supporters say they’re a needed option for students and parents who aren’t satisfied with their public school options.
Winkler said public schools have the ability to get creative and tackle difficult education issues. She said a new academy in Jefferson County for male students of color is an example of public schools focusing on a specific population.
“There’s flexibility to a point for school’s to do things like that now, without having to be a charter school and that’s just one example of a school doing innovative things to address the needs in their district,” Winkler said.
Winkler said she wants charter school applications to be under the sole authority of the local board of education. Current law allows local school districts and the mayors of Lexington and Louisville to approve new charter schools. In early June, Governor Bevin issued an executive order creating a Charter Schools Advisory Council to review charter applications and make recommendations to the state board of education for final approval. WKMS-FM, Murray, July 4, 2017 Thousands Of Students Expected At WKU Stadium For Eclipse By RHONDA MILLER
Western Kentucky University is planning for its football stadium to be filled with as many as 20,000 school-age children for the solar eclipse on August 21.
WKU has invited area school districts to share the globally anticipated event that will cause the day to go dark for about one minute at 1:27 in the afternoon in Bowling Green.
WKU Emergency Manager David Oliver says the university is experienced at handling crowds that can reach 24,000 for a football game.
“We have evolved into developing comprehensive event plans for anything of this size, anything out of what I could call out of the norm or large scale," Oliver said. "We develop a plan with all of our response partners, including police, fire, EMS.”
Oliver says those hosting the event at the WKU football stadium will be prepared for the possibility of high midday heat and humidity.
WKU will set up a combined emergency operations center at the stadium for the eclipse, in collaboration with Warren County first responders. Richmond Register, July 5, 2017 Proactive approach: Green Dot helping to reduce school violence By John Tompkins
Schools which have initiated the Green Dot program have seen up to a 50 percent drop in not only sexual violence, but all forms of violence, according to a 2017 CDC-funded study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The program has been implemented in almost 700 schools, colleges and military bases. In Madison County, there are four education facilities that have adopted Green Dot: Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, Berea Independent Schools and Madison Southern High School.
Another study, by the University of Kentucky's Center for Research on Violence Against Women published in 2014, found that not only did sexual violence drop by the same amount, but other forms of violence such as stalking and sexual harassment dropped by 40 percent, compared to a control group of schools that didn't have Green Dot.
At Eastern Kentucky University, Green Dot was adopted due to its effectiveness and the research backing it, according to Joslyn Glover, the Chief Equity Officer for Title IX at the university.
“One unique aspect of Green Dot is that is seeks to bring in allies from across the political spectrum. It does not accuse, it does not create barriers, it does not blame groups of people for violence. Rather, it shows each individual how to intervene in small ways and with minimal risk,” Glover said.
Eastern first adopted the program after two faculty members attended a certification program in Lexington.
“These faculty members brought the program back to EKU where the institution decided to adopt the Green Dot program as a part of its bystander and sexual assault prevention education,” Glover said.
Green Dot is utilized by Eastern via bystander and sexual assault prevention.
Glover said the program is provided through the GSD course, other academic courses across campus, as well as programming for various student organizations.
Mike Hogg, the superintendent of Berea Independent Schools, prefers Green Dot over other methods, such as zero tolerance policies.
"I think their ought to be professional judgment," Hogg said. “If we're talking about violence prevention in particular, I think a proactive approach is much better.”
Hogg said that in any given group with Green Dot, one-fourth of the group can set the norm for how communications and violence prevention work.
"What we do is we identify the leaders, and we let the kids identify the leaders. Sometimes the leaders are not who the teachers think they are; it's other people who are the leaders,” Hogg said. “What we do is we take that group and basically train them in bystander awareness, so if they see somebody use derogatory language, they just say, 'We don't use that language around here.’” Hogg said. Berea Independent's method of being proactive is taking a map of the school and placing green or red dots on certain areas of the school. Red dots are considered "bullying hot spots" and green dots are safe zones.
"The ideal is that the school becomes one big green dot," Hogg said.
Brandon Watkins, the principal of Madison Southern High School, had faculty use what was outlined in the student handbook and the Code of Conduct of the Madison County Board of Education to handle violence before Green Dot.
“We were contacted by the Berea Hospital about the grant they received to implement it in local schools,” Watkins said.
Started by Dr. Dorothy J. Edwards after seeing that most people weren’t sure how to intervene during a possible sexual assault, Green Dot has been implemented in countless middle and high schools, colleges and universities, and community organizations and military bases not only in the United States, but in other countries. The program specializes in training people on how to proactively handle a situation as a bystander without the need for physical confrontation.
There are two methods of training for the Green Dot program, according to Nina Johnson, the leader of the training team. The school or university can send a select number of staff to a training seminar, or they can request that Green Dot send two instructors.
Green Dot’s website also showcases several stories on how people have utilized the program, such as telling a friend to stop harassing an ex girlfriend and helping their sister get away from their abusive boyfriend. The website also tells people that 60 percent of teenagers witness bullying at least once a day. Henry County Local, Eminence, July 5, 2017 Henry considers, Eminence modifies drug testing policy By Melissa Blankenship
While county government, churches and local support groups are engaging in a battle against substance abuse in Henry County, schools are also making policy changes to join the fight.
Both districts recently reviewed policies regarding random drug testing in schools, making changes to suit their respective student populations.
Eminence Independent Schools (EIS) has been drug testing its drivers and athletes for about 10 years now. At a recent EIS Board of Education meeting, members voted to expand the scope of testing to include middle school students and students who participate in clubs. Groups now included in Eminence’s test pool are “all drivers, all middle and high school athletic and academic competition teams…and all school-sponsored clubs.”
“Why don’t we add those groups as an extra deterrent?” asked EIS Superintendent Buddy Berry. “It’s not because we suspect excessive drug issues, but it’s been working so well at the high school with so few positive tests, we feel like it must be working as a deterrent to not use or try drugs.”
Eminence currently tests 10 students per month at a cost of about $1,500, Berry said. In light of increasing the testing pool, Berry said the district will look at increasing the number of students tested each month. He considers the policy to be as effective as it is because it was well written at the onset.
“It’s a credit to how well it was set up initially, and that was done before me,” Berry said. “It’s held up through time because it’s a good policy. The best test of any policy really is how it works, and it’s been working well.”
Establishing a solid policy to begin with is crucial to Henry County Public Schools (HCPS), which is currently considering a random drug testing policy.
“The board wants to make sure when we do this, if we do this, we do it correctly,” said outgoing HCPS Superintendent Tim Abrams.
When the policy was first discussed, it would have included both middle and high school, but when presented to board members at a recent meeting for a first reading, that scope had been reduced to high school only.
“My opinion is to just focus on high school this year, because it’s our first voyage into random drug testing,” Abrams said. “We see more incidents at the high school than at the middle school. The high school is a good place to start. We will have a committee that will meet every year to look at data from the KIP survey, discipline data at schools and look at the policy. They’ll determine if it’s being effective, if changes are needed, and if we should add lower grades. They can then make suggestions to the board to change the policy.”
Henry’s draft policy suggests testing all students “engaged in interscholastic athletics, extra-curricular activities [and] those with permits to drive a motor vehicle onto campus.” Parents of students who don’t meet any of those criteria can voluntarily “opt in,” placing their students into the testing pool. From that pool, the policy recommends testing 60 students four times during the school year.
Schools are restricted from testing all students based on legal precedence. In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld testing for public school athletes, saying “the risk of immediate physical harm to the drug user or those with whom he is playing his sport is particularly high.” In 2002, the court approved an Oklahoma school policy of randomly drug testing students who participate in competitive extracurricular activities, such as FFA contests, saying it provided “a reasonably effective means of addressing the school district’s legitimate concerns in preventing, deterring and detecting drug use.”
According to a Student Drug Testing Fact Sheet provided by the Kentucky School Board Association, “If a district chose to test students beyond the programs now permitted by the court…the burden will be upon the district to prove the extension is constitutional.”
In both districts’ policies, students are selected at random and tested by an outside agency, who then reports findings to either the school principal, school nurse, athletic director or club advisor. If a result is positive for a screened substance, parents will be notified and provided information to access a mental health professional. It’s what happens to their participation in the respective testable activity that some HCPS board members had concerns.
For the first violation of the drug policy at HCPS, the “student participant shall be suspended for the next four consecutive interscholastic events or the next four weeks of the season, whichever is greater,” which is actually EIS’ policy. HCPS Board of Education Chairperson Tony Whaley pointed out that in football, this would equate to basically half the season, while in basketball, the suspension could be as short as a weekend if the team were participating in a tournament. The suggestion made after the first reading was to consider changing that language to only say “four weeks,” so that the sanction would be clear and unquestionable and enough of a deterrent that students would not want to test positive, even the first time.
Tougher consequences follow with additional positive results.
For a second violation at EIS, a student would be suspended from the activity for 16 events or weeks, whichever is greater, including driving. A third violation results in the exclusion from participation in any team or club for the remainder of the student’s interscholastic eligibility, while drivers would not be able to drive for the remainder of his or her scholastic career.
Henry’s second violation of the drug policy would result in a 12-week suspension from participation or parking on school grounds. Third and additional violations would result in a suspension of one calendar year from the date of the most recent positive test.
At both districts, parents and students must sign an acknowledgment that they have been advised of the policy. If either refuse to sign, participation in that activity will be denied.
Both districts also have included drug education and awareness components into the policies, and both stress that the random drug testing policy is not meant to be punitive as much as it meant to be preventative.
“This is one more incentive for kids not to stumble into something they shouldn’t be doing anyway,” Berry said. “Also, most workplaces have gone to drug testing and a college athlete will be drug tested, so we view this as another step to moving them to being college and career ready.”
“I hope it is a deterrent for kids, that this prevents a lot of kids from experimenting with drugs and instead making better, healthy choices for their lives,” Abrams said. “We’re not implementing random drug testing to punish kids. We’re doing this to prevent kids from making bad choices.”
Costs for random drug testing vary by provider and type of screening. If the HCPS board chooses to adopt the policy, the board will then solicit bids for the service. Costs for both districts’ drug testing will be defrayed this year by financial support from the Henry County chapter of the Kentucky Agency for Substance Policy, with EIS set to receive $1,000 and HCPS in line to get $3,000.
Abrams was unsure if the policy would be presented for a second reading and adoption at the July HCPS board meeting or in place in time of the beginning of the coming school year. Henry County Local, Eminence, July 5, 2017 All students can now eat for free By Melissa Blankenship
Every child enrolled in either Eminence Independent Schools (EIS) or Henry County Public Schools (HCPS) can eat two meals a day at school for free next year.
Both districts recently added onto the participating schools in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), part of the National School lunch Program (NSLP) administered by the U.S.D.A.
CEP allows districts that meet the guidelines of the program to offer free meals to students. Previously, students paid full price for meals or were asked to complete applications for free and/or reduced cost meals, based on income requirements. Both districts have fairly high percentages of students who qualify for free and reduced meals.
CEP broadens the scope of eligibility to include students who can be directly certified for free meals through their participation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, food stamps), Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP, community based services), Medicaid and the foster child program. In order to qualify, schools must have at least 40 percent of its enrollment fall into these categories.
In 2014, EIS began offering the program to all elementary school students. At the time, the middle and high school didn’t meet the 40 percent threshold. Current statistics place the number of eligible students at Eminence Elementary at 56.69 percent, and 48.67 percent at the middle and high school, according to EIS Food Services Director Jeanie Gilkison.
“We qualified this year for the entire district to fit into the provision,” EIS Superintendent Buddy Berry explained to Board of Education members at its June meeting. Members voted to approve participation in the program.
