Index News Page Two

Archive of recent Kentucky, U.S. education news

[Note: story links are controlled by the originating news media outlet, not KSBA, and may be changed by them.]

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Monday

Tough times to be a teacher: dozens of educators in Bowling Green Independent, Warren Co. schools face uncertain futures after budget-related non-renewals...

...as Boyle Co., Mercer Co. teachers have differing views on some aspect of special session on public worker pension reform; more time to retire, 401-K funds at issue

News coverage of ex-Pike Co. educator's trial on alleged inappropriate conduct with student nets mistrial; article quoted courtroom testimony not heard by jury

Freshman Academy at Simpson Co. high school will work to reduce failure rate among ninth-graders; reading skills will get additional focus ##

New minimum wage law takes affect in Kentucky tomorrow; state officials estimate as many as 68,000 Kentuckians will benefit from the new pay scale

Boone Co. Schools honor two volunteers with award that recognizes efforts to help schools students; memorial named for ed foundation charter member

Summertime means clean up, fix up, paint up for staff at Kenton Co. Schools; principal: "school fairies always seem to get it done"...

...while Silver Grove Independent mixes summer meals program with variety of activities so kids have "something to do instead of hanging around the house"

Community carillon atop Augusta Independent School back in operation after repairs to computer programming of music; "Jingle Bells in March was interesting"

Oldham Co. fourth-graders create, operate a company to learn about manufacturing, advertising while raising more than $1,000 for children's charity

Commentary: primary legislative author of public employee pension reform bill says much achieved in special session but more changes will have to be made

Opinion: Paducah Independent superintendent's good will gesture by meeting to discuss possible land use for new school merits neighbors' appreciation ##

Tuesday

Muhlenberg Co. board authorizes action against contractor over problems, delayed completion of $3.5 million expansion of elementary school; classes start in five weeks

Kentucky gets good report on student achievement in early grades, but Southern Regional Ed Board says more work needed for high school graduation, other goals

Detroit board agrees to layoff more than 800 teachers, 900 other employees as part of two-year budget deal, averting shutdown but more tough decisions remain

Gov. Beshear says he would support some type of "hybrid" individual investment account for public workers in future pension reform (related Commentary below)

Cloverport Independent chooses former Elizabethtown Independent Superintendent John Millay to take over district's leadership; board approves four-year contract

Legislators, board members recall contributions of ex-Jefferson Co. board member, 20-year state representative Dottie Priddy who passed away yesterday

Boyd Co. elementary school to get health clinic with full-time nurse this fall; partnership with local health department will help spread work of district nurses

Voluntary home drug tests for students implemented in southern Indiana district has drawn some criticism elsewhere; McCreary County booster sees strong deterrent

Commentary: Shelby Co. middle school teacher questions whether practice of standardized grading is actually counterproductive to the teaching/learning process?

Commentary: GOP state senator from Hazard "strongly" believes 401-K retirement plan is in the future of public worker pension plans; reviews special session

Kentucky's new state board of education members talk about their goals, past experience they hope to put to use for the state's schools and students in their new roles

Outgoing Elizabethtown Independent superintendent, on his way to Cloverport Independent, feels good about his tenure, wishes relations with Hardin Co. Schools were better...

...while Kentucky's only three-time interim Commissioner of Education looks ahead to retirement at the end of this month; In Conversation With...Kevin Noland

Bell Co. Schools receive $250,000 Carol M. White grant to improve students' physical fitness; district plans to buy equipment, provide additional opportunities

Kentucky's pension reform a step in the right direction, but experts in other states find follow through depends on the will of legislators

Christian Co. Board of Education delays decision on hiring new superintendent; Monday's board meeting adjourned without taking any action after two-hour closed session

Judge clears way for two candidates to take seats on the Indianapolis school board; delay involved question whether two at-large members could reside in the same area of the district

NSBA forms partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science to help local schools boards improve science, math and technology programs

After hearing testimony from nearly 10 people both for and against, a central Indiana school board votes to terminate assistant principal

Dawson Springs Independent board told of improvements in district technology, staff use of training; team giving teachers "tools, not toys" ##

Wednesday

Barren Co. elementary school honors principal who died unexpectedly over the weekend; establish scholarship in his name

Harlan Co. school board considers leasing old school's athletic field to semi-professional football team

Franklin Co. judge to hold hearing today in lawsuit brought against the Clark Co. school board over district facilities plan it approved last year

Former firefighter, Graves Co. educator, named new principal at McCracken Co.'s Lone Oak Middle School ##

Federal 'Reading First' program could be on its last legs after Congress votes to eliminate funding; program geared toward helping low-income readers

Six states taking lead in pilot program to create plans to improve their own schools under No Child Left Behind; critics have accused current NCLB regulations of being too rigid

After a year of on-the-job training, first day smooth for new principal of Providence Elementary; believes consistency key in continuing to improve student learning

New Philadelphia schools chief lays off 200 people in effort to de-centralize the district and move resources into classrooms

Gov. Beshear travels state touting pension reform, lauds bipartisan effort that produced it, hopes it signals new era in Frankfort...

... while Russellville mayor says reform is a step in the right direction, but he was looking for 'a giant leap' to keep small cities from potentially going 'belly up'

Warren Co. Schools already working on high school grad issues noted in SREB report; overall Kentucky making progress in reading achievement

Sears says goodbye to Somerset, ending 45-year career in education; he led his alma mater for eight years after two previous retirements

Graves Co. Schools drop tuition charge for students from districts that charge Graves students to attend; students must meet requirements

College scholarships aimed at keeping talented students in the community gaining popularity in cities across the country

Two witnesses testify during first day of two-day hearing in suit filed against Clark Co. school board over its facilities plan

Texas finds its students are out of shape and that their physical fitness declines as they get older; nearly 2.6 million students in grades three through 12 evaluated

Junction City Elementary School's new principal plans to focus on instruction, spend time in the classroom, continue to increase test scores ...

