“High standards are a good idea, but it is not fair to have to do more with less money. We will do whatever it takes to lobby the legislature.” Eric O’Neil, whose grandson attends a Greenup County elementary school, during a workshop for parents and guardians about the new academic standards Kentucky schools and students must now meet. From the Ashland Daily Independent.
“It’s a technology system that’s going to allow schools and districts to go to one spot when they’re working on developing school improvement plans or looking at exactly across your district what teachers are doing with lesson planning and how the standards are being addressed.” Barbourville Independent Schools Instructional Supervisor Kay Dixon on the potential benefits of the state’s CIITS (Continuous Instructional Improvement Technology System) online resource. From the Barbourville Mountain Advocate.
“Things have changed since you rode the bus. I always said I wish their parents could ride the bus one day (with their children).” LaRue County bus driver Janet Milby on a demonstration, including a trip on a bus, to introduce Abraham Lincoln Elementary preschool students and their parents to bus safety issues. From the Hodgenville LaRue County Herald-News.
“We’ve got less than $11 million worth of bonding capacity and $30 million of major renovations we’d like to undertake. Now the real work will come, with deciding how we are going to educate our kids and remake some of these buildings with the resources we have.” Danville Independent school board Chairwoman Jean Crowley on the “sobering” results of a feasibility study on need and fiscal ability to upgrade three elementary schools. From the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
“Perception is truth.” Spencer County school board member Sandy Clevenger stating the obvious about a problem with the possible selection of a site for an elementary school that is next to an outdoor shooting range. From the Taylorsville Spencer Magnet.
“Until the state of Kentucky wakes up and provides us more revenue, this is what we’re faced with every year.” Meade County school board member Dr. John Inman on the part state funding played in the board’s decision to close two small elementary schools at the end of this year. From the Louisville WDRB-TV News.
“We’re not trying to say the schools are at fault or that people aren’t doing their jobs. We just want to make sure that when any student files a complaint of being bullied, it’s taken seriously. Mr. Chittenden genuinely cares for his students and the meeting we had was very productive. I was pleased with the results.” Livingston County parent Thomas Shull on his bullying prevention campaign, and the decision to call off a planned picketing of the district after meeting with Superintendent Darryl Chittenden. From the Marion Crittenden Press.
“It is difficult to see such progress in a school and then have that school labeled as a failure. They are doing wonderful things at those schools and they have high marks. It’s just not fair.” Bullitt County Schools Superintendent Keith Davis on one of the upsides in Kentucky’s waiver of the federal No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress all-or-none success measurements. From the Shepherdsville Pioneer-News.
“When they hear that their kids might be going to the high school, they may get a little worried. But many of these parents don’t realize they are in a separate wing and they’re going to be in the back of the high school. It’s totally separate with its own lunchroom and gym.” Russellville Independent Schools Superintendent Leon Smith on efforts to ease concerns of parents of current sixth-graders who will move up next year to middle school classes located in the high school. From the Russellville News Democrat-Leader.
“It’s a positive circle, if you will, instead of a vicious circle, because people here are extremely supportive of their schools. They expect a tremendous amount of results from their schools. Of course, a huge amount of that credit goes to our elementary school students and staff, because if they were not sending a quality product to Grade 7-12 — an example would be, if you’re manufacturing furniture, your completed product can only be as good as the raw materials you begin with. And, unlike the manufacturing industry, they can send inferior products back. We educate one hundred percent of those students who attend.” Pikeville Independent Schools Superintendent Jerry Green in celebration of the 77-member Class of 2012 that has 100 percent of its members planning to go to college. From the Pikeville Appalachian News-Express.
“It really has been blown out of proportion. With social media, sometimes things build up a life of their own.” Todd County Schools Superintendent Mike Kenner on how a Facebook posting about a possible fight at the high school led to widespread rumors and discipline for four students. From the Hopkinsville Kentucky New Era.
“We see this as an investment, not a cost. We intend on having first rate education being taught with certain standards to be met.” Harrison County Schools Superintendent Andy Dotson on the district’s decision to create its own preschool program as an early college and career readiness jump-start. From the Cynthiana Democrat.
“Food is our fuel. So many classroom barriers are erased when a student has had something to eat. The end of the year brings a lot of stress and fatigue to students who need to stay up later. Projects that are due, papers that must be completed, testing and this year’s end-of-course assessments fuel the need to create even greater stability in a child’s life. Free breakfast is a wonderful way to gain that stability.” Hardin County Schools Superintendent Nannette Johnston on the district’s participation in a pilot project extending free breakfast to all of its students. From the Elizabethtown News Enterprise.
“So many times you teach social studies and they think, well, it’s just recalling facts and history. No it’s not, it’s applying what you’ve learned from the past and then making things better for the future.” Hancock County Middle School teacher Josh Roberts on a class project wherein students conducted a campaign to improve traffic safety along a major highway. From the Hawesville Hancock Clarion.