HCPS took a conservative approach to CEP participation, beginning with its elementary schools in 2015, then adding the middle school in 2016. At the time, the high school barely exceeded the 40 percent requirement, at 41.28 percent, too close to risk successful participation. Numbers heading into the 2017 school year indicate the high school eligibility now stands at 45.26 percent, enabling the board to include it, which members voted to do at the June meeting.
On average, districts that participate in CEP report an increase of 25 percent at breakfast and 13 percent at lunch. Because the cost of school meals are subsidized through the NSLP, increased participation turns into increased revenue for the School Nutrition Department.
“It’s really important that kids eat the offered meals,” Abrams told board members when he introduced the idea in 2015. “They’ve got to go through the line and get a meal for this to work or you’re in jeopardy.”
The School Nutrition Departments of both districts are self-sufficient, meaning it pays for itself not through board monies or local tax dollars, but through its meal service program. When Abrams crunched the numbers in 2015, he concluded the district would reap financial benefit from being in the program. “We’d make more money next year than last year by giving kids free meals. As long as it’s financially wise to do this. We’re going to offer it to our kids,” Abrams said at the time. “The bottom line is more kids will eat healthy every day.”
Both districts have seen success in their first years participating in the program.
“Our lunch participation increased by five percent and we didn’t lose any money,” said EIS Food Services Director Jeanie Gilkison. “I can’t see any loss in feeding a child. There is no down side to this program.”
In fact, educators can list a number of advantages to offering free meals.
“I think it takes away a lot of stigma around being free and reduced,” Berry said. “Kids are actually eating at higher rates; they don’t know the difference between one or the other.”
And when kids eat nutritious meals, they perform better in school.
“Kids’ basic needs need to be met before they can reach higher levels of learning,” Berry added. “Research says they need sleep, they need food and they need safety. We can’t control how much they sleep, but we can help with food and a sense of safety at school.
“Hungry kids are much less likely to pay attention, more likely to be distracted and not engaged in the learning process,” Berry added.
And while EIS didn’t experience many issues with unpaid meal charges, HCPS had its fair share, writing off $3,700 at the middle school before entering it in the CEP program. The past school year saw between $2,000 and $3,000 in unpaid meals at the high school, according to Abrams.”
“We’re having to cover those unpaid charges, paying off student meals that don’t qualify for free or reduced meals who haven’t paid for their charges,” Abrams said. “If food services loses money, we have to use taxpayer dollars to bail them out. If they make money, that profit they make goes to buy new equipment and pay staff. It’s meant to be a self-supporting business that can cover its costs, but not necessarily turn a profit.”
In both districts, adults will still pay for their meals and no charges will be allowed for a la carte items. Beginning in August when students go back to school, every student in HCPS and EIS can eat breakfast and lunch at no charge.
“I’m excited about it,” Abrams said. “These are tough times and this is one more bill parents won’t have to worry about.”
“It will take a lot of pressure off the families that may be struggling and allow us provide a hot meal to every hungry child,” Gilkison said. Meade County Messenger, Brandenburg, July 5, 2017 Meade County Board of Education Special Called Meeting By MADDIE CECIL
The Meade County Board of Education held a special called meeting on June 29. The following business was covered:
• Consideration of Approval of Change Orders, Meade County Area Technology Center Renovation/ Addition
• Consideration of Approval to Purchase Property
• Approval to Hire Emergency Certified Teacher
Meade County Schools Superintendent John Millay began the meeting by presenting members of the board with a change order from Morel Construction, the general contractor hired to build the new Meade County Area Technology Center Addition and Renovation.
The change order included additional charges to the base bid for the addition of power and data for the televisions that will be later installed in the building, installing a new compressed air system, and for “under cut and fill footings.”
According to the contractor, additional power and data was needed for the television because the original designs did not supply enough to complete the duties that administrators planned for it to. The total amount charged for this service was $15,674.
The previous air system in the Area Technology Center was working, but since it was an older unit it would not be able to support both the existing classrooms and the additional ones.
The options were to either add a small unit to the addition, or to replace the entire compressed air system.
Since the old system had been used for years, the contractor opted to install a new one and place the old system in storage at the Meade County bus garage, as it is still operational but unneeded at the moment. The price for the new compressed air system was $34,340.
The change order was for a total increase of $88,016 for all of the necessary renovations.
Board members approved Millay to purchase five acres of land in front of Brandenburg Primary School for the Board of Education. No immediate plans have been made for use of the land, according to Millay.
Board members also approved the hiring of an Emergency Certified Teacher for Flaherty Elementary School. When members asked why this particular individual was getting emergency certified when there were other instructors out there with the necessary certification, Millay explained that administrators go through an indepth interviewing process in which they look at not only what the applicant has done academically, but how their personalities would mesh well with the students.
Millay said he believed there would be some physical restraint necessary in this position, and that the administrators at Flaherty Elementary had expressed their preference for this candidate.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting will be held on July 11. Lexington Herald Leader, July 6, 2017 A horse named Millie helps refugee students learn about their new community BY VALARIE HONEYCUTT SPEARS
NICHOLASVILLE — A horse named Millie is helping Abdul Alnajjar, David Rugazura and other refugee children at a Lansdowne Elementary summer camp learn about their new community.
Millie was rescued from a wild herd of horses in Knott County and since March has lived at the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, a rescue farm in Jessamine County. As part of the center’s education program called Take the Reins, about 20 students from the Lansdowne camp on Wednesday toured the facilities and met Millie, the horse that they have been fostering this summer, said Karen Gustin, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Equine Humane Center.
“They are eager to learn,” said Gustin.
When 15-month-old Millie was found with her herd, she could not walk and was emaciated. She is now healthy. The equine center takes in horses of any breed that are abused, neglected or abandoned or whose owners can no longer care for them.
Betty Simson, the Lansdowne camp director, said in talking to the refugee students, she connects the kindness and help that Millie received to the help that the refugee students are receiving as they become accustomed to Lexington.
Gustin said center staff has been going to Lansdowne once a week to make presentations on horses and to explain their horse rescue efforts. The refugee students created a story book about Millie. They painted horseshoe picture frames and had their photos taken with Millie.
“She’s very nice and good,” Abdul, a refugee from Syria about to enter the fifth grade at Lansdowne, said when he met Millie for the first time. He said he knew no English when he arrived about a year ago, but said he was continuing to learn at the camp this summer and in the Take the Reins program.
What does Abdul like about Lexington?
“Everything,” he said.
About 100 refugee children are enrolled at Lansdowne during the school year, said Page Harman, an English as a Second Language teacher.
At the school’s summer camp, refugee students learn English, counting and other basic skills, depending on their age. Students at the camp range in age from 4 to 13.
Harman said at the Equine Humane Center Wednesday, students were making connections between vocabulary words that they were learning in the camp such as “farm” and “equine” and seeing those things first hand.
David, a refugee from the Congo, who will be a sixth grader at Southern Middle School, said he had been in the United States about eight months. He said he used to live on a farm in Africa, so he had been around horses, but in Take the Reins he was learning what kind of equipment a horse needs and new words such as “harness.” The Take the Reins program focuses on the importance of students giving back to the community, the importance of Kentucky’s horse industry, and the proper care of horses. It takes a hands-on approach and makes connections to many aspects of the child’s life, in and out of school, said Laura Schnettler , who volunteers in the center’s education program.
During the 2017-18 school year, classes at Lansdowne and Ashland elementary and Christ the King will begin participating in Take the Reins.
Generally, school classes focus on one horse for the year, take field trips to the center and to Alltech, a corporate sponsor of the program, where they learn about horse nutrition. Students have guest presenters from the equine industry speak to them.. The presentations and field trips are tailored to each individual school, and target fourth grade, where Kentucky history is taught. “Every aspect of horse rescue can apply to math, science, language arts,” said Gustin. “Any kind of project can be developed around this program that will fit into the schools’ curriculum.”
Gustin said she is currently looking for grant funding to keep Take the Reins going. Ultimately, she wants to hire an education specialist.
Two parents who were Syrian refugees visited the equine humane center Wednesday to learn about horses.. Hifiza Sousi and Duaa Helam said their young children are learning the alphabet at the Lansdowne Elementary summer camp and some words in English. Sousi said there is much to like in Lexington, the weather “the green grass, the trees and the people.” Bourbon Citizen, Paris, July 5, 2017 Paris Independent Board of Educating Votes to Give All Staff a 1% Pay Raise above the Annual Step Increase Raise: Evaluates Superintendent Exemplary
In two separate June meetings, the Paris Independent Board of Education evaluated Superintendent Ken Bicknell as exemplary in his responsibilities and leadership to the district, and the Board also voted to give all staff a pay increase of 1% above any step increase that employees would receive for the 2017-2018 school year.
Chair Person, Sharon Fields stated, “On behalf of the Board, I want to acknowledge the efforts being made for our students. Everyone in our system, classified and certified, is essential to the wellbeing and continuing education of all Paris students. We appreciate everything that our employees do to make Paris a wonderful place to work and be educated.”
“I’m so pleased the Board Members approved the raise. It has been several years since a salary increase has been provided for staff,” Bicknell commented. “We are blessed to be a growing district, and we are asking teacher and staff to be on the cutting edge of what is best for our students. At every level and position in our district, we are expecting excellence. Our teachers and staff have earned the salary increase. As we continue to grow, I hope we can do more in the future.”
Bicknell also had praise for the Board and the community. “This community has been wonderful to our kids. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen in my twenty-six years as an educator. Great things are ahead for our schools and our community. Our Board and our community are aligned. We all want our district to be the best it can be for kids. It’s a great place to be an educator.” Mt. Sterling Advocate, July 6, 2017 Student reads statement from former teacher at board meeting By Tom Marshall
A local student tried to keep the spotlight on a former McNabb Middle School vocal music teacher at the board of education’s most recent meeting June 27.
Abbrielle Robinson read a statement to the board that was recently issued by Nick Breiner after it was announced that his teaching contract would not be renewed for the upcoming school year.
Some have claimed on social media that he was not being retained because he came out publicly about his sexuality. The school district denies the charge.
In Breiner’s statement, which was released previously to the Advocate, he addresses the successes of the program such as the advanced choir, the Vox Nova Chorale, which rose to be the highest rated middle school choir in the region in its first year of existence. The district as a whole was recipient of the PEAK Award in 2014 for the outstanding district-wide program.
“Our vocal students in Montgomery County are truly exceptional and I have been blessed to be even a small part of their history,” Breiner said. “It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as the director of vocal music and theater at McNabb alongside world class colleagues, under the most caring and supportive boards of education one could ask for and for the very exceptional community that made me want to be a teacher in the first place.”
The statement stressed the importance of arts/music education, including those from low income families.
Robinson also claimed that Breiner had intervened in potential suicide cases resulting from sexual identity issues.
About 20 local students participated in a rally in support of Breiner June 17 at the Montgomery County Courthouse.
The situation has also garnered attention from Lexington media outlets.
In other action, the board:
• Was informed by superintendent Matt Thompson that the district was undergoing a power shut down last week and this week to cut down on utility costs while school is not in session.
• Approved fees for the 2017-2018 school year for the district child care program. Those fees include a $20 yearly registration fee per family. Before school child care tuition will increase from $10 to $15 with the understanding that each program site must maintain a minimum of 10 students enrolled in order for morning care to be offered. The full-time enrollment fee for after school child care tuition will go from $40 to $45 weekly. The part-time enrollment fee goes from $10 daily to $30 weekly for three days or less.
In the event fees are two weeks overdue, there is a penalty fee of $20 per week per child that fees are not paid.
The Head Start/Preschool fees go from $40 weekly to $45. You add an additional $10 for full-day Friday care (or any days the full-day childcare if provided). Thompson said the increase in fees are necessary to keep the program self-sustaining.
