Published: February 06, 2008 04:53 pm            

In Your View — 02/07/08

Carter middle schools improving

We’re writing in response to the Jan. 19 editorial headlined, “Need to improve. Lack of achievement qualified Carter middle schools for funds.”

We’re never sure how truths get misconstrued, but it may be because we don't get the total picture or proper comparisons to get a good understanding. Few middle schools with students “with disability” are meeting the percent proficient. So you must be very careful how you compare schools with No Child Left Behind reporting.

East Carter Middle School and West Carter Middle School met 12 of 13 goals for NCLB. Our middle schools are among those schools with populations large enough to count the student group “with disability.” The one goal that both schools missed was reading for students with disabilities.

Carter County's middle schools have made significant gains in the past two years, and we’re proud of them The editorial said our tentative restructuring plan included a revised schedule that allowed time for reading and math instruction. Reading and math have always been a part of the curriculum taught at the middle schools. The revised schedule will allow for "extended" time beyond what is already included in the regular schedule.

The goal in education is always continuous improvement for students. Just like all other school districts, everyone is working very hard to increase student achievement each year.

According to the 2007 Kentucky Performance Report academic indexes for both middle schools are among the top for surrounding county school systems. Yet, the negative tone of the opinion piece suggested the opposite.Teachers, support staff, administrators, and students at both middle schools work too hard to be portrayed in such a negative way.

We felt that we needed to write a response to the Jan. 19 editorial in support of our students and teachers.

Darlene Gee, superintendent, Jo Ashworth, director of assessment, Marianne Johnson, director of curriculum and instruction, Carter County Schools



Early childhood education not ‘pork’

A recent opinion column made the unfortunate and inaccurate assertion that early childhood education qualifies as “pork” — something that is supported more for political gain than for public benefit. This couldn’t be more wrong about pre-school education.

There are few government-funded programs that provide a greater return — both economic and social — than investments in early childhood education. These returns have been documented by dozens of studies by economists, business organizations, and universities.

For instance a recent report from economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis says, “The high return on investment in early childhood education is extraordinary.”

Here are just a few examples of the payoff from investing in early childhood programs. For children in these studies who attended quality preschool programs the research shows:

-- Are less likely to need special education services.

-- Are more likely to go through school without repeating a grade.

-- Are more likely to complete high school without dropping out.

-- Are less likely to be incarcerated as adults.

-- Are more likely to be employed and have higher earnings as adults.

One of the smartest investments any state can take is in a child’s earliest years. Kentucky needs to make early childhood education a priority to move our state ahead in education and economic growth.

Robert F. Sexton, Executive director, Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence



Wanted: Business award nominations

Nominations for the 2008 Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards are currently being accepted. The public is encouraged to nominate outstanding small business owners and advocates from Boyd, Carter or Greenup county. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 7.

All nominees will be honored during an awards breakfast on May 22. One winner will be selected in each category as the best in Northeast Kentucky. WSAZ’s Rob Johnson will once again serve as master of ceremonies.

Event sponsors are very important to the success of our program. We count on sponsors to offset the expenses associated with the cost of the awards, printing, promotions, postage, breakfast, etc., and we offer a variety of benefits to our financial contributors.

Nominations may be submitted electronically on the program’s Web site — www.nekysba.com. To make a nomination or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit the Web site or call the office at (606) 329-8011.

Kim Jenkins, Event coordinator, Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards



Does church back tobacco tax hike?

John Chowning, chairman, Committee on Public Affairs, Kentucky Baptist Conventions declares that Baptists oppose expanded gambling in Kentucky.

As a drive-by Internet-reader, I wonder what the “public” position of this “ecclesiastical body might be on the proposed tobacco tax hike in Frankfort.

Hopefully, these religious pro-lifers will be for making it more expensive for Kentucky kids to buy sacred and deadly tobacco.

Mike Sawyer , Executive director, I Will Never Use Tobacco, Birmingham, Ala.



Former members invited to banquet

Greenbo Archery Club is hosting its annual archery banquet at

2 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 10, at O’Brien's Archery Shop at 7120 U.S 60, Ashland.

Greenbo is the oldest archery club in Kentucky, having been formed in 1957. We want to invite present and past members to the banquet (bring a covered dish).

If anyone can give us information on how to reach old members or if you need more information on the banquet, contact Brian Barber, club president, by e-mailing him at madarcher_3d@yahoo.com, or at O’Brien's Archery Shop at (606)928-3625 or e-mail archerbest@yahoo.com.

Brian Barber, president, Greenbo Archery Club, Ashland

        

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