“When we identified the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Franklin County, three areas basically bold up as needs. Curriculum, instruction and assessment was one area. Culture and quality control were the other two. As a result of those three areas, we have developed the implementation guide or action plans. This is a three-year plan. Are there other things I would like to include? Absolutely. This is kind of a process where we can say, ‘These are our priorities.’” Franklin County Schools Superintendent Chrissy Jones on the bottom line of the district’s new three-year strategic plan implementation guide. From the Frankfort State Journal.
“We don’t want to go out and hire a bunch of teachers and then let them go (because of low numbers). We don’t want to make anyone lose their job.” Trimble County school board member Jill Simmons responding to a parents’ concerns about a possible enrollment-related staff reduction. From the Madison (Ind.) Courier.
“I have the thought of, ‘Let’s meet them where they are.’ They’re already here; they’re already on Facebook every night; if we’re trying to hit a high audience, let’s post things where they already are. Just the fact that there is a place where people can ask questions and get an answer — I think that’s one of the best things about it. I don’t mind doing that, because I know that it’s good PR for the district to be able to always know that somebody is going to answer your question.” Jessamine County Schools Technology Coordinator Erin Waggoner on the district’s use of social media to announce information like school closings this past year. From the Nicholasville Jessamine Journal.
“We have some medically fragile students in our school system – students with diabetes, seizure episodes, breathing difficulties. Having the nurses in the schools ensures that these students can attend school and still have the medical support that they require. The board understands that this is a financial risk for our district, but we need to try this, for the sake of the kids.” Rowan County Schools Superintendent Marvin Moore on the board’s decision to hire its own nurses after the regional health department stopped providing those services. From the Morehead News.
“We’re already ahead of the game a little bit when it comes to the standards, but we still have to finish designing the entire curriculum. It’s going to be a huge shift, but these standards are what science should have been all along. The standards make science more hands on. They make us do experiments – there aren’t a lot of worksheets like it was in the past – it’s a lot better than it was.” Marshall County Schools Elementary Supervisory Abby Griffy on implementing the state’s new science standards. From the Benton Tribune-Courier.