• Was informed that the district had been awarded two grants. One is the Kids Read Now grant that will provide $70,000 over three years to help subsidize the cost of a summer reading initiative for student in grades kindergarten-third. The program will begin next summer.
The other is the Preschool Partnership Grant that will provide $75,000 this coming school year to help with a partnership between preschool and childcare dept. in providing services for students.
The district, however, was turned down for a New Skills for Youth KY grant. That is a planning grant that would have allowed the district to work with regional partners to design a regional career pathway academy that would build upon the Montgomery County Area Technology Center in order to expand career pathways options for students specifically in high demand job industries locally, Thompson explained.
Three of these grants were awarded statewide.
Working with the same community partners involved in the grant application, they will continue “to work together in order to be able to offer more career pathways for our students in those high demand industry sectors,” Thompson said.
• Approved an HVAC project at Mapleton Elementary School. Estimated cost is $256,000.
• Approved a community use of school facilities policy.
• Was informed students will not be able to charge ala carte items at MCHS next school year. The school was recently approved for free lunch and breakfast. Ala carte items are extra.
• Approved a bid, as recommended for new kitchen equipment for Mapleton Elementary School and Montgomery County High School, to Manning Brothers.
• Recognized retirees from the 2016-2017 school year and the 2017 graduating class from the high school.
• Observed a moment of silence in honor of Missy Jones, a nurse at Mt. Sterling Elementary School who died unexpectedly recently.
Thompson said her loss has been difficult for both the MSE family and the larger district family. Vice chair Bill Morgan chaired the meeting in the absence of chair Alice Anderson, who recently underwent surgery.
The board will meet again in regular session 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, in the MCHS cafeteria. Meetings are open to the public. Jessamine Journal, July 5, 2017 Gallutia chosen as the interim superintendent By Tosha Baker
The Jessamine County School Board’s goal of having a superintendent in place by July 1 was not achieved, so in a specially-called meeting on Monday morning, Assistant Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer of Jessamine County Schools Val Gallutia was named the interim superintendent for an undetermined amount of time.
Following the retirement of the former superintendent, Kathy Fields, on June 30, it was necessary to appoint an acting superintendent to lead the district during the interim period.
Gallutia has been with the school system for 29 years, he was principal Warner Elementary before moving to Central Office.
“I am honored to have been selected by the Jessamine County Board of Education to serve as interim superintendent,” Gallutia said in a statement. “At this time, I do not know how long I will be acting in this capacity, but I am happy to assist for as long as necessary to support the board and the district during this transition.”
He added that it will be “business as usual” for the district during his tenure.
The screening committee who is in charge of making recommendations for the new superintendent presented superintendent candidates at a meeting with the Jessamine County School Board on June 22. There were originally 17 applicants for the position.
The candidates will be interviewed throughout the month of July by the board before a decision is made.
“We are in good hands under Mr. Gallutia’s very capable leadership,” Jessamine County Board of Education Chairwoman Amy Day said in a statement. “The board is dedicated to ensuring that this is a smooth transition, and that we take the appropriate time to select the best possible candidate to be our next superintendent.” Lebanon Enterprise, July 5, 2017 Independent Stave Company donates $318,000 to MCPS for drug prevention program Leader in Me program will be expanded to Marion County Middle School and Lebanon Elementary School
Independent Stave Company is pleased to announce its support of a new program focused on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention in the Marion County Public School System. Support totaling $318,000 will be donated by the Boswell family to establish the program and carry out the new curricula.
“It is important to us to make a positive difference in our local communities, and supporting our youth is the foundation for the future,” said Chief Executive Officer Brad Boswell. “We commend the Marion County School System and its partners for working together this winter and spring to research and implement a program that has experienced success elsewhere with evidence-backed results. The new program will carry out an important vision to better empower students to make decisions that will help them flourish for years to come.”
Marion County Public Schools Chief Operations Officer Chris Brady worked collaboratively with partners from Communicare and Lincoln Trail Health to secure the donation and as a result, The Leader in Me program will be expanded with two additional schools in 2017-18, Marion County Middle School and Lebanon Elementary School. The Leader in Me empowers students with the skills they need for a global society. Students will develop skills such as self-confidence, teamwork, creativity, self-direction, problem solving, responsibility and communication. In the past, a desire existed to expand The Leader in Me in Marion County, however it was cost prohibitive. Currently, Calvary Elementary and Glasscock Elementary are Leader in Me Schools. Marion County Public Schools and its partners are excited about the opportunities it will create for students.
“The generous donation from the Boswell family will greatly impact Marion County students and will be invaluable for school climate and culture,” Brady said.
The curricula and supporting services will be carried out by the Marion County Public School System in partnership with Communicare’s Regional Prevention Center and Lincoln Trail District Health Department. Benefiting the more than 3,000 students enrolled in Marion County K-12, the program will utilize leadership skills building, goal setting, emotional awareness, positive conflict resolution and relationship building as a multi-prong approach to address drug prevention. Curricula include The Leader in Me, and Too Good for Drugs, a program that targets middle and high school youth. A nationally-recognized therapeutic intervention, Seven Challenges, will also be implemented to incorporate therapy in classrooms and for individual students. Messenger Inquirer, Owensboro, July 6, 2017 DCPS receives two grants for preschool programs By Bobbie Hayse
The Daviess County Public Schools preschool department has received two grants from the Kentucky Department of Education that will help develop two "wrap-around" programs that will provide children an opportunity for full-day early childhood learning.
The two grants are for $75,000 each -- one will benefit the Southern Oaks Elementary School preschool program, and the second will support partnerships between DCPS, the Family YMCA of Owensboro, Pleasant Grove Learning Center and Sweet Peas day care center.
Chris Westerfield, DCPS preschool coordinator, said Wednesday that the Southern Oaks program will allow the district to offer the wrap-around program to students. What that means is, of the 40 children who attend preschool there, half will come in the morning to the wrap-around room, and the other half will go into the regular preschool classroom.
After three hours of instruction in each room, the two groups will then switch, Westerfield said.
"That gives them a full day of enrichment activities," he said.
The difference between the wrap-around room and the regular preschool room is the wrap-around room will focus on extension activities that will support things that have been taught in the preschool program, he said.
The wrap-around program doesn't have certified personnel but will focus on activities that are currently taught in the preschool's "high-rigor" program, he said.
The wrap-around idea was born, in part, Westerfield said, because there are certain schools in the district that are in communities with families that have limited access to after-school programs such as day care services. He said Southern Oaks is one of those areas, and parents "still struggle with what to do with those kids" after half-day preschool.
He said parent surveys were completed that indicated a need for an all-day preschool.
Janet Land, the former DCPS preschool coordinator who retired June 30, worked on the grant along with Westerfield. In a press release sent by the district, Land said an assessment "clearly demonstrated a need for this program."
"We are hoping this pilot is very successful," Westerfield said.
The other half of the grant that will go toward partnerships with other after-school programs is almost a mirror program for the wrap-around, Westerfield said.
That program will be for Deer Park Elementary School students, and specifically students who are English language learners, are homeless or have been identified to have behavioral concerns. Those students will attend school half a day at Deer Park and the other half at the aforementioned partnership facilities.
A behavior consultant has also been hired who will do outreach with the Pleasant Grove Learning Center and the Sweet Peas day care center. She also will be working with all the district's preschool classrooms, Westerfield said. DCPS Superintendent Matt Robbins said last week that he hopes this wrap-around program can be spread to other schools in the district after the upcoming school year.
He said extending opportunities to educate young children is part of his plan to "think outside the box of preschool."
Early childhood education will be a priority for the district, he said.
"One of our greatest responsibilities is that of ensuring that every child has a positive introduction to lifelong learning," Robbins said in the district press release. "The foundation that is established at a young age has a tremendous impact on success in the classroom and beyond." Winchester Sun, July 5, 2017 District moves on from 2016 KPREP violation By Seth Littrell
Clark County Public Schools Superintendent Paul Christy said the district found no instances of personnel violating KPREP testing code during the latest testing cycle all schools must go through.
The 2016-17 cycle was the first since the firing of Audrey Deaton, a fourth-grade teacher at Strode Station Elementary who allegedly accessed test materials early to share with her students during K-PREP testing last year.
When district officials learned of the violation, Christy said Deaton was promptly dealt with by school officials and reported to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Personnel records from the board of education’s May 17 and June 21, 2016 meetings show that Deaton was suspended with pay for a month before having her contract terminated entirely.
“Immediately upon finding out we began an investigation of the teacher’s alleged involvement,” Christy said. “I removed her immediately from the classroom. She no longer works in the district.”
Christy said during the course of the investigation, educators reviewed the notebooks of all of the school’s fourth graders to see how widespread the violation was. He said the investigation revealed evidence that only Deaton’s classroom had been involved in the tampering.
As a result of the violation, the 25 students in Deaton’s class had their accountability scores — which affects the school and district — dropped to 0.
The students themselves were found to not have been involved in the violation, and so they were able to keep their KPREP scores without any negative effects.
“The students didn’t even know anything out of the ordinary had happened,” Christy said.
Christy said the adjustment lowered Strode Station’s overall score, but the school was still able to be ranked as a school of distinction, the highest possible ranking.
However, the district as a whole felt the impact as CCPS missed being named a district of distinction by 0.1 of a percentage point.
Christy said the lowered district score did not affect the amount of state funding CCPS qualifies for in subsequent years.
In the wake of the incident, CCPS has redoubled its efforts to be vigilant about the security of test materials, he said.
“All test materials are double locked,” Christy said. “That means you need two different keys to access them. We still monitor them as well. That’s why we have security cameras.”
KDE spokesperson Nancy Rodriguez said the state has a process in place for reporting and investigating violations of the administrative code for Kentucky’s assessment program. She said KDE staff routinely review and update the code when revisions are needed, but there were no revisions required after the Strode Station incident. “The administrative code, reporting mechanisms and investigative process worked as they should have in this case,” Rodriguez said. Paintsville Herald, July 5, 2017 Salyer announces retirement By Elaine Belcher
Johnson County School Board Superintendent Tom Salyer announced on Monday, July 3 that he would be stepping down from his position as of July 31.
“I’ve had a wonderful career,” said Salyer. “I’ve been here for more than 34 years, and when you’ve reached the point where you can make more money for staying at home, then it’s time to spend time at the house.”
The school board is in the process of assembling a committee to search for a new superintendent. “They hopefully will make a decision before school starts,” said Salyer.
Salyer began his career in 1979 as maintenance worker during the summer. In 1983 to 1991, he worked as a 7th and 8th grade teacher of both language arts and math; in addition to coaching at Flat Gap Elementary School. In 1988 while he was teaching, he took on the responsibility of an assistant principal at Flat Gap Elementary until he moved on in 1991 to be the assistant principal at Porter Elementary until 1994.
Salyer split his time as an assistant principal of W.R. Castle Elementary and Porter Elementary Schools during the 1993-1994 year. Then transitioned to being the Principal of Porter Elementary School full time until 2009.
In 2009 he became director of pupil personnel for the district, serving as school health coordinator, and Infinite Campus administrator until he was named the Johnson County Board of Education Superintendent in 2014.
“I will always treasure the many wonderful student successes that have occurred during my educational career. The hard work shown by the students and employees of this district have made me proud to be your Superintendent,” said Salyer. “I want to thank each and every one of you from board members, students, faculty, staff, parents, as well as the many community members with whom I have had the pleasure to work with in this outstanding school system.”
Salyer says that his plans for retirement include fishing and spending time with his family and friends.
