September 2015
The job of principal has always been something of a juggling act, but will the pressures of accountability and a new evaluation system for teachers and principals have them going the way of superintendents in turnover?
Trustworthy trainingState management of the Breathitt County school district has included a new element not seen in management of other troubled school districts: the use of KSBA to partner with the board in providing on-site training aimed at its specific needs.
ConvergenceKentucky’s school districts are feeling the strain of two new laws this year – juvenile justice reforms and the raising of the dropout age. The result may be increased use of school services and alternative programs to help these students.
Dropout pickupThe state’s dropout law is requiring school districts to find and return to classes 16- and 17-year olds who left school before that law took effect. If only that process was as easy as those ads offering to find your old classmates.
Juvenile justice for allThe juvenile justice reforms that kicked in this summer as a result of a 2014 law are designed to keep youth out of detention centers and into treatment. What role do schools play in these changes?
Dual purposeSchool districts are looking for new strategies for dropout prevention. Covington Independent, with help from a community/tech college, has hit on an idea: target at-risk students and get them into dual-credit courses.
New superintendent evaluationsSchool board members this year have gotten a much better feel for the new process for evaluating superintendents. While some of the jargon it’s sprinkled with may still be off-putting, the system itself is getting good reviews.
Back-to-back-to-school at Raceland-Worthington
In a nod to Raceland-Worthington Independent parents with siblings at both Campbell and Worthington elementaries, the district piggybacked its meet-and-greet events on the same night, one after the other. The approach seemed to be a hit with all involved. See photos below.