School News from Around Kentucky

Bus driver’s note to parents sparks concern: A bus driver at Betsy Layne Elementary handed out a letter to students Tuesday during her daily route asking that parents not send her Christmas gifts or cards that has some people in the community scratching their heads.The bus driver, Deanna “DeeDee” Boyd, addressed the letter to the children’s parents.“I appreciate all of your kind thoughts this year but I am making a request that you do not send me Christmas cards or gifts,” Boyd’s letter begins. “I do not celebrate Christmas because I have research (sic) the beginnings of the holiday & it has false teachings & lies associated with it.”Boyd goes on in the letter to specifically outline what she says are “just a few reasons” she doesn’t celebrate Christmas.“I definitely believe in Jesus but He never said to celebrate his birthday nor did he ever celebrate it,” Boyd writes, adding that only two birthdays were celebrated in the Bible. “Someone on each of those birthdays lost their head, one being the very important John the Baptizer. Do you think God was trying to tell us something here?” (Floyd County Times)

Legislators’ foresee drastic measures on budget: Pike County’s legislative team ... spoke of one mind on the state’s budget woes Thursday; that some drastic measures are forthcoming. State representative... Leslie Combs ... opened the session with a strong message on what’s coming. “Everything is on the table, everything; every program, every issue is on the table financially right now,” Combs said. “And we’re going to have to address them all.” At the same time, the legislators also said some things will have to be protected as much as possible. Jones spoke on the importance of education to the future of the area. “Kids in Eastern Kentucky are behind areas in Lexington and Louisville, where they have more progressive schools, really have more money invested in education, where they have better facilities,” he said. “The children in Eastern Kentucky can compete if they’re given an opportunity. We can’t give them that opportunity unless we invest in public education.” Jones said there are only three options left for dealing with the budget: • Substantial, “massive” across-the-board cuts to government agencies, which could even result in layoffs of court personneland teachers; • Expanded gaming, which Jones said he does not support; or • Reform of the state’s “antiquated” tax system, which could include expansion of the sales tax to services currently exempt from the state’s six-percent tax. But government cannot shoulder the burden alone, Jones said, and businesses and individuals will also have to feel the effects of the budget shortfall. (Appalachian News-Express by way of KSBA)

Ex-Logan County HS teacher takes plea: A former Logan County High School teacher pled guilty Tuesday in circuit court to two charges involving improper contact with a student.Don Ricardo Rodgers, of Bowling Green, who taught social studies for nine years at LCHS, pled guilty to use of a minor under 18 in a sexual performance and distribution of obscene material to a minor.In court, Rodgers replied to the charges by saying, “I take responsibility for enticing a minor to send a nude picture of herself to me” and “I sent via computer a nude picture of myself to the victim.” (News Democrat & Leader)

College classes to be offered at Estill County High next semester: Estill High has had students involved in Eastern Kentucky University’s “Jump Start” program for several years. This year that program became “EKU Now” and 39 Estill students are currently participating. “We made phone calls and sent e-mails until we got them to agree to hold classes here,” Principal Blain Click explained. The first class to be offered will be English 102 to students who have completed English 101.There are 14 Estill High students who took English 101 in the fall. It isn’t just for high school students in the “EKU Now” program. People in the community will also be able to attend. (Citizen Voice & Times)

JCPS hiring policy is found to discriminate: Jefferson County Public Schools has been discriminating against potential employees and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by requiring applicants to take a medical exam before making job offers, the state Commission on Human Rights ruled Thursday. But the school system can still require medical exams before someone starts work, as long as they’re done after a job offer is made, according to a release from the commission. The ruling stems from a complaint filed by William Labruyere, who applied to be a bus driver and was not hired because he is a diabetic who is insulin dependent, according to a release from the commission. (C-J)

Corbin schools drafting new, stricter dress code for staff: The Corbin Board of Education is likely to vote sometime early next year on a stricter dress code and appearance policy for teachers and classified staff members - a move to bolster and tighten changes made to school system policies regarding the issue that were approved in September...A new policy would, out of necessity, be more detailed and strict. Assistant Superintendent Darrell Tremaine, who is coordinating the effort, said it would address things like visible cleavage, inappropriate logos, body piercings other than in the ear, bare midriffs, hats, short skirts or attire that is inappropriate for the situation like a math teacher lecturing in gym shorts. "I think what is coming out of this is going to be more of a list of what you can't wear, not what you can," Tremaine said. (News Journal)

Author to appear at rally sparked by editing of school reading list: Washington State author Chris Crutcher, whose book is among several novels involved in a book protest at Montgomery County High School, will appear at a rally in Mount Sterling on Friday night. Crutcher says he will talk about "reading and censorship" at 6:30 p.m. at the Gateway Regional Center for the Arts. The rally is being organized by Montgomery County High students who want Crutcher's book, Deadline, and several other contemporary young adult novels restored to the reading list for literature circles in college prep English classes at the school. Montgomery schools Superintendent Daniel Freeman recently pulled the books from the reading list after some parents complained that they contain objectionable language and themes. (H-L)

Jefferson school board won't appeal adverse ruling on Sheldon Berman evaluation: The Jefferson County school board decided Monday night not to appeal a judge’s ruling that it violated Kentucky’s open-meeting law by conducting Superintendent Sheldon Berman’s evaluation in private. In a 10-page decision, released earlier in the day, Jefferson Circuit Judge Irv Maze wrote that “while it may have been more convenient for the Board and Superintendent to have this discussion held in private,” the reasons provided by the board “do not justify closing the meeting to the general public.” Debbie Wesslund, the chairwoman of the school board, said the board believes it’s time to “move on.” “It’s not that we don’t stand by our decision to conduct the superintendent’s evaluation in private,” she said shortly after the board returned from a 30-minute executive session in which they discussed the matter. “We just feel that it’s time to move on. We will comply with the court’s decision.” (C-J)

Added incentive — Superintendents would be held more accountable under bill: Superintendents and school board members in districts with low-achieving schools could face removal under a proposal approved Thursday by the Kentucky Board of Education as part of the board’s legislative agenda for the 2010 General Assembly. We agree that superintendents should be held more accountable for the performance of schools in their district. Although superintendents typically play only a minor role in the day-to-day operation of individual schools within a district, accountability should begin at the top. Just knowing they could be removed if students in schools in the district are consistently doing poorly on achievement tests could cause superintendents to take a more proactive role in solving academic problems within schools... (Daily Independent)

Cheating the future - Budget cuts coming to Kentucky public schools: Budget-wise, the rubber is about to meet the road and the tire tracks are going to show up on kids and the classroom. Last week, Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday told the state’s school superintendents to brace themselves for more than $20 million in cuts that have to be made by June 30. The education cuts will make up part of Gov. Steve Beshear’s 6 percent reduction in some state agencies to close a $161 million budget shortfall. The school funding formula and employee health insurance were left off the chopping block in this round. What remains on the list of potential, line-item targets illustrates the range of students and programs that could be impacted: tutoring in Appalachia … dropout prevention … rural literacy … gifted and talented services … technology grants … early reading intervention programs … family resource and service centers … preschool. Each of those areas matters, deeply, to students and parents and schools, as well as to the common good in the commonwealth. Good education floats all boats. (C-J)