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Kentucky School Advocate

April 2018

Stephanie Winkler, Kentucky Education Association president

“Teachers across Kentucky are not happy with lawmakers because they have not been funding their responsibilities. The way it’s saving money is putting the brunt of the costs back on the employees, which is not fair.” – Stephanie Winkler (right), Kentucky Education Association president, saying the pension reform bill doesn’t go far enough to honor promises to public school employees. From the Courier Journal, Louisville

“They’re on the front lines. They are critical to helping me find out why some kids aren’t coming to school.” – D.G. Sherrill, Bowling Green Independent Schools’ pupil personnel director, describing the key role of family resource and youth services centers amid fears that they will be adversely affected by state budget cuts. From the Daily News of Bowling Green

“We’re not complaining about the school board. They did what they’re supposed to do. Now, we’re doing what we’re supposed to do.” – Paul Stahler, Member of a petition committee – and former superintendent – calling for a referendum on
Woodford County Schools’ recently passed nickel tax. From the Woodford Sun, Versailles

“Any subdivision or land that would have an impact on schools whether it has to be rezoned or not will be subject to the capacity standards.” – Amy Alvey, Senior planner for Oldham County Planning and Development on the agency’s new
school capacity standards, designed to ensure development aligns with school capacity.From the Oldham Era, LaGrange

“This message is for the teachers, and I would simply say that we heard you and we adjusted our thinking because of your voices.” – State Sen. Joe Bowen (right), co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board, on the long-awaited release of a pension reform bill, more than halfway through the legislative session. From the Courier Journal, Louisville

“In many districts, the rigor does need to increase significantly, and I think this hopefully will bring attention to that.” – State Rep. John “Bam” Carney, House Education Committee chairman on the amendment to Senate Bill 73, which would tighten guidelines on non-traditional instruction instead of doing away with the program. From WDRB-TV, Louisville

“The gymnasium would still be full, but not dangerously full.” – Justin Alley, Wayne County High School principal on the expected results of a new board-approved policy to issue tickets to students, staff and school board members for
graduation seating due to safety concerns. From the Wayne County Outlook, Monticello

“I’m gonna tell you now each and every one of us are going to be at the polls come November 2018 — we’re going to hit the streets, we’re going to campaign against them, we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure every neighbor, all of our friends, all of our family — every single one of them knows who voted for what — we’re going to social media — we’re gonna blow them up on Twitter, and I’ll tell you something now, some of these people are never going to cast a vote against the working people of this state again.” – Nema Brewer, Public employee, responding to Senate Bill 1, the pension reform bill. From Spectrum News/Pure Politics

“We’re a little island.” – Mickey Brangers, West Point Independent superintendent on how floodwaters surrounded, but did not enter, the district’s school (right) during February’s flooding rainstorms. The school was closed for a week, but staff visited shelters to check on evacuated families and hand out work packets to students. From the News-Enterprise, Elizabethtown

“Such a drastic change with no time to realistically prepare for it would be devastating for local governments and schools alike, and it would all but force them to slash services, raise taxes or do a combination of both. It doesn’t have to be that way.” – Rocky Adkins, House minority floor leader on the danger of the sudden, massive increase in CERS contribution rates and pushing for legislation that would phase them in instead. From the Morehead News

“This is going to be a way that I think we can promote statewide, even across the nation the good things going on in our school districts.” – Jim Evans, Lee County Schools superintendent, speaking at the launch of the Kentucky Association of School Administrators’ Love Kentucky Public Education campaign. From WKYT-TV, Lexington

“While metal detectors may be a future option, among many, to consider, it may not be the best at this time. There are several major concerns that must be addressed to make metal detectors a viable safety and security option. Before we implement any safety measure we want to make sure that first, it does no harm.” – Doug Bennett, Laurel County Schools superintendent, in a letter to parents detailing the district’s safety measures and explaining why – despite their protests – the district is holding off on using metal detectors. From WKYT-TV, Lexington

“I would plead with parents to please stress to your children the trouble they can cause for themselves with any kind of threat.” – Steve Butcher, Pulaski County Schools superintendent discussing threats to one of his schools and the repercussions to the perpetrators.From the Commonwealth-Journal, Somerset

“I am thankful that I go to a school where I know I matter and that my safety isn’t a joke to the school system. I am thankful that our school system cares enough about us and our safety to bring us together in times like these to talk about the issues that we have and could face. I am thankful that I am cared about.” – Kourtney Laudick, Pendleton County High School student on the school’s response to students’ safety concerns, which included administrators talking to each grade level and placing encouraging Post-it notes on student lockers. From the Falmouth Outlook