... while new principal at Lyon Co. Elementary said she felt called home when job became available; had previously taught in Union and Caldwell counties

What happened in Vegas brought new accolades to Danville Independent High School's forensics team; three of its students made it to competitive award rounds during national competition

West Virginia schools get extra money from state for rising fuel costs, as some districts try to implement fuel-saving strategies

Thursday

Knox Co. Schools plan to turn old football field into softball complex causing headaches for youth sports league, middle, high school teams

KDE official testifies delayed Clark Co. Schools facilities plan could add $2 million to project costs; two board members tell judge of concerns

Jenkins Independent cancels employment contract with high school football coach facing inappropriate conduct trial from Pike Co. teaching job

Madison Co. superintendent hopes district can make Chinese language program permanent as first instructor completes her service

New Harrison Co. superintendent tells board system can become Top 10 district in Kentucky in three years; open communications is Job #1

Some Kentucky districts dealing with high retirement numbers as new school year draws near; 1,353 retirements fourth highest in decade...

...as optimism voiced for the long-run but first meeting of Gov. Beshear's Employee Advisory Council includes heat between union, agency reps

More on four-day school weeks: Virginia districts have been allowed to use four-day weeks since 2003 but few have done so; more research needed...

...as some Michigan districts shift to four-day week during the summer in an effort to reduce expenses; one district shuts down for all of July

South Carolina governor signs bill to boost state school bus fuel funding by $19 million but that's still expected to fall short of costs

Whitley Co. High journalism class video project helps community rescue squad net grant for a new emergency response vehicle

Commentary: attorney for state newspaper association says reason to be concerned about AG ruling in Christian Co. Schools open records denial

Group seeking changes in Lawrence Co. Schools takes protest, picketing to central office, business of board chairwoman; superintendent, board members targeted

Shelby Co. board members call on local businesses to partner with area vo-tech center starting the new fiscal year with a 12 percent state funding cut...

...while state budget forces Oldham Co. system to eliminate one of its school resource officer posts; superintendent: district had to focus on instruction

New Union Co. superintendent sets goal of raising academics even in the midst of tough financial times; Josh Powell wants high expectations, greater achievement...

...while newly-retired (second time) Crittenden Co. superintendent reflects and draws praise for the impact on the district in just three years; John Belt "gone fishing"

Teachers at Indiana junior high ask state to step in to deal with "mismanagement issues;" principal's discipline of teachers a focal point

Hopkins Co. elementary school seeks community help in its bid for $10,000 award after being chosen as one of 100 finalists nationwide ##

McCracken Co. Schools' day care program offering summer camp with a goal of alleviating the "summer brain drain" for kids age 4 - 12...

...while Bullitt Co. elementary school's summer camp designed to help students and their grandparents build relationships in "new family" situations

Boone Co. Schools' food services manager honored by state association as director of the year for her work with child nutrition programs

Friday

Gov. Beshear signs public employee pension reform bill into law, wrapping up special session; Senator: action doesn't go far enough

Poll: Americans think schools should spend more time teaching math, English to prepare students for jobs, adult life; standardized tests divide us

Fiscal court won't let Perry Co. Schools build elementary on county land; superintendent: other sites have flooding issues (related editorial below)...

...as Oldham Co. planning and zoning panel denies 345 house project that included 12-acres of land donated to school system, reduction in home sites

Nelson Co. Schools to require more training for employees at four day care centers following child sunburn incidents; district awaiting state report

Retiring Powell Co. superintendent recalls progress from facilities to food services, as search for new hire hits snag (Scroll down to stories)...

...as departing Christian Co. superintendent praised for setting groundwork for district improvement; advise to successor?: "it's all about good teachers"

Local foundation kicks in $60,000 to help Russellville Independent project to save wall at historic football stadium; district still needs $10,000

Casey Co. board OKs policy changes on grade reporting, sports eligibility for elementary students; report cards to mix with "home/school communiques"

Summer STLP camp gives Shelby Co. middle, high school students insights into design, construct and operate robotic creations

Opinion: Perry Co. school, local government leaders must put past differences aside, work together to find solution on site for new school

Commentary: as special legislative session wraps up, John Cooper, lobbyist for school administrators, talks about working with the General Assembly

Hancock Co. High principal, council propose changes in how class valedictorian is selected following parent protest; one board member has concerns

Advocacy group's analysis of Kentucky dropout figures concludes immigrant teens five times more likely to drop out than other students

Prichard Committee, Kentucky's first ladies team up with national group to encourage senior citizens to become involved in preschool services

Community, including county and independent district leaders, mourn passing of long-time Jackson Independent board member; Dr. Donna Smith served 18 years

No slow summer days for school maintenance staff, educators; Hardin Co. Schools' workers tackle everything from painting and remodeling to lesson plans

Settlement in the works in two-year-old bullying lawsuit by former students against Casey Co. Schools, staff; lawyer links case to new anti-bullying law

...as Louisiana board agrees to consent order stating that high school graduation prayer in 2007 was unconstitutional; judge ready to rule against district...

...while Florida board learns it owes more than $300,000 in legal fess to ACLU after losing court fight over student's pro-gay rights t-shirt

One Virginia board decides against trial four-day school week, but will continue to study issue; another Virginia district goes to four-days over summer

Nashville board hires same firm to do its superintendent search that was just fired by Cincinnati board over problems with search there

Camp for special needs students results from collaboration of Glasgow Independent elementary school, local hospital; sessions target skills building

Opinion: Jefferson Co. teachers should reject "duplicity" of racial discrimination allegations being made by their union's leaders

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