City schools join AdvanceKentucky initiative to improve math, science skills
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, 8 p.m. — The Bardstown Independent Schools will join an elite group of schools who have joined a program to help them focus on preparing students to excel at science and math in high school.
Board chair Kathy Reed and Superintendent Brent Holsclaw discuss an issue prior to the start of Tuesday’s meeting of the Bardstown Independent Schools board of education.
Cara Blackmon, the district’s director of curriculum, instruction and assessment, told the board that the district will be part of the Advance Kentucky initiative beginning with the 2015-16 school year.
AdvanceKentucky doesn’t just focus on math, science and technology in the high school curriculum; the organization’s goal is to expand access to and participation in college-level (Advanced Placement, or “AP”) classes in high school.
“This program will get more students involved in AP classes than ever before,” Blackmon said. The effort includes a focus on students from populations traditionally underrepresented in these advanced, college-level courses.
Bardstown High School is one of nine Kentucky high schools who will join the AdvanceKentucky program for the 2015-16 school year. AdvanceKentucky recruited the Bardstown school district’s participation, Blackmon said.
Part of what makes AdvanceKentucky unique is that the effort to build skills to empower students to take AP classes will begin in middle school, including training opportunities for middle school teachers. The goal is to help middle school teachers prepare students for college-level classes once the get in high school.
BMS IMPROVEMENT PLAN. Data about student performance is going to drive the improvement plans for Bardstown Middle School, according to Principal Ryan Clark. Clark told the board that student data will be used to target opportunities for academic growth.
Teachers will use this information in their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to better focus on how to improve teachers’ teaching strategies. The PLCs are also reporting their work periodically to the school’s site-based council.
The plan for setting goals for the students will include conversations with their parents, Clark said.
Board member Franklin Hibbs III makes a point during a discussion of the AdvanceKentucky program.
ATHLETIC TRAINER. The board approved an agreement with Flaget Memorial Hospital to provide the school district with an athletic trainer who will work 20 hours a week with the district’s sports programs.
In a related move, the board approved an agreement with St. Catharine College to serve as a site for students enrolled in its new athletic trainer program.
College students studying to be athletic trainers will work with the district’s athletic trainer to gain practical, hands-on experience.
BOND REFINANCING. The board approved a plan to refinance two of the districts bonds in order to save interest money over the long term. The board — meeting as the district’s finance corporation — approved the sale of its 2006 bond and a 2010 Build American bond, a move that will save the district approximately $130,000 in interest over the terms of the bonds.
In other business, the board:
— approved an agreement with the Nelson County Schools that will gradually reduce the number of county school district students who transfer to city schools;
— approved the 2015 fee schedule, which includes some increases needed to help cover the state-mandated 2 percent pay raises;
— approved the 2015-16 school calendar, which features Aug. 5 as the first day of school and June 3 as the last day of school. The calendar features seven built-in snow days.
— approved contracts for three reading specialists who will work with primary and elementary students. The money is provided by a Title VI Innovative Program Strategies grant.
-30-