“I’ve got a list of things I want to get caught up on,” said Salyer. “I’ve been looking forward to it for a while.” Interior Journal, Stanford, July 6, 2017 School district continues talk on nickel tax By Abigail Whitehouse
About 30 people attended the Lincoln County Board of Education’s special-called meeting last Thursday for continued discussion on a recallable nickel tax, which failed June 8 for lack of a second.
A total of 12 people delivered opinions on the proposed levy and asked questions for clarification on what impact it might have on the county. Superintendent Michael Rowe praised the comments as signs of democracy at work.
The majority were opposed to building two new elementary schools with the money under a consolidation plan, which had been proposed before the vote, while some just opposed the nickel tax itself. Even though the levy would require two separate board votes for it to be implemented, one to approve the nickel tax and another at a later date to decide how to spend it, some of the taxpayers in attendance were wary about approving it without first knowing exactly how the money would be spent.
“The building doesn’t teach our kids anything, I mean it’s the teachers that teach our kids,” said Jason Elliott, echoing common concerns about using the money to fund new construction projects. “Not that I’m against the nickel tax if it’s needed to pay off some debt, but … let’s get it down to where it’s going to go. It needs to be outlined.”
If brought to another vote and approved, the levy, along with an expected state match, would boost the district’s bonding potential from $3.2 to $21.1 million. The revenue generated by the nickel tax is earmarked specifically for new construction, renovations, paying off existing debt or purchasing new property over the next 20 years.
Instead of building new schools, Elliott and others suggested it could be used to pay against the $30 million in bonds that the district already owes. This would mean that the district could essentially use the money to refinance its existing loans.
What’s more, four current schools — McKinney, Highland, Hustonville and Waynesburg — would be shut down under the consolidation plan, creating logistical obstacles for teachers, parents and students across the county. But some of the schools, McKinney for example, are in serious need of repair, a fact not lost on any of the board members.
“There’s no doubt they need work done to them,” said District 4 board member Alan Hubble, who voted against the nickel tax because he was concerned about how the funds would be spent. “It’s stuff that’s been put off for the last 15 or 20 years, and I’m not blaming it on any one person. I don’t know who’s responsible, but it still needs to be taken care of and it’s not stuff that we can just pawn off.”
Lincoln County Middle School teacher Debbie Francis, who supports the nickel tax, agreed with Hubble, noting she has garbage cans in her classroom’s windows to deal with leaks from rain.
“Every time it rains, I have a river,” she said. “There is a definite need to improve the buildings that we have and to have buildings for our students that are up-to-date and modern.”
Other concerns dealt with the nickel tax’s potential short-term impact on farmers and other taxpayers.
County magistrate Joe Stanley, for example, said he couldn’t justify making taxpayers take on the extra burden because they are already paying more than enough. “If you go back to 2006, we were paying 37 cents out of a dollar to school board taxes. Fast forward 10 years, we’re paying 52 cents,” Stanley said. “It seems to me like the taxpayers have bent over backwards to do all they can to make this work, and I don’t see how we can ask for anymore.”
Boyd Coleman agreed, adding that the nickel tax would have a negative impact and said and that he is “sick and tired of certain groups of people helping pack the load.” He also predicted that the school district’s current buildings would last for years to come.
“I don’t want to take (anything) away from the kids, but a new building’s not going to help the kids any,” Coleman said. “These buildings will all be here when we’re dead and gone — there’s not one building that’s going to fall down in the next 10 years. I think we can patch them, fix them and go on, but if you spend this many million dollars and that building’s only good for 45, 50 years, there’s something very wrong.” Glasgow Daily Times, July 6, 2017 Ramsey: Educators, officials need ‘culture change’ on apprenticeships by Ronnie Ellis
Kentucky Labor Secretary Derrick Ramsey thinks educators and state officials need a “culture change” when it comes to workforce development.
On Wednesday, Ramsey told the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Development there is often too much focus on a college education for students who might be better off in apprenticeship programs.
Ramsey recently visited Europe with Gov. Matt Bevin, where he said 80 percent of high school students graduate to apprenticeship programs while only about 20 percent enter college directly from high school.
That compares with 60 percent of Kentucky high school students who enter college, but Ramsey said only about 20 percent of those graduate.
“To superintendents, principals and guidance counselors, success is still measured by college,” Ramsey said.
But an apprentice who earns a journeyman’s certificate makes an average annual salary of $50,000, he said.
Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, echoed Ramsey’s statements, talking about programs in Warren County and Bowling Green high schools that prepare high school graduates for immediate employment.
He said an auto assembly line worker can make $58,000.
Wilson said Warren County currently has about 500 open skilled labor jobs with no workforce to fill them.
Ramsey said there are 150,000 such unfilled jobs across the state.
He and Bevin have promoted the apprenticeship programs, even as the governor and lawmakers have continued to reduce funding for the state’s colleges and universities who have in turn raised tuition.
Critics complain that a college education is being priced out of reach for many middle- and working-class families.
Presently, the state offers 179 apprenticeship programs in 49 counties, according to Jarrad Hensley, communications director for the Labor Cabinet.
The state also hopes to develop apprenticeships for children in foster care who are reaching adulthood — in collaboration with the Cabinet for Health Family Services.
The existing 179 programs offer training in 41 skills, Ervin Dimeny, commissioner of the Department of Workplace Standards, told the committee Wednesday.
Most apprentices are enrolled in building trades, information technology, advanced manufacturing and maintenance programs, he said. Ramsey said he wants to work more closely with educators and to begin talking about apprenticeships and career choices for high school students and even those in grade schools.
He said students in Switzerland often choose careers by 10th grade and begin touring and visiting businesses and industries as early as seventh grade.
That raises a concern for Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood, who lived in Germany while serving in the military.
There, he witnessed students choose a career while still in school, choices that locked them into careers.
“How many of us are doing the jobs now that we thought we were going to do when we were in high school or college?” Harris asked. “I have no problem with juniors in high school making a decision or starting to expose seventh- or eighth-graders to a career is fine. Exposure is great, but let’s not lock our students in too early.”
Ramsey said the apprenticeship program isn’t meant to “be an either-or choice. This is just another option.” Lebanon Enterprise, July 5, 2017 MCPS makes more hiring announcements
Marion County Superintendent Taylora Schlosser announced last week that Paige Wood will be the dean of students/assistant principal at Marion County Knight Academy. (The Marion County Knight Academy is the new eighth/ninth grade center, which will be housed at the former Lebanon Middle School facility). Wood previously served as an assistant principal in Nelson County, according to Schlosser.
“We are very excited to have her in our district. She brings so much experience,” Schlosser wrote in an email to the Enterprise.
Schlosser also announced that Tom Brown will serve as the interim principal at Calvary Elementary School until the council completes the hiring process. Sara Brady has been hired as the principal of the Marion County Knight Academy. She has been principal at Calvary Elementary for the past five years. The Calvary Elementary School SBDM Council will be setting a timeline in regards to the hiring process next week, according to Schlosser. McLean County News, Calhoun, July 6, 2017 Riggs appointed to McLean school board By STEPHANIE SALMONS
Former McLean County educator and retired administrator Stephen Riggs has been appointed to the McLean County Board of Education.
He fills the seat left vacant after the death of longtime board member Otis Griffin in April.
Superintendent Terry Hayes said the remaining board members have "certainly done a good job taking care of school business in Mr. Griffin's passing. Mr. Griffin can never be replaced. He was certainly an honorable board member for 42 years." But, "it is is good that we do have a full team," he continued.
According to Hayes, there were two "good" applicants for the seat. Applications were submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education, which conducted interviews, before an appointment was made by the education commissioner.
Riggs, 57, said he spent 13 years in McLean County Schools administration and 18 years before that in the classroom, serving as band director in Muhlenberg, McLean and Daviess counties. Because of that experience, he said he knows both the school and administration side of matters.
The former director of pupil personnel, transportation, and buildings and grounds, Riggs also served previously as interim superintendent before Hayes was hired.
Riggs said he still cares about kids. The key thing, he said, is to try and set students up for success.
It won't be easy to replace Griffin -- or his vast wealth of knowledge, Riggs said, but "my goal is to do the best I can," do what is best for the school system and work with fellow board members to "provide the best education for our kids we can."
The county has a "really good school board," he said, one that "does more with less than anyone around."
A 1977 graduate of McLean County High School, Riggs lives in Calhoun.
Hayes said Riggs would likely be sworn in this week. Citizen-Times, Scottsville, July 6, 2017 Principal: Build on Success By Matt Pedigo
Once a mechanic and an Automotive Technology teacher, he revved his career up to being a successful director of the Allen County Career and Technical Center. Now, Joseph Cosby hopes he will be bolt-in ready for his new dual role as ACCTC director and the new principal of Allen County-Scottsville High School.
In a June 24 special session, the AC-S Site-Based Decision-making Council approved the selection of Cosby to replace Shane Davis, who has become the district’s new Director of Security and Special Services.
For now, Cosby will lead both schools, adding that he has solid co-workers to help in the dual roles. He noted the high school’s two assistant principals, Wes Pardue and Chris Vernon.
“And I’ve got good mentors,” he said. “I can call Mr. (Superintendent Randall) Jackson or Mr. (Director of Instruction Rick) Fisher anytime.”
On the ACCTC side, through the grant Cosby obtained from the state’s Work Ready Skills initiative, that dual-duty will be made easier by the hiring of a College and Career Readiness coordinator. Another veteran ACCTC educator has stepped into that role: Laura Carter, the school’s 17-year business teacher.
She will perform multiple duties, including the time-consuming entering of ACCTC’s student names into the TED (Technical Education Database), which Cosby has been doing. She will also serve as a liaison between ACCTC and local industries for their help in vocational training. Carter will be working with AC-S counselors for student class scheduling, help with WorkKeys and Kentucky Occupational Skills Standards Assessment (KOSSA) and other administrative tasks.
Cosby has attained a high role as an educator – especially for someone who didn’t set out in that direction. His grandfather, Yoele Rather was a small-engine mechanic, and as a small child, Cosby worked in his shop with him.
“That was my day care – Grandaddy’d hand me a chainsaw engine, or a radio, and have me take it apart and put it back together again,” he recalls.
Cosby grew up as a budding mechanic, and studied at the old ACCTC under then Automotive Technology teacher Mike McClure.
“I joked about taking his job from him,” Cosby recalls. “Go get five years of experience, and come back.” And so he would.
Cosby graduated AC-S in 1991. (Interestingly, so did both his last two predecessors at the AC-S helm, Davis and Brian Carter.) Cosby then enrolled in Nashville Auto Diesel College.
His early career years included jobs at the old Costello Chrysler dealership and Village Motors. Later, he worked for Bluegrass Truck and Trailer when it was located across from AC-S, and for Dave Buchanon’s old Dave’s Safety Service.
“Since 1996, I’ve worked within an eighth-of-a-mile radius,” he laughs.
In 2001, it all came full-circle when McClure told Cosby that he was leaving the AT post. Cosby moved fast, walking into the old Board of Education office on Ky. 980 and asking for an application. Under Kentucky law, he could be a teacher for an occupation-based certification, which allows experience in a technical field to count, versus normal collegiate classroom instruction.
When he asked for the application, Cosby remembers a surprised receptionist, the now late Frankie Ogles, saying the position wasn’t open. Then-Superintendent Larry Williams, overhearing the conversation, said “I don’t know how he knew that – it just got to my hand. But give him the application.”
McClure had left that September, and the AT program had no full-time teacher. Scott Shelton, then a full- time substitute, had handled the class, but as a substitute, could not release the students to go into the shop for the hands-on learning they wanted. That changed when Cosby came in on December 10, 2001. “The kids were excited,” he remembers.
