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Kentucky School Advocate

May 2019

“Both the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Labor are part of the same Executive Branch of Kentucky State Government under Governor Bevin. So, when Governor Bevin’s Commissioner of Education assured educators consequences would not be pursued against them, then Governor Bevin should make certain that his Secretary of Labor honors that assurance.” – Brent McKim, president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association on the subpoenas sent to several districts for the names of teachers who called in sick during the teacher protests at the General Assembly. The Labor Cabinet gave the districts until May 10 to respond. From the Courier-Journal, Louisville

“Over the last five years, the school board and I have taken a fiscally conservative approach to our budget in anticipation of facility needs. I would argue that we do more with less than any district in the state. I ask for your support as we look to improve facilities, but more importantly, opportunities for our children.” – Robb Smith, Bellevue Independent superintendent while asking the board of education to consider implementing a nickel tax to pay for building updates including new roofs, HVAC systems and secure entries. The River City News, Covington

“Lyon County is unique, but over half of our school funding is from local dollars, so we’re already spending a great deal of our local tax dollars. We don’t rely on Frankfort to move us forward to what’s best for kids.” – Russ Tilford (left), Lyon County Schools superintendent noting that his district is already doing most of the things called for in Senate Bill 1, the school safety bill. From WPSD-TV, Paducah

“They put in a lot of additional hours after the working day like a coach or bus driver.” – Reed Adkins, Pike County Schools superintendent on a proposal to pay teachers or administrators who volunteer as testing coordinators a stipend. From the Appalachian News-Express, Pikeville

“I’m excited to get acquainted with the students and staff. I like to spend a lot of time in the schools with the children. My focus is on the children. I want them to be life-ready.” – Harry Burchett (right), new superintendent of Harrison County Schools and current Johnson County Schools assistant superintendent. From the Cynthiana Democrat

“You’re not going to really see the addition part be done inside until they do the renovation inside the high school.” – Kyle Estes, Hancock County superintendent on the addition and renovations to Hancock County High School. The $4 million project will add classrooms, bathrooms and improve the entryway and office space. From the Hancock Clarion, Hawesville

“From the outside it’s hard to tell, but it’s going along really well – it’s even more impressive when you’re in there and looking, than what you see on paper.” – Bryan McRoberts, Lewis County Board of Education chairman after the board toured the new Lewis County Central Elementary School. The school will contain three classrooms for each grade, two special education rooms, an art room, library and media center, enrichment room and science lab. From the Ledger Independent, Maysville

“We’re planning mental health fairs at the middle schools. We’ve talked with our Board of Education to see what solutions we could implement to further help students; what resources we could give them and what resources we could give to our teachers.” – Shay Collett, member of Leslie County High School’s Community Problem Solving team which won the 2019 Governor’s Cup competition with their “Be Kind to Your Mind” project focusing on youth mental health. WYMT-TV, Hazard

“There’s an image with Apple. Instructionally, Google is much more used and I think our kids will figure out that Google is just as cool as Apple.” – Nick Brake, Owensboro Independent superintendent on the board’s decision to buy Lenovo Chromebooks at $400 per unit instead of Apple MacBooks at $950 per unit, saving the district $1.2 million. From The Owensboro Times

“We’re really excited and so thankful that the board of education wanted to support the health of all of the students, staff and visitors.” – Liz Burrows, Oldham County Health Department health educator on the Oldham County board’s vote to implement a 100-percent smoke free policy which prohibits tobacco used of any kind – including e-cigarettes and Juuls – inside schools, on school grounds, in district-owned vehicles and at the board of education. From The Oldham Era, LaGrange

“The cost of moving it is so exponential that no one will (bite). It seems like it’s just sitting there and turning into an eyesore. We just need to move forward and dispose of it.” – James Sargent, Anderson County board member on dismantling a historic school building which once sat in Glensboro but was moved to the high school’s front lawn. The building contains a large bell, antique desks and original chalkboards. The bell will be moved to the district office. From the Anderson News, Lawrenceburg

“I’m 100 percent behind the kindergarten/preschool early learning center. I think it’s a fabulous idea. I think Crabbe is the worst place to put the center. We need to use a building that can hold all kindergarten and preschool children.” – Patsy Lindsey, Ashland Independent board member on a three to two vote that would have brought all kindergartners and 4-year-old
preschoolers to Crabbe Elementary and distributed the school’s first- through fifth-graders to one of four other schools. From the Ashland Daily Independent