“The style of questions are much more rigorous than what our students have experienced previously, written very much like the ACT. Ultimately, what it’s trying to do is get them ready to take the ACT, and to really show that they are college and career ready.” Beth Sumner, Trigg County Schools’ assistant superintendent for instruction, on the first end-of-course exams being taken by high school students this year. From the Cadiz Record.
“The fundamental right of parents to control the education of their children does not extend to a right to demand that their children be allowed to participate without restrictions in extracurricular sports.” Portion of a Kentucky Court of Appeals ruling upholding a Kentucky High School Athletics Association rule prohibiting private-school students who want to compete in athletics from getting more than 25 percent of their tuition costs covered by merit-based scholarships. From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
“This it just to make our dollars stretch as much as we can. It’s not that we’re accepting something less. Before we can explore these options, we have to get our foot in the door first.” Somerset Independent Schools Superintendent Boyd Randolph on the option of changing the district’s facilities plan to renovate rather than replace an elementary school in order to apply for up to $5 million in federally funded Qualified Zone Academy Bonds. From the Somerset Commonwealth-Journal.
“One teacher told me that for the first time in 12 years she will not have to share a room. Every teacher will now have a classroom.” Southgate Independent Schools Superintendent Jim Palm on completion of a $1.4 million, four-classroom expansion, just the start of the $5 million to $6 million of work needed on the 108-year-old school. From the Fort Mitchell nky.com.
“Obviously if we had been on regular schedule, we probably wouldn’t have had school this morning because the roads would have been bad. As long as your buses can run, you can have school and obviously roads were clear enough for buses to run today. Weather is fickle and can change at any time but we are going to try it in January and see how it works.” Hazard High School Principal Happy Mobelini on how the district’s delayed 9 a.m. start time helped avoid a snow day after an early January storm closed several other area schools. From Hazard WYMT-TV.
“The positive thing about the new model is the focus on student growth for every single child. Because of No Child Left Behind, teachers have tended to focus on only struggling students, but now the focus will be on all students, even high achievers.” Jennifer Davis, assessment coordinator for Bowling Green Independent Schools, after studying “simulated results” of last year’s test results as they would be counted next year under the state’s new assessment and accountability system. From the Bowling Green Daily News.
“One, it targets people who do not have a degree, and we all know that research shows that you want to have an educated community, so you want to give people more opportunities for a degree. Two, it greatly increases the chances of someone finishing high school with a degree, because there are so many diverse issues out there that prevent kids from obtaining success.” Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Josh Powell on plans to create an alternative school under a new set of Department of Education guidelines. From the Mt. Sterling Advocate.
“Both East Carter High and West Carter High have proud histories that include a state baseball title for East Carter and a state basketball title for the West Carter high girls. No one likes to be a graduate of a high school that no longer exists, and it is not easy to root for the players you used to root against. Old rivalries don’t die easily. But in many ways Carter County often has been thought of as two counties, with one county seat in Grayson and the other in Olive Hill. We can think of few better ways to unite the county than the creation of one high school.” Portion of newspaper editorial on a proposal to revise the Carter County Schools’ facilities plan and consider consolidation of the district’s two high schools into a single, centrally located school. From the Ashland Daily Independent.
“We created an agenda that will allow him to experience a day in the life of our staff and students at the three schools and the preschool center. As a district we hope to provide an educational experience for Dr. Holliday to gain an insight and understanding of our everyday operations inside the classroom with our students and administrators. We want him to be a part of what transpires in our schools each day.” Murray Independent Schools Superintendent Bob Rogers on the “Holliday for a Day” visit by Education Commissioner Terry Holliday, an event won by the district in an auction sponsored by the Kentucky School Public Relations Association. From the Paducah West Kentucky Star.
“What’s the president like? Do you think we’ll ever have a girl president? Have you seen the president’s daughters before? Are you invited to their birthday parties? Have you ever passed a law that says you can’t give away free things on the Fourth of July?” Some of the questions posed by Boston School (Nelson County) fifth-graders to Kentucky U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie during a talk about how the federal government works. From the Bardstown Kentucky Standard.