Cosby the new teacher also had to become the Cosby the student again as well – he enrolled at Western Kentucky University to earn his associate’s degree in vocational education. In May of 2013, he earned his bachelor’s degree in technical education from WKU, and followed that with a master’s degree in teaching leadership from WKU in May of 2015. He has earned principal certification, and is now working on superintendent certification.
“I’ve had at least one class – if not multiple classes – since 2001,” he noted.
When former ACCTC director Adonica Spears announced her impending retirement in 2015, Cosby was hired as her successor, taking over the then brand-new, state-of-the-art school.
He now also takes over his old high school alma mater, which is eyeing a student enrollment of about 930 this fall. Cosby praised the choice to hire from within the existing workforce, rather than brining in a new principal from elsewhere.
“This is my school,” Cosby said. “I graduated from here. I know what it can be. And I’ve seen the turmoil that can happen when outsiders come in and try to change our culture. It creates hostility.”
For the short term, he’s concentrating on filling the business teaching position left open by Laura Carter’s promotion and the IT teaching position left by the retirement of Rich Roberts. There are also more openings to teach English, Science and Exceptional Child Education (ECE). For the long term?
“There’s not going to be a major overhaul,” Cosby said. “We have good teachers and good students. I want to build on what we have started and be consistent.”
AC-S was listed as “proficient and progressing” in the most recently-released state K-PREP state assessment scores, and many teachers and administrators believe the school is already headed in the right direction. Cosby said building on that is very feasible. He adds that the incoming AC-S Class of 2018 seniors are a strong group academically, as are the incoming freshmen who helped James E. Bazzell Middle School be named a “School of Distinction” in the same round of K-PREP scores.
In the long term, Cosby said he wants to continue that trend, even as the state scraps K-PREP and begins development and implementation of a new assessment system. He noted the school culture- based concept behind “The Leader in Me” program that the Allen County Intermediate Center has adopted. “If we build a culture of learning, the test scores will take care of themselves,” Cosby said.
Cosby said his leadership style will avoid top-down authoritarianism; he wants teamwork and feedback. “I want it to be, “how can I help make you better? Help me help you,’” he said. “I want to build a school culture where teachers want to come to work, and students want to come to school too, especially the ones at risk of absenteeism.” For AC-S and ACCTC – which serves more than half of the AC-S student body – Cosby said he wants to build on ACCTC’s relationships with area industries. This, he hopes, would include implementing an industrial sponsor program, in which students learn a trade like welding or industrial maintenance while working for a company. That company could then sponsor the student’s post-secondary education – a sort of apprenticeship program. Through work or further education, Cosby said, “My goal is to create productive citizens.”
To benefit all AC-S students, community involvement will also be emphasized.
“We want to get more parents involved, and more parent volunteers,” Cosby said. “We need that parental support to help our students. We want to be as visible in the community as we can. We want transparency for our school.”
Cosby said he welcomes input from the community, and will have an open-door policy for parents and community leaders. Building on that, Cosby said he’d like to form a new AC-S/ACCTC Coalition Team, comprised of teachers, administrators, community professional and elected officials.
“Everyone would have a sense of ownership in the school Woodford Sun, Versailles, July 5, 2017 Summer camp teaches kids how to have fun reading By Bob Vlach
Twenty children who will enter the fourth- and fifth-grades in August spent last week developing their reading skills while also having a lot of fun.
Reading camp kids sat on the floor while playing games and learning to use phonics so they can sound out words. They also learned how to take words apart for understanding and how to figure out what word makes sense in a sentence.
"We make it as much unlike school as we possibly can - and still get some (reading) skills taught," explained Sara Meekins, director of the reading camp held at St. John's Episcopal Church every summer since 2007.
Teachers from all four elementary schools in Woodford County Public Schools recommended students for the weeklong summer camp, known as the Woodford County Reading Club.
Camp began at 8:30 each morning with breakfast. During breaks in learning, children ate a morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack before going home at 5 p.m. "You can't learn if you're hungry," said Meekins.
She said afternoons were filled with "camp fun" activities.
A fieldtrip to the Woodford Theatre included a backstage tour and an acting lesson. "They played wild games on the stage is what they did," said Meekins, who like her campers had never visited the Woodford Theatre's backstage spaces.
A visit from the Lexington Philharmonic and its "petting zoo" was an opportunity to touch musical instruments played in an orchestra. Kentucky Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon also visited with campers to share her passion for the written word.
Such experiences can build up a young person's confidence in other areas, which Woodford County Board of Education member and camp volunteer Debby Edelen said, "translates over to their confidence in their reading and academics.
"And it also exposes them to some things that they might not have an opportunity to do otherwise."
Camp counselors - teenage volunteers including two candidates in the Distinguished Young Women of Woodford County program - worked with campers on fun projects each afternoon.
In small groups, camp kids wrote a story and used puppets - made by them - to entertain an audience. They also made frames for pictures they created, made their own tie-dye shirts and did several other crafts, while writing about their camp experiences in journals.
"We try to tie this learning that we're doing to having fun," said Meekins. "Reading should be fun." So children are invited to listen as camp volunteers read a fun story after lunch. Campers are also encouraged to read for pleasure - receiving books to read at home during the remaining weeks of summer. "There are lots of (reading) programs like this going on around the community," said Edelen. "It's so important in the summer to not let (academics) drop off."
The reading skills learned this summer will be reinforced when the school year begins for many of the children who participated in this summer's Woodford County Reading Club. Every other Wednesday, after-school sessions allow these kids to gain a deeper understanding of how they can use reading for learning, Meekins said.
Children who participate in the year-round program and complete two years of summer camp are recognized for those achievements and can apply to receive a $1,000 college scholarship when they graduate from Woodford County High School, according to Meekins. She said four graduates were awarded college scholarships this year.
In order to continue offering the scholarships and to help ensure a summer camp continues beyond the next couple of years, Meekins and other volunteers with the program are asking for fundraising ideas.
An annual golf scramble honoring the memory of Roger Reeves had been a successful fundraising event for several years, but was not held this summer "so we're talking about a new fundraiser," said Meekins.
Anyone with an idea for a fundraising event or those wishing to donate to the summer reading camp may leave a message for Meekins at St. John Episcopal Church, 873-3481.
Meekins and Linda Reeves, Roger's wife, started the summer reading camp at St. John's and another at Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County. Several other Episcopal churches in Kentucky also provide space for these summer reading camps, which are volunteer-run.
"I just like seeing how much the kids grow from Monday to Friday," said volunteer Sophie Edelen, who will begin her senior year at WCHS in August. "...It's just amazing how much they've picked up in the week that we've been here."
Certified teachers - also volunteers - taught sessions on phonics, reading strategies and comprehension and writing at this year's summer reading camp at St. John's Episcopal Church in Versailles. "A lot of the volunteers come from this church, but not all of them," said Meekins. Cynthiana Democrat, July 6, 2017 Fowler returns to high school as principal By Lee Kendall
Steven Fowler, principal for the last 10 years at Southside Elementary School, will change professional residences and become the principal at Harrison County High School, starting with the 2017-18 school year.
He will succeed Amy Coleman who resigned recently to take a position in the Fayette County School District. Fowler is returning to the school where his career in education began, 24 years ago. He taught history at the high school for 14 years, before being named the principal at Southside in 2007.
“Harrison County High School is where I got my start as a teacher and I feel like this is a good time to return,” Fowler said in an interview on Monday. “I am looking forward to the challenge and want to partner with the students and their families, the faculty and staff at HCHS and with the community to make the high school even better than what it is now.”
Fowler said he wants to eliminate any thoughts of any kind of adversarial relationship that might exist between any of those groups and bring them all together. “Education is about people. I see my role as bringing people together and making sure that we all treat each other with respect,” Fowler said. “We have a really good school system in Harrison County and I want to keep it that way and do what I can to make it even better.”
Harrison County Superintendent of Schools, Andy Dotson is sure Fowler can make the transition from elementary school principal to high school principal.
“I have confidence that Steven will do many great things at the high school,” Dotson said. “I know that he has high expectations for the school. He was interviewed and recommended for hire by the high school’s Site Based Decision Making Council from an outstanding pool of candidates.”
Fowler is a native of Harrison County, having graduated from HCHS in 1988. H received his undergraduate degree from UK in 1993, his Master’s Degree from Georgetown College in 1998 and his Administration, from Eastern Kentucky University in 2005.
He and his wife, Whitney, have been married since 1995 and they have two sons. Wes just graduated from HCHS and will be attending Northern Kentucky University and Jake will be entering his sophomore year at HCHS.
Fowler believes he is leaving a good situation behind at Southside Elementary School.
“Whoever follows me will be blessed with a great faculty and staff and many really good programs in place that benefit the students,” he said. “I will miss the relationships that have been developed there, but am very much looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”
He said that one big difference between elementary-aged students and high school aged students is the former’s ability to overcome being branded, due to misbehavior.
“The younger students can make mistakes and they can be overcome, but the high school-aged kids must understand that their mistakes are much more likely to stick with them, especially with the way social media is today,” he said. The next order of business for the school district will be training the site based council at Southside, interviewing candidates and hiring a new principal.
“We were granted a waiver from the Kentucky Department of Education to expedite the process,” explained Assistant Superintendent David Case.
“We felt like seven to 10 days was a fair amount of time to advertise for the principal’s position at Southside.”
Case said that the hope is that a new principal will be named by July 15.
“We don’t want to rush into this and make a hasty hire, but it is important to get a new principal in place sooner, rather than later, as the new school year is right around the corner, Case said. Mt. Sterling Advocate, July 6, 2017 Boots brings unique credentials to MCHS athletics department New A.D. has competitive vision for athletic program By Dan Manley
Don’t start talking sports with Renee Boots unless you’ve got a while to chat.
Boots is the new county-wide athletic director for Montgomery County schools and she’ll bring a unique approach and insight into the system.
Boots takes over the position from Dr. Rick Culross, the deputy superintendent of support operations. Culross is still on board in that position and now will have more time toward other endeavors.
Boots has been the school’s chief academic officer for the last two years and she will continue in that role.
“Some people might think that being the chief academic officer and overseeing the athletics department is an odd combination,” Boots said. “For me it’s not at all because you’re talking about having high expectations for students in all areas.
“We call them student/athletes and while I’m working for every student academically, I also get to try and help in the athletic area, where so many of our students have involvement.”
Montgomery County now offers interscholastic programs in 15 different sports and that includes 24 teams counting girls and boys programs.
“I feel like you have to have a cohesive program that goes from top to bottom, or bottom to top,” she explained.
Boots grew up in Pendleton County, earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky, her masters and Rank I from Eastern Kentucky University and her principal and superintendent certifications from Xavier University.
She began her career as an elementary Spanish program at Pendleton County and then went on to spend 20 years in various positions in the Campbell County School System, the last eight as the principal at Campbell County High School.
“I come from a big school background and I appreciate what a larger school can do for students if you approach it the right way,” Boots said.
Boots doesn’t come to the athletics area after being a great athlete herself. She played some tennis and softball in high school, but most of her love for athletics comes from her role as an administrator.
Her ex-husband was a football coach and she says that helped her gain a “love for high school and college football” and that interest passed over into other sports.
“I know, from seeing it first hand over a number of years, what athletics can do for young people,” said Boots.
She said that failing to give young people an opportunity to be successful and to use athletics as a stepping stone to success in life can’t be considered acceptable. Boots said that in her role as principal at Campbell County she learned that you have to step in wherever you’re needed.
So don’t be surprised if you see Boots taking up tickets or selling popcorn if that’s what is needed. “Coaching in today’s environment is a great challenge,” she noted. “I’m looking forward to getting to know our coaches and to working on their behalf to help our young people enjoy success.
