School Day

It was a festive mood Tuesday night as the Clark County Board of Education declared next week as School Board Recognition Week. During the board's regular meeting, the designation was approved amid signs and cards hung in the room, which were made by students, teachers and administrators of the district, thanking the school board members for their hard work. At the beginning of the meeting, several students from Shearer Elementary School were recognized for their work in the school's student media program, which produces a television show during the school day. There are 35 fourth and fifth-graders that participate.

Students in Jessamine County will be in school a little longer than usual for 12 days near the end of March. The Jessamine County Board of Education approved a recommendation Monday to extend the school day at all levels by 30 minutes from March 16 to April 1. The last day of school for students will be an early-release day on Friday, June 3. The calendar, which originally had eight make-up days scheduled, was strained by the closing of...

JUNCTION CITY - What was thought to be an illegal substance found Thursday at Junction City Elementary School turned out to be a false alarm after law enforcement swept the school. Principal Barbara Morris said the substance was brought to her attention at the beginning of the school day by a teacher who was shown the substance by a student in her class. Superintendent Steve Burkich said the substance resembled methamphetamine or crack, but that ended up not being the case.

LANCASTER - A special meeting Friday of the Garrard County Board of Education resulted in Good Friday being returned to students and teachers as a day off. March 25, the day before Spring Break, was slated to be added to the school calendar as a make-up day for cancellation of classes March 14. As an alternative, teachers will extend daily instructional time by 10 minutes, starting Tuesday, for the remaining 37 days of school. "After the response from parents and teachers about previous plans already made (for Good Friday)

It was a colorful performance in the West Jessamine High School auditorium Friday night as students from all five elementary schools presented music they've been working on all year - Dr. Seuss' “My Many Colored Days.” The 19 gifted students had gathered five times throughout the year on the afternoons of early-release days to rehearse, and they spent a majority of their school day Friday preparing in the West Jessamine High School auditorium for...

By Michael Broihier During a marathon, two and a half hour meeting last Thursday evening, the Lincoln County Board of Education adjusted the school calendar to avoid having the school year run over into June. Two scheduled days off were cancelled and Spring Break was trimmed to two days to make up for the 13 days students have already missed due to inclement weather. Director of Pupil Personnel Bruce Smith explained to the board that the time could not be made up simply by adding time to the remaining school days.

The Clark Middle School Site-based Decision-making Council approved a new dress code for the 2009-2010 school year. Shirts may be any style and fabric, solid or pattern, that completely cover the shoulders, midsection and chest area. No inappropriate language, symbols or pictures are allowed. Content on shirts may be left to teacher discretion. Sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and hoodies follow the same regulations as shirts. They may not extend below the back pocket of pants.

The Jessamine County school district is looking to send a strong message of good health as it goes completely smoke-free Jan. 1, 2011, while local governments wait for a joint meeting to discuss the possibility of a countywide smoking ban in workplaces. Smoking had previously been prohibited in all buildings at all times and on all property owned by the school district during the school day, leaving open the possibility of adults smoking cigarettes at outdoor events during the evening.

Two area elementary schools, Liberty and Waynesburg, are the beneficiaries of a federally-funded grant program that will make walking to school safer and easier. Gov. Steve Beshear announced Wednesday that the two schools are among eight in the state to receive funding from the Safe Route to School program. Liberty will get S149,000 and Waynesburg $130,000 for sidewalk improvements around their schools. “We're very, very pleased,” said Liberty Mayor Steve Sweeney. “This is going to be a big asset to a lot of people in our community.” Waynesburg Principal Mark Upchurch greeted the announcement as “good news.” In Waynesburg, the money will be spent to install a sidewalk along Ky. 328 from Ruckel's Grocery near U.S. 27 to the post office.

Dear Editor, Recently, I was concerned that the Lincoln County School Board couldn't or wouldn't provide any data to explain or back up their decision to change our school calender. Because of this, I decided to look up information myself on the Internet. Ever thing I found has one thing in common: Going to a 4-day week is always done for financial reasons. Studies show no increase or decrease in test scores. However, Orofino school district in Idaho, which uses a 4-day week schedule year round, saved $143,700 per year.