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People Are Talking

Kentucky School Advocate

June 2017

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“Children are precious. If they can’t depend on us, who can they depend on?” Sharon Corman, a lunch monitor at Garth Elementary School (pictured with Scott County Superintendent Kevin Hub, left, student Jordan Collins and Principal Ed Denney) on using her CPR training from another job to help Jordan, who was choking on a piece of food in the cafeteria. From the Georgetown News-Graphic. Click here for full story

“We have to repair the roofs at the High School and Pine Knot Primary. They are at the end of their life cycle and we can’t keep patching them up. It is a question of student safety. We went 10 years where none of our buildings were really touched. The bottom line is we have to fix our buildings and we don’t have the money lying around to do that without this increase. If we don’t do this, our only option will be to continue to let our buildings deteriorate.” McCreary County Schools Superintendent Mike Cash in support of the board’s decision to back a nickel property tax increase for facilities. From the Whitley City McCreary Voice. Click here for full story

“We want to enter into this gently and wisely.” Henderson County Schools Assistant Superintendent Jo Swanson on why the district is limiting participation in a planned early college studies initiative for high school students. From the Henderson Gleaner. Click here for full story

“We’re a large school. We have a lot of different programs that we offer, from fine arts to engineering. At that time (when the policy changed), dual credit was a piece of this thought process as well. We were trying to find ways to free students up where they could take classes that were part of these programs instead of being penalized by not being able to achieve the highest honors that we have here. The race to valedictorian and salutatorian forced students to take pretty much all of our AP classes. So we tried to adjust it where we had a requirement that students had to take some AP classes or a dual-credit equivalent of that class. We really wanted to open the door for kids to be able to take college classes not only on our campus through the AP (program), but also on the college campus. Then we wanted to free students up to take some of the fine arts classes, some engineering classes and things of that nature.” Graves County High School Principal Matthew Madding on the complex set of circumstances that led to a decision to end valedictorian and salutatorian designations for graduating classes. From the Mayfield Messenger. Click here for full story

“It’s an opportunity for these very talented students to display their outstanding abilities for all to see. It’s also an opportunity to pay the community back for all of their support of our total program in this school district. You can’t beat the price. I think it’s the best bang for your buck that you’ll find on a Saturday night in Cynthiana.” Jenny Lynn Varner Hatter, coordinator of A Starry Night … An Arts Experience in which students from all six Harrison County Schools put their visual and performing arts talents on display in one event. From the Cynthiana Democrat. Click here for full story

“High school kids eat with their eyes. He can actually make a little bit more of a difference (in the high school).” Mike Sallee, director of nutrition services for Elizabethtown Independent Schools, on one plus of bringing Louisville chef Mike Jones in to work with cafeteria staff as part of the Chefs in Schools program. From the Elizabethtown News-Enterprise. Click here for full story

“We have a lot of kids that we are serving. We also have a lot of needs that we are not able to capture. We’d like to provide something a little bit different. Something that has the structure and culture needed for those kids, but also something that has some flexibility, that has some choice options as well.” Safe Harbor Academy Principal Logan Culbertson to the Woodford County board on a proposed restructuring of the district’s alternative programs. From the Versailles Woodford Sun. Click here for full story

“To this point, every district that has levied a facilities nickel, it has ultimately been equalized and matched by the state legislature. There is state money being left in Frankfort because we are not levying this nickel.” Daviess County Schools Assistant Superintendent Matt Robbins, who will become superintendent July 1, explaining one benefit of the board’s consideration of a third nickel facilities tax. From the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. Click here for full story

“We want that same pride in everything we do. Everything is moving in the same direction at the same time. Some kids only come to school because of the extracurriculars like sports and clubs. But they understand that they have to do well in their academics to take part in those.” Spencer County Schools Superintendent Chuck Adams in support of a proposed upgrade to the district’s athletic facilities. From the Taylorsville Spencer Magnet. Click here for full story

“Far too often, when you see a report like this, it’s ‘What can the schools do?’ When you’re talking about trying to resolve these issues, that has to happen outside the four walls of the school.” Jon Akers, director of the Kentucky Center for School Safety, on his agency’s annual report on violations of law involving students at school. From the Bowling Green Daily News. Click here for full story

“For two years, these students have excelled in college classes while participating in extracurricular activities, working part-time jobs, performing community service and mentoring younger students. These kids are truly amazing and we hope to see them back in Floyd County in a few years serving as community leaders.” Floyd County Schools Superintendent Henry Webb on the work of 24 members of the Class of 2017 who used the district’s early college option to earn an associate degree from Big Sandy Community and Technical College. From the Prestonsburg Floyd County Times. Click here for full story

“Writing a poem. That’s not my strongest area, but I did give it my best shot.” Hancock County Schools Superintendent Kyle Estes on the hardest part of his “swap” day, exchanging places with a middle schooler. From the Hawesville Hancock Clarion. Click here for full story

“Technology is changing our world. If we want to be world class, we have to change with it, but it is going to take a lot of work.” Webster County Board of Education member James Nance on the district’s long-range “2030 Vision” for improving learning opportunities for students. From the Sebree Banner. Click here for full story

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“We read the poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae, about the poppies and their importance. Our classes are making the poppies because of that poem. We’re going to use them to fill a yard in Frankfort as a way to honor the veterans. I’m looking forward to it.” Augusta Independent Schools fifth-grader Elijah Johnson on a project to honor World War I veterans with paper poppies to be displayed first at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville and later at the Veterans Memorial in Frankfort. From the Maysville Ledger-Independent. Click here for full story

“The history of the property is a major component, but continued use and functionality is one of the biggest focuses. I think there is a future for it. You should see some of the other properties I am working with right now.” Eric Whisman of the Kentucky Trust for Historic Preservation requesting that the Anderson County school board put off a decision about demolishing a once-restored former schoolhouse. From the Lawrenceburg Anderson News. Click here for full story

“I would love for you to take this property off of our hands tomorrow. But in the end (there) is the position on the property and the condition. The roof is falling in, there is a large swimming pool on the inside, the electrical is probably off. There is exposed wiring. To me it is a hazard for our high school.” Anderson County Board of Education member Scott Luna on his concerns about more delays in a decision on the structure’s future, before agreeing with the majority to give Whisman time to seek out a buyer. From the Lawrenceburg Anderson News. Click here for full story