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12-13 People are Talking

People are Talking

"I was very impressed with the labs and hands-on learning at all of the facilities. I was even more satisfied that the students at Glasgow High School are using the same modern technologies that these institutes of higher learning are using. Our students are very prepared to use the equipment in the technical school labs.” Glasgow Independent High School engineering teacher J. R. Dakin on a tour by his students and peers from Barren County High of technical lab facilities at three area college campuses. From the Glasgow Daily Times. Photo provided by Glasgow Independent Schools.

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“The big issue is not what we do. It’s how limited we are in funds to do what needs to be done. So we’ve got $20 million. Where do you spend it first? It’s going to take a lot more money to get at some of the problems when you’re dealing with facilities that average 45 to 50 years of age.” Henderson County Schools Superintendent Thomas Richey on choices district leaders face related to renovating one elementary with mold problems versus replacing another elementary that is rated lower in the state facilities system. From the Henderson Gleaner.

“Instead of taking the big book home, we took a picture of the paper, the page we were doing, and we didn’t have to take the book home.” Buckhorn School (Perry County) junior Catherine Gabbard on one of the benefits of school supplied tablet computers, which she also uses to do dual-credit college coursework. From the Hazard WYMT-TV News.

“We don’t want to hide anything from the public. We’re a public institution and the public should know.” Boyd County School Board Chairman Bob Green on the Kentucky Department of Education posting all superintendents’ contracts and salary information online. From the Ashland Daily Independent.

“When first notified that your office would be conducting an examination of certain administrative activities in our district, the thought of yet another negative blow to the integrity of Martin County Schools was not a pleasant one. However, it was quickly welcomed as an additional strategy to help us correct course in several areas of district operations.” Martin County Board of Education Chairman Craig Preece to state Auditor of Public Accounts Adam Edelen after his office raised questions about actions of the district’s previous superintendent and the board’s oversight. From the Lexington WKYT-TV News.

“There was no air conditioning before, so the learning environment is improved significantly.” Fort Thomas Independent Highlands High School Principal Brian Robinson on his assessment of the biggest change resulting from a $5 million renovation to the 1937 building. From the Fort Mitchell Community Press and Recorder.

“It’s instructionally valid and research-based and is really what we ought to be about. The work is valuable. Our big concern is managing the process.” Owensboro Independent Schools Assistant Superintendent Matthew Constant on one of the biggest challenges – time – involved in the state’s new teacher and principal evaluation program, PGES (Professional Growth and Effectiveness System). From the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer.

“We decided that we needed to have a voice, and it was time that members of the education community stood up and said to our General Assembly, ‘Enough is enough. You promised ... that you would provide resources in funding ... and you have not held up your end of the deal.’” Scott County Schools Superintendent Patricia Putty after her board of education joined more than 90 (and counting) local school boards that have adopted resolutions calling on the 2014 General Assembly to restore K-12 funding that has been reduced over the past five years. From the Georgetown News-Graphic.

“It is going to cost so much more than we planned for before the fire. It will cost about $400,000 to have the stuff taken away by a contractor with someone certified in asbestos removal, and taken to a certified landfill. Not that there was a lot of asbestos, but they consider all the remains potentially contaminated because of the fire.” Retiring Robertson County Schools Superintendent Chuck Brown on how the cost of demolishing a school had increased tenfold after an arson fire. From the Maysville Ledger-Independent.

“They feel that they are a part of Danville. They go eat at all the restaurants here, they play games against Burgin and Danville and others in sports, they go to CVS and they get their driver’s license here. They are a part of the Danville community.” Kentucky School for the Deaf language arts teacher Heath McClain on his students’ community service project to teach sign language to Danville Independent elementary students. From the Danville Advocate Messenger.

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“This program is available to juniors and seniors in our district who meet rigorous academic requirements. FCECA (Floyd County Early College Academy) blends the high school and college experiences and promotes developing students for success. This year we’ll have eight students in the FCECA who will graduate with high school diplomas and associates degrees and expect to see that number increase annually.” Floyd County Schools Superintendent Henry Webb on the selection of this district program for an Innovation Award from the Appalachian Innovations Collaborative. From the Prestonsburg Floyd County Times.

“I see no concerns. The policy was followed and all the protocols and statutes were followed in the hiring. As a courtesy we were informed, but, as a board member, personnel is not one of our mandates other than the superintendent.” Montgomery County school board Vice Chairman Kelly Murphy on his opinion – shared by the state Education Professional Standards Board – that the hiring of Superintendent Josh Powell’s wife as district director of special education was permitted under Kentucky law due to her years of service and limited supervisory responsibilities. From the Mt. Sterling Advocate.

“If you want to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children, if you want to increase social mobility, if you want to help people escape poverty, there’s no better place to do that than in the classroom.” U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan speaking in Louisville at the National FFA convention, encouraging students to consider going into teaching to help replace the 700 agriculture teachers expected to retire in the next three years. From the Louisville WFPL Radio News.

“It isn’t easy. Students who have been in the program come out and say, ‘I don’t want to go through that again.’” Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School (Fayette County) Principal Betsy Rains on how her school no longer suspends students for many rules violations, but rather places them in close supervision with interventions to help avoid future problems. From the Lexington Herald-Leader.

“When they got into the pocketbook, we had quicker results. But in the tough economic times, they don’t pay (court fines), so then they have a criminal charge of contempt they can be picked up on.” Frankfort Independent Schools Director of Pupil Personnel Sherrill Smith on the use of the court system as an option to address chronic truancy. From the Frankfort State Journal.

“We want to teach kids how to use technology responsibly. They’re using technology anyway, most of the time it’s for social networking or things of that nature. We want to show them that it can be much more than that. You can use it to do a poll in a classroom – ‘how many of you really find that you understand this material?’ You’re a lot more likely to get honest feedback as opposed to the hand raising.” Waggener High School (Jefferson County) Assistant Principal Trent Bates on the trial use of students’ cellphones as classroom tools. From the Louisville WDRB-TV News.