“We’ve got to try and have quality coaches, who are also quality teachers. Coaching is teaching. I feel like the two go hand in hand,” she said.
Boots said she already has a feel for sports in the county. She’s attended a number of games already and looks forward to being more involved.
“I haven’t been to away games like I will be going forward and I haven’t had a chance to see some of the so-called minor sports in action. But I’ll get around to those. Every sport is important. The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has done a tremendous job of trying to get young people involved in positive endeavors and we want to support all of those.”
Boots said she doesn’t see herself so much as an element of change in the new position as one of support.
“Coaches need to have support from the administration and working with high school athletic director Kevin Letcher we’re going to do everything we can to provide that support,” she said.
“And coaches also need to be held accountable for the manner in which they run their programs, not in terms of mandating how they run that program but in terms of helping assure that we’re following the rules, keeping young people as safe as possible as they compete and giving coaches and players both a chance to enjoy success,” she added.
“Our sports programs can have a real positive impact on this school and this community and I’ll be working any way that I can to see that we take great pride in the teams that we send into competition, no matter how successful they are on the scoreboard,” she added. News Democrat, Carrollton, July 6, 2017 Livingood named Carroll’s superintendent for interim year By Tim Hendrick
The Carroll County Board of Education named retired Grant County Schools superintendent Ron Livingood as interim superintendent at the June 29, meeting. He was the superintendent from April 2011- Dec. 31, 2016.
The board approved a one-year contract beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2018. Livingood will work 220 days for the district and will begin his duties July 12.
Nannette Johnston from Studer Education provided “a where are we and what has been done” update to the Carroll County Board of Education.
Johnston said Studer has made four visits to the district since January and assisted with three surveys. Studer has been providing services to the Carroll County School District as it works to improve district performance.
Studer provided Destination High Performance training in February. In March Johnston said they conducted more training with the principals and executive team. She also gave a partnership overview at the March Board of Education meeting.
In April, Studer conducted principal and executive training on employee engagement. The results of the employee engagement survey were rolled out and developed anaction plan based on the results.
District Services survey results rolled out and a scorecard development training session was held in May with principals and the executive team.
The scorecard focuses on six pillars identified in the district’s five-year strategic plan. The pillars are teaching and Learning, Technology, Communication and Community Development, Finance, Work Force Development and Facilities. Definitive goals are listed on the scorecard for each pillar.
Survey results
The 245 employee engagement survey responses showed the overall district mean on a 1-5 scale at 3.87. The highest scoring engagement item was “Principal/supervisor provides me with good processes and resources to do my job” at 4.10. The lowest at 3.52 was “The superintendent makes informed decisions based on the best interest of the district.”
Fifteen administrators of district department services completed the district services survey. The characteristics surveyed were accessibility, accuracy, attitude, operations and timeliness. The overall district mean was 4.21. Health services scored the highest with 4.55 average and the bus garage scored the lowest with a 3.89 average.
The parent survey only had 39 responses and Superintendent Bill Hogan said they were going to conduct the parent survey a second time. The responses to the survey showed that parents want to receive positive phone calls, notes or emails about their child from the school, and parents receive feedback regularly from school staff on how well their child is learning.
Board Attorney Jim Crawford asked about the board’s concern of how the interim superintendent would buy in to the Studer work. Hogan and Chief Finance Officer Jon Conrad have gone through the training and when Hogan leaves Conrad will become the champion for the program. “Jon [Conrad] will not have authority over the interim superintendent,” Crawford said. “The board would have to place the expectation that Livingood will have to buy into Studer.”
The district was presented the level one Baldridge Award. Hogan said the district is not committed to level two of the Baldridge, and applications to levels two and three are much more complex processes. The Baldridge Award website said the award was established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 to raise awareness of quality management and recognize U.S. companies that have implemented successful quality management systems. Awards can be given annually in six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, education, healthcare and nonprofit.
Superintendent’s report
PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, were found near Kathryn Winn Primary in 1989, Hogan said. PCBs are industrial products or chemicals.
Because of this, Hogan said the district had to involve several people from the construction project that renovated Winn to document that there are not any PCBs where the Head Start expansion will take place. A revised 1303 form has been filed with the Department of Education and construction is ready to begin.
Hogan took a few moments to thank the board of education and his administrative team for all their hard work. He singled out the three new board members and how they have grabbed ahold of the job and been committed to it.
He said he hopes that the district will continue to build and move forward in providing a quality education to the children of Carroll County.
The administrative retreat is set for July 25-26 in Louisville prior to KSBA conference, Hogan said.
Other business
The board had the first reading of the policy changes created by the Kentucky School Board Association. Hogan said the district contracts with KSBA to make sure its policies meet the state regulations. The district has been using KSBA for some time to keep the policies updates.
Conrad said they have determined what board members were not paid for KSBA meeting and training from July 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2016. The sum owed to all of the board members is $6,825. The board voted to pay those members the amounts owed to them.
At a previous board meeting Crawford said that Don Martin of KSBA had produced a ruling by one of the legal staff at KSBA saying the district did not need to appoint a screening committee within the 30 days since the district has hired an interim superintendent. Crawford said the KSBA now says they have to appoint a screening committee per KRS 160.352.
Assistant Superintendent Doug Oak has started working with the principals on the selection process and, once school gears back up, parent representatives will be selected.
Board chairperson Carolyn Jones appointed Rob Spenneberg to be the board representative on the selection committee. Appalachian News Express, Pikeville, July 7, 2017 Pike mourns ‘C.B.’ Biliter’s passing BY CHASE ELLIS
“Compassionate. Leader. Advocate for students.”
Pike County Schools Board of Education Superintendent Reed Adkins used those words to describe the dedication that Kenneth “C.B.” Biliter brought to his position on the board of education.
Biliter passed away at the age of 57 Tuesday evening at the emergency room of Pikeville Medical Center.
“He was a major advocate for the students of the county,” said Adkins on Wednesday. “He was not adult-oriented, he was child-oriented, especially for the community of Phelps. He loved his home and had major dedication to the students and the community at Phelps.”
Adkins described Biliter, one of two senior members of the board, as someone who always provided leadership.
“We have a great relationship with all five of our board members, but C.B. — he was a leader,” said Adkins. “Anytime we would make decisions, we would come together to talk. But, we always used C.B. as a sounding board. He was someone who was always available and who cared about our students.”
Last November, Biliter was re-elected to the Board of Education to serve his third two-year term as a board member. He had served as the board’s vice chairman, a position he was unanimously approved by his colleagues to continue to perform.
Biliter had also previously served as the board’s Construction Committee chairman.
“He always had a vision for construction,” said Adkins. “He said he wanted our students to have the nicest facilities in the state and, if you look at some of the things we have done, we are getting there. He was a major part of that.”
Biliter was preceeded in death by his late father, Carl Biliter; two sisters, Priscilla Lynn Sine and Sharon Stump; a brother, Teddy Biliter; and his beloved nephew, Tony Biliter. In addition to his mother, Bobbie Biliter of Majestic, Biliter is survived by his sister, Marsha Bays of Kimper, and brother, Freddie Biliter of Majestic.
Services for Biliter are under the management of Chambers Funeral Services and services honoring the life of Biliter will be held at the Barrenshee Church of God at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 7. Pastors Bobby Dale Wolford and Doug Maynard will offi ciate. Burial will follow in the Buddy Mounts Cemetery at Majestic.
The family will gather with friends on Thursday evening July 6, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Barrenshee Church of God. “We have been in contact with the family and let them know that anything they need, we will help,” said Adkins. In lieu of fl owers, contributions may be made in Biliter’s memory to Chambers Funeral Services, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Matewan, West Virginia, 25678 to help offset the funeral expense. WDRB-TV, Louisville, July 7, 2017 JCPS names Carmen Coleman acting chief academic officer By Antoinette Konz
Acting Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio has tapped a longtime educator as the district's interim chief academic officer who will be tasked with helping him tackle declining test scores and finding better ways to improve instruction for all students.
Carmen Coleman -- the former superintendent of Danville Independent Schools who has more than two decades of experience as a teacher, principal and administrator -- will start Monday and make $168,805 over the next year.
She will take a one-year leave of absence from the University of Kentucky, where she is an associate professor in the College of Education and has worked with the National Center for Innovation in Education and the Next Generation Leadership Academy.
"I am honored to have Dr. Coleman join our JCPS team," Pollio said. "She is Kentucky's foremost expert in implementing deeper learning strategies and her level of professional accomplishment and history of instructional leadership will help move our district forward and increase student achievement."
Coleman, 45, told WDRB News in an interview she met Pollio earlier this year as part of Jefferson County's effort to create personalized, deeper learning opportunities for every student and teacher in the district.
"I started working with JCPS earlier this year through the Next Generation Leadership Academy and met Dr. Pollio, who has been a leader in implementing deeper learning strategies at Doss High School and across the district," Coleman said, noting she has been "intrigued" by efforts the school board and teacher's union have made with this effort.
"To have both the union and the district united in this effort to design better learning experiences for all of our children is exciting," Coleman said. "When he approached me about working with him as chief academic officer, I had a hard time saying no. He is an incredible leader who shares the same beliefs that I do. I think the possibilities for JCPS are endless."
Coleman said she was apprehensive about agreeing to come to the district long-term because Pollio is currently in an interim role himself. The school board appointed him acting superintendent in May, following the resignation of former superintendent Donna Hargens.
Pollio took over the interim role on July 1 and has said he is interested in the permanent role. He's indicated he will "take every day like it is the most important job until they ask me not to do it.”
"No one knows beyond six to nine months if he will be the permanent superintendent," she said, adding that she loves her work at UK and "would not consider doing this any other way" than with Pollio at the helm.
"I have missed being on the ground and working directly with educators and schools," she said. "Jefferson County has a lot of challenges, but I truly believe that if we can show that this deeper learning effort can work, it will be a game-changer for our kids."
Indeed, recent test scores show that more than half of the district’s students are not performing on grade level in reading and math. Data from the 2015-16 year showed that only 66 of the district's 139 tested schools met their annual performance goal set by the state – down from 74 schools in 2014-15 and 96 schools in 2013-14.
Prior to working at UK, Coleman was the school superintendent in Danville from 2009-2014. A native of Georgetown, she began her career as an elementary teacher in Scott County, eventually moving her way up to principal of Anne Mason Elementary. She was director of elementary schools for Fayette County Public Schools for three years before going to Danville.
Coleman was a candidate for interim superintendent in Fayette County in 2014, but later withdrew her name from consideration.
"I had just started my work at UK and was nervous about leaving that for an interim role," she said. "I didn't feel the timing was right."
She did, however, apply for the permanent job in Fayette County in 2015, but that job ultimately went to Emmanuel "Manny" Caulk in June 2015.
Coleman will take over a job that has been vacant since May, when former JCPS chief academic officer Lisa Herring was named superintendent of Birimingham City Schools in Alabama. Herring, who had moved to Louisville from South Carolina, had been in the position for less than year.
The district spent most of the 2015-16 year without a chief academic officer, following the resignation of Dewey Hensley in October 2015.
Coleman will work directly with assistant superintendents Karen Branham and Alicia Averette, as well as the district's six area superintendents. She will report directly to Pollio.
"In order to improve, we have to be thinking not about reform, but transform," she said. "
Coleman holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Kentucky; a master’s degree in elementary education and a bachelor's degree in education from Georgetown College.
Pollio has one more opening on his superintendent's cabinet, but he in a tweet on Friday morning that he has "no plans to post or fill the chief business officer position" that was vacated by Tom Hudson, whose contract was not renewed by the district in June.
"Instead, I will redirect those funds to schools," Pollio said. Messenger Inquirer, Owensboro, July 7, 2017 Bowen says state will have to take action on pension crisis By James Mayse
State Sen. Joe Bowen gave members of the Owensboro business community a sobering perspective on the state's underfunded public pension systems Thursday morning, telling the audience the state's options to shore up the systems will likely be limited.
"What are we going to do to get out of this situation? We don't have a lot of choice," Bowen told the crowd at Thursday's Rooster Booster breakfast meeting at the Owensboro Convention Center.
"It's going to take more money" to shore up the pension systems, which have a total deficit that ranges from $40 billion to $75 billion in the worst-case scenario, Bowen said.
The pension deficits are the worst financial crisis the state has faced in decades, "maybe ever," he said.
Trying to cut state expenses to cure the pension crisis would result a large reduction in state spending across the board.
"It would take a 10 percent tax increase, or a 12 percent cut in services" to meet obligations to the eight state pension systems for state employees, county employees, teachers, Kentucky State Police troopers and legislators, Bowen said.
Such a cut "would include everything," such as funding for education, he said.
Bowen, an Owensboro Republican, is co-chairman of the state's Public Pension Oversight Board.
The public pension systems were solvent as recently as 2000, Bowen said. But a series of things happened that drove the pension systems into deficits, to the point where the Kentucky Employee Retirement System fund for state workers in non-hazardous jobs has only 13.8 cents for every $1 in benefits it must pay, he said.
The other systems, while not in as bad a condition as the KERS non-hazardous system, are still running deficits. The KSP pension fund has 30.3 percent of funds needed to meet its obligations, while the teacher retirement system has 50.6 percent of what it needs, Bowen said. The county employee retirement system and the state system for hazardous duty workers each have 59 percent of needed funds, he said.
"Most people assume ... the General Assembly has been derelict in appropriating money," he said. "It surprised me that's not a big (part) of the problem."
The pensions systems began to take "a deep dive" in 2006. Expected rates of return on investments didn't occur, and the rates of return projected by analysts were "unrealistic," Bowen said. The Great Recession of 2008 also had an impact.
Bowen said people should look skeptically at legislators who say it took the many years for the pension problem to get where it is, and that it will take years to solve.
"It didn't take us years to get to this situation. It took us 16 years to get where we are," Bowen said.
"No one was at the wheel" monitoring the systems during those years, he said. Bowen said Senate Bill 2, which he sponsored in 2016 and 2017, created a mechanism for legislators to know how the pension systems were being managed. Senate Bill 2 made some pension system information open to the public, such as how much financial consultants earn on commissions, and requiring approval of the Senate for gubernatorial appointments to the pension boards.
The bill, which passed both the Senate and House this year, also gave the governor more appointments to the Kentucky Retirement Systems board and required appointees to have investment experience.
"Had it not been for Senate Bill 2, a bill I sponsored, we would not be where we are today" with a way of examining how the systems operate, Bowen said.
Much of the issue is that there are already retirees that were guaranteed retirement benefits and a current set of state workers who also have been promised specific retirement payments, Bowen said.
"Ninety eight percent of the problem is already there," Bowen said. "... We can't un-retire people who are retired." The state also can't change the retirement plans of workers already in the system "who have an inviolable contract," he said.
"In the past 11 years, pensions have grown five times faster than revenue," Bowen said. "Pensions consume 13 percent of our annual budget. It's going to take $700 million more next year than last year to fund those pensions."
An independent group has audited the pension systems and is scheduled to give recommendations to legislators later this month. Gov. Matt Bevin is expected to call a special legislative session later this year to address both the pension deficit and for lawmakers to put forward a tax plan. Bowen said the issues are connected.
"I pray every night the folks in the tax group get this right," he said. News Enterprise, Elizabethtown, July 7, 2017 Training the next generation: New dual-credit option at ECTC creates pathway to firefighting By Katherine Knott
Jennifer Burnham is moving back to Hardin County Schools after two years at the helm of T.K. Stone Middle School in Elizabethtown.
Burnham will become HCS’ director of federal programs and leadership development. In that role, she will be responsible for the district’s federally funded programs in addition to working with principals to provide effective leadership development and to support them.
“I am looking forward to this new adventure,” Burnham said in an HCS news release. “This presents an opportunity to help students in a new and exciting way for me. I hope to contribute to the strength of instruction, especially at the high school level, and to spark the process of growth in the students, staff and programs with which I am associated.”
The T.K. Stone Middle School Site-Based, Decision-Making Council met Thursday to start the principal search, Elizabethtown Independent Superintendent Jon Ballard said. The job has been posted.
“We have been very fortunate to have had Jennifer Burnham as the principal at T.K. Stone Middle School for the past two years,” Ballard said in a statement. “Although her time was brief, her impact will be lasting. While we certainly hate to see her go, we understand the double-edged nature of having an accomplished leader when career advancement opportunities present themselves. On behalf of the EIS family, we wish her the best.”
Ballard said at the meeting Burnham will be around in the next weeks to help get the building ready for the start of school.
He hopes to have a principal in place before school starts Aug. 8, but it will depend on the number of applicants in the next few weeks. This is the first middle school principal opening of the school year and one of two current vacancies in Hardin County.
Burnham is taking over for Jennifer Lewis, who is retiring.
Burnham started working in Hardin County in 1999 as an English teacher at North Hardin High School. She moved to Central Hardin High School in 2004 where she also taught English. She was promoted to assistant principal at Central Hardin in 2012.
“She is a proven leader and has the talent to serve as a fantastic administrator,” HCS Superintendent Teresa Morgan said in a news release. “Her work ethic and her experience as a principal, assistant principal and Training the next generation: New dual-credit option at ECTC creates pathway to firefighting By Katherine Knott
High school seniors who want to be firefighters can take on that career path locally this fall.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is offering a dual-credit Fire/Rescue Science program for eligible high school seniors. Students will take classes such as intro to fire service and firefighters basic skills in addition to a math and English course to satisfy graduation requirements.
When they graduate high school, the students still will need another year at ECTC to earn an associate degree in applied science, which prepares students for careers in emergency services. Through the degree program, students also receive most of the 400 hours of training required to be a paid firefighter in Kentucky.
“Students will have a leg up,” Elizabethtown Fire Chief Mark Malone said.
Russell Todd, coordinator of the State Fire Rescue Training program at the college, teamed with Dan Robbins, principal of the Hardin County Schools Early College and Career Center, to create the dual- credit program.
“This opportunity with EC3, we’re super excited about it,” Todd said. “It’s something to market to people who don’t know where to go or what information to get.”
He said the dual-credit program will pay a big dividend and help meet a growing demand for those in fire and rescue fields.
Even though EC3 initiated the program, it’s not an EC3 program, Robbins said. Students from any school in the surrounding counties can enroll. To be eligible, a student has to meet minimum requirements set by ECTC.
About eight students have signed up for the fall semester, and the program accepts up to 20. Robbins said the first year usually is the lowest for enrollment.
Robbins said it’s one of the most extensive training programs in the state of Kentucky.
“Other places give (students) a taste,” he said. “This would give the student more. ... This will be a model for other schools to follow.”
Students can take the classes at ECTC for a discounted rate. Dual-credit courses are $162, or $54 per credit hour, which is about one-third of the traditional cost.
“Even if it’s just to try out and see if this is something you want to do, it’s worth it (at the lower cost),” Robbins said.
Todd said he and Malone have been talking about this type of program for years. Last spring, they made it happen.
Students who graduate from the program will be close to job-ready, Malone said. They also can take their training and education to any paid fire department in Kentucky.
Nationally, the number of firefighters in volunteer departments is diminishing as people retire. Todd said the Fire/Rescue Science program is a proactive approach to building the next generation of firefighters.
“This meets a need that’s going to grow,” Todd said.
Getting young people involved in fire service is a goal of the junior firefighter program through the Kentucky Fire Commission.
In Hardin County and the surrounding areas, there are about 16 programs, which are for those 15 and older. Ideally, those involved with the junior firefighter program could enroll in the dual-credit classes and then get a job in fire service.
Additionally, the fire service is becoming more technical and departments are in need of qualified candidates, Malone said.
“We need to attract individuals who are computer literate and gritty,” he said. For Robbins, a benefit of the dual-credit option is it opens another door for students.
“Not everybody is cut out to go to a four-year college, but they still want a career and a way to move their family forward,” Malone said.
Malone said the stereotype of firefighters is it’s something you want to do as a child and then grow out of it.
“But some of us got the bug early and never grew out of it,” he said.
For high school students who might not want to go to a four-year college, the fire service offers another path immediately following high school.
“It’s a career that a young person could go into and stay with,” Malone said.
Students interested in the program can email Todd at [email protected] or Robbins at [email protected]. Lexington Herald Leader, July 7, 2017 Great Crossing High School will be the home of the Warhawks BY TREY CRUMBIE
Great Crossing High School’s mascot will be the Warhawks.
The mascot for the new high school was approved Thursday at a Scott County school board meeting.
Renee Holmes, school district spokeswoman, said the mascot was picked after months of taking suggestions from the community, including school students and staff.
Holmes said the image represents forward-thinking, courage and honesty.
Holmes said the mascot will lend itself to possible community events, such as a “Battle of the Birds” with Scott County High School, which has cardinals as its mascot.
The mascot also carries historical significance. Henry Clay, a Kentucky politician, was the leader of the War Hawks, a pro-war group who favored using military force in the War of 1812.
“It is a unique mascot,” Holmes said. “It allows the school to write its own history.”
The school colors are white, navy blue and kelly green, which pay a homage the district’s past schools: Georgetown High School and Great Crossing School.
The building, which will cost about $58 million, is scheduled to open in August 2019. The high school is expected to hold 1,500 students, with support areas for up to 1,930 students and about 40 regular classrooms. A groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively set for August. It will be built near Elkhorn Crossing School along Betsy Way.
The school district approved a tax increase earlier this year to help pay for the school, which will appear on Scott County tax bills this fall.
Scott County Schools superintendent Kevin Hub previously said the tax increase would also help the district build a new elementary and middle school. Daily News, Bowling Green, July 7, 2017 Indoor athletic facility coming to Logan County Schools By AARON MUDD
Students in Logan County Schools will soon see a new indoor athletic practice facility and a track/soccer complex under development near Logan County High School.
During a meeting Thursday, school board members approved a project application and architect firm for what will be a multipurpose athletic building. Superintendent Paul Mullins also told the Daily News that the district intends to build a running track that will wrap around a soccer field near the facility.
“This is step one,” Mullins said, referring to the multipurpose building.
Both athletic facilities will be near the the high school and Area Technology Center, which is also under construction.
JKS Architecture and Interior Design, which is based in Hopkinsville, was named by the board as the project’s architect firm. The 27,000-square-foot building will be available for archery and marching band practices and other activities out of Logan County High School. It will include locker rooms and bathrooms as well. The entire project is expected to cost less than $1 million, Mullins said.
The indoor facility, Mullins said, is just the first part of a two-phase process to expand the district’s athletic facilities. He said the board could begin the next phase to build the track and soccer complex during its meetings in August or September. News Enterprise, Elizabethtown, July 7, 2017 T.K Stone principal takes district job with HCS By Katherine Knott
Jennifer Burnham is moving back to Hardin County Schools after two years at the helm of T.K. Stone Middle School in Elizabethtown.
Burnham will become HCS’ director of federal programs and leadership development. In that role, she will be responsible for the district’s federally funded programs in addition to working with principals to provide effective leadership development and to support them.
“I am looking forward to this new adventure,” Burnham said in an HCS news release. “This presents an opportunity to help students in a new and exciting way for me. I hope to contribute to the strength of instruction, especially at the high school level, and to spark the process of growth in the students, staff and programs with which I am associated.”
The T.K. Stone Middle School Site-Based, Decision-Making Council met Thursday to start the principal search, Elizabethtown Independent Superintendent Jon Ballard said. The job has been posted.
“We have been very fortunate to have had Jennifer Burnham as the principal at T.K. Stone Middle School for the past two years,” Ballard said in a statement. “Although her time was brief, her impact will be lasting. While we certainly hate to see her go, we understand the double-edged nature of having an accomplished leader when career advancement opportunities present themselves. On behalf of the EIS family, we wish her the best.”
Ballard said at the meeting Burnham will be around in the next weeks to help get the building ready for the start of school.
He hopes to have a principal in place before school starts Aug. 8, but it will depend on the number of applicants in the next few weeks. This is the first middle school principal opening of the school year and one of two current vacancies in Hardin County.
Burnham is taking over for Jennifer Lewis, who is retiring.
Burnham started working in Hardin County in 1999 as an English teacher at North Hardin High School. She moved to Central Hardin High School in 2004 where she also taught English. She was promoted to assistant principal at Central Hardin in 2012.
“She is a proven leader and has the talent to serve as a fantastic administrator,” HCS Superintendent Teresa Morgan said in a news release. “Her work ethic and her experience as a principal, assistant principal and classroom teacher will truly assist her in all aspects of her position.” News Enterprise, Elizabethtown, July 7, 2017 HCS tweaks 2017-18 calendar
Hardin County Schools Board of Education voted Thursday to make a slight change to its 2017-18 calendar.
The change doesn’t affect students, but does affect certified and classified staff.
On the original calendar, Aug. 7 was marked as opening day for teachers and classified staff while Aug. 8 was a professional learning day for certified staff and specific groups of classified staff.
The board voted to switch the two days, making Aug. 8 opening day and Aug. 7 the professional learning day. On Aug. 8, the district will hold a district-wide assembly for all HCS staff at Central Hardin High School starting at 9 a.m.
“Some logistical issues caused us to ask the Board to consider switching the days,” HCS Super- intendent Teresa Morgan said in a news release. “We haven’t done a district-wide assembly in several years and August 8 worked better for that to occur. It’s good to bring all the members of our family together. There are lots of new faces and opportunities for new relationships to be made.”
The assembly will be held in lieu of the district-wide picnic that usually occurs before the start of the school year.
For Kindergarteners and up, school starts Aug. 10. For preschoolers, the first day is Aug. 23 Winchester Sun, July 8, 2017 Documents approved for GRC athletics facility
By Seth Littrell
Clark County school board members unanimously approved documents Thursday night to move ahead on the George Rogers Clark High School athletics facility.
The plans for the complex changed over the past two weeks after it was discovered that the complex was over budget.
Changes included removing the 500 visitor seats from the football field in order to increase home seating to 4,000 from 3,500.
Additionally, the architect added lights to a bid alternate for tennis courts and added another alternate to complete all of the grading necessary to the land where additional facilities like a field house, baseball and softball fields can be constructed later.
RossTarrant senior architect Ron Murrell told board members Thursday that with the approval the architect can begin finalizing construction documents. He requested the board call a special meeting in order to conduct a thorough review of the construction documents before they are set for a vote to ensure the district is kept up to date on the plans.
“We were thinking about sitting down here and flipping through the current set of documents as we continue to work on them,” Murrell said.
The meeting has been planned for 5:30 p.m. July 18, just before the board’s regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. Northern Kentucky Tribune, Edgewood, July 8, 2017 Bill Bradford named new assistant superintendent for teaching, learning for Fort Thomas schools
The Fort Thomas Independent Schools has selected Bill Bradford as the new assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. He is currently the principal at River Ridge Elementary School in the Kenton County School District, a position he has held for the past two years.
Bradford’s career in education began as a Spanish teacher at Lafayette High School in the Fayette County Public Schools, where, after teaching six years, he advanced to the position of instructional support specialist for the district. Additionally, he has served as principal at Sixth District Elementary School and then as assistant superintendent for learning support at Covington Independent Schools.
Bradford earned his bachelor’s degree from Transylvania, his master’s degree in Education from Georgetown University and his Rank I in Instructional Leadership from Eastern Kentucky University. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Education at Northern Kentucky University.
A seven-member committee was formed to review and interview the applicants for this position. The committee was unanimous in their selection of Bradford as the top candidate.
Superintendent Karen Cheser stated, “We are fortunate to have Bill Bradford join our leadership team. Bill not only has tremendous expertise and successful experience at all levels, but also has the disposition to help us take FTIS to even greater heights.”
“I am looking forward to joining the exceptional team within Fort Thomas Independent Schools,” Bradford added. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to partner with highly qualified and professional educators at the elementary, middle and high school levels in order to support the teaching and learning efforts there. I’m excited to engage in the culture of rich tradition and collaborate with all stakeholders to continue to focus on the future.”
Bradford will fill the position vacated by the retirement of Ginger Webb. He will join Fort Thomas schools on July 17. Lexington Herald Leader, July 8, 2017 Marty Mills, fixture at Tates Creek High School, named new principal BY VALARIE HONEYCUTT SPEARS
Anthony “ Marty” Mills, for years a staff member at Tates Creek High School, on Friday was named the new principal, Fayette Superintendent Manny Caulk announced Friday.
Mills replaces Sam Meaux, who retired.
All of Mills’ work in education for the last 14 years has been at Tates Creek High School, where he has served as an English teacher and associate principal. He has filled a variety of leadership roles, including English department chair and ninth grade principal, Caulk said in a statement.
“Mr. Mills is committed to serving the Tates Creek High School community and has dedicated his professional career to helping students succeed there. His leadership will ... build upon the legacy of this flagship institution. I look forward to supporting him in this new role,” said Caulk.
Mills’ appointment concludes the hiring of new principals for 10 Fayette County Public Schools, officials said.
“Every school deserves a great leader and I believe that we are going into the 2017-18 school year with an excellent group of returning and new principals who will keep students first in every decision,” said Caulk.
Mills has bachelor’s degrees in English education and integrated strategic communication, and a master’s degree in English education from the University of Kentucky, and he also holds a master’s degree in instructional leadership from Eastern Kentucky University.
Feedback collected from students, staff members, and parents was used to develop a principal profile that guided the work in finding the right person to lead Tates Creek High School, said School Director Randy Peffer, who oversees Tates Creek High.
Using the principal profile, the school based decision making council was unanimous in its selection, Peffer said. Mills “ many years of service as both a teacher and associate principal at Tates Creek High School, coupled with his working knowledge of the school and strong instructional leadership skills, made him the ideal candidate.”
Mills and the other nine principals named earlier this spring officially assumed their duties on July 1. Courier Journal, Louisville, July 8, 2017 JCPS' Ballard High on the hunt for a new principal By Allison Ross
Ballard High School is on the search for a new principal.
Jefferson County Public Schools announced Friday that it is tapping current Principal Staci Eddleman, who has been leading Ballard High for a couple years, for a central office position.
Eddleman will become the director of Title I/Title II services.
Ballard's school-based decision-making council will begin the search for Eddleman's replacement, with a new principal expected to be named before the start of classes in the fall.
Before coming to Ballard, Eddleman was principal at Westport Middle, and previously worked as an assistant principal at Ballard.
"I am emotional about leaving my post at Ballard, but this opportunity is a perfect next step in my career," Eddleman said in a statement. "The opportunity to impact tens of thousands of students outside the walls of just one school is appealing," she added.
JCPS acting Superintendent Marty Pollio called Eddleman a "champion for all students" and said her experience in both schools that had been labeled as "priority" schools by the state as well as in higher performing schools gives her a unique perspective.
"I've challenged her to rethink the way our district allocates funds to support students, teachers and schools," Pollio said in a statement.
Both Title I and Title II funds come to JCPS from the federal government. Title I money is meant to support schools with high numbers or percentages of low-income students, while Title II money is meant to pay for strategies to improve teacher and principal quality and increase the number of highly qualified staff in the classroom and schools.
The 1,900-student Ballard High is currently labeled a Distinguished school by the state and had a 92.7 percent graduation rate in 2015-2016, according to state data, which beat the district and state graduation rates. his spring, Ballard High saw protests from some students after the death of a former classmate; some students told the Courier-Journal that they did not feel that the school's administration properly handled the situation.
In the latest JCPS survey results, just more than half of the teachers and other certified staff members at Ballard High who responded to the survey agreed that their supervisor was providing effective leadership. However, only about half of the school's certified staff responded to the survey. Richmond Register, July 8, 2017
OPINION
Time for a cultural change: Students need to know about apprenticeships
About $50,000.
That’s not how much student debt the typical person has. It’s the average salary an apprentice who earns a journeyman’s certificate makes annually.
However, it seems few in Kentucky know or understand apprenticeships, which prepare high school graduates for immediate employment at, typically, good pay.
Why is that?
In our society, it is driven into most of us, if not all of us, that you must go to college to succeed. While that is true for some, it’s not true for all.
It’s why Kentucky Labor Secretary Derrick Ramsey said educators and state officials need a “culture change” when it comes to workforce development. He told the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Development recently there is often too much focus on a college education for students who might be better off in apprenticeship programs.
We agree.
Ramsey pointed to statistics which show 60 percent of Kentucky high school students enter college, but only about 20 percent of those graduate.
With more than 150,000 skilled labor jobs open across the state, many of those students could have been working instead of dropping out of school.
The state currently offers 179 apprenticeship programs in 41 skills. Most apprentices are enrolled in building trades, information technology, advanced manufacturing and maintenance programs.
Ramsey said he wants to work more closely with educators and to begin talking about apprenticeships and career choices for high school students and even those in grade schools. He wants the program to be “another option” for students.
And it should be.
That doesn’t mean students shouldn’t go to universities or colleges. We have two great higher education institutions in Madison County.
Eastern Kentucky University and Berea College both offer career paths many can succeed in. However, not everyone is meant to go to college.
And for those students, the apprenticeship program is a great option.
It’s time we started looking at apprenticeships as a positive option and not an afterthought. Daily News, Bowling Green, July 8, 2017
OPINION BGHS academy beneficial to students
High school students need to be prepared for the next chapter in their lives after graduation.
Whether it involves going to college or beginning careers, they will need every skill they have learned in high school to help them become successful. We are fortunate in Bowling Green and Warren County that we have have schools that truly do prepare our kids for that next chapter.
Bowling Green High School is one of those schools that is going the extra mile in helping students get knowledge and obtain their long-term goals. Starting next month, the school will be offering a new medical arts academy. The school has had a medical program for students since the 1980s, but the academy will allow for more robust job shadowing, internship, guest speakers and business partnerships to make sure that what’s taught at the school reflects what’s in the workplace. The academy’s career tracks will include allied health, electrocardiogram technician, fire safety, medical administrative assisting, phlebotomy technician and pre-nursing. The tracks will offer nationally recognized certification tests so students will be more employable once they graduate.
BGHS also offers career pathways in JROTC, business and information technology, transportation education, construction technology and family and consumer science through the Warren County Area Technology Center.
There are 177 students enrolled in the academy, which is a partnership with the Ford Next Generation Learning program and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.
It’s very worthwhile to know that since its implementation, the program has created leadership opportunities and increased connections between students and staff. In addition, there have been decreases in the number of days freshmen missed school and in the number of discipline referrals.
This program really does let students know about all of the opportunities that are out there and get connected with businesses in the community.
Anything that can be done to accomplish all of this is something we should all support.
We commend BGHS for introducing this program. We think it has the potential to net some very positive results for students after they graduate.