Message from Stu

Message from Superintendent

What a glorious celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy we had in downtown Lexington yesterday! Beginning with the annual unity breakfast, through the commemorative march and later in the afternoon with essays written by our students about their dreams for the community, the day was simply wonderful. I was proud to see so many of our students, staff members and families participating yesterday.

Dr. King’s birthday is more than a day off for our nation. It’s a call to continued action. And it is critical for the future of our community that we raise our kids to see the importance of working to help lift others. Thanks to all of you who helped provide an important lesson for our kids yesterday. They will learn what we model.

Our mission to provide a world-class education to every single child in Fayette County is truly linked to social justice. When we work to raise every student to high levels, we are working to send forth a legacy of excellence and achievement into the future. Generations to come will benefit from the hard work in our classrooms today. And when every school is a school of excellence, doors will be opened for all of our kids.

On another subject, the proposed plan to end redistricting has been getting a lot of attention recently so I thought I would update you on it. We have been working hard to develop a new student continuation plan to put a stop to redistricting in Fayette County. Since the day I was hired almost 18 months ago, I have talked to many, many people who have said that we need to put a stop to redistricting. The current system — in which students start school and have to be uprooted and moved to a different school after two or three years because of growth or new construction — is simply not good for kids. These forced transitions for kids and the emotional rollercoaster for parents has to stop. Our Board of Education made one of my objectives this year to find a way to put a stop to all of this.

We put together a task force comprised of parents, staff, and a school board member to tackle this issue. The charge to the task force was to stop overcrowding and find a way to guarantee that once a student enters an elementary school he or she can finish there, provided his or her family doesn’t move. As you can imagine, this was quite a challenge, but the task force did come up with a plan that guarantees that once a student starts in an elementary school he or she will be able to complete the full six years there without risk of being redistricted. At the same time, their plan guarantees that no school will become overcrowded.

Here’s how it works: Every neighborhood in Lexington is assigned to a primary elementary school and four alternate schools. Currently enrolled students (with the exception of those already being moved by prior redistricting decisions) will not be affected or disrupted in any way. Students currently enrolled in our schools, whose parents do not move, will stay in their current schools. And siblings of students who are already attending a school will automatically be admitted in the school where their brother or sister goes.

The change will affect students who move into a new neighborhood or who are new to a school will be able to enroll in their primary school, until that school building is too full to hire additional teachers. If that happens, which will not be a problem in most schools throughout the community, then new students will enroll at one of the four alternate schools. The district will designate one school — in most cases, the next closest school with available space – and provide transportation to that school. But parents will have the option to choose any of the four schools that have room if they are willing to transport their kids.

We believe any cost of bus service to alternate schools will be offset by a reduction of staffing and portable costs. Waiting lists will be developed for those who cannot enroll in their primary school at the time of registration, and will have first priority to attend when space becomes available. In the vast majority of situations around Fayette County students will be admitted to their primary school.

As with any new plan there are always pros and cons but in my opinion what was developed by this task force is the only way to stop the constant movement that has gone on in our district for the last 12 or more years. Will there be kids in the same neighborhoods attending different schools? Yes, but that number will be small and actually, that is the case right now in many of our neighborhoods when one takes a close look at it. Is this plan better than moving large groups of kids to different schools every year? I say yes because transitions for kids are best avoided whenever possible and the stability provided by this plan will only help student achievement. One person who has had to endure redistricting on different occasions over the last 12 years said to me that, “people who haven’t gone through a redistricting with their kids have no idea just how good this plan is.”

Without a plan like this we would have no choice but to continue in the old pattern of moving kids every couple of years and that is just not acceptable or good for kids. We need to put an end to this so we can concentrate and focus on student achievement so all of our schools will move to high levels.

For more information about the student continuation plan you can review it on our Web site. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions document that is available that you might find helpful. As always, I appreciate your continued support to help the children of Fayette County. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 381-4315 if we can help clear up any questions or concerns.

Take the plunge, support Special Olympics

More than 400 people will be jumping into a pool full of freezing water while raising money for the Special Olympics when they take part in the Polar Bear Plunge on January 28 at Applebee’s Park. Gina Blair, a special education teacher at Crawford Middle School, will be one of those brave souls. She sent this letter to encourage others to participate in this great cause. Don’t worry — you can lend your support without getting wet!

Calling all Fayette County employees, students, and parents:

Believe it or not, I’m participating in the 2006 Polar Bear Plunge with more than 20 team members who have gone to or taught at Crawford Middle School and I am looking for more Fayette County representatives to support Special Olympics KY! I am committed to raising funds to earn the right to take the Plunge into a pool at Applebee’s Park in Lexington on Saturday, January 28!

I have a personal goal to raise all I can to help this great cause and then I will jump into 30-degree waters to celebrate! Now, I am not asking you to jump with me, but you can by going to www.lexingtonplunge.kintera.org/2006 and click on the “Register Here” button. Then tell it you want to join a team. Our team name is “Living it 70’s Style.” We are dressing in 70’s style clothing as we try to capture best costume for the second year in a row (last year we were bugs). Once you’re registered, you can set up your own Web page and send it to everyone you know. Helping to raise money for a great cause has never been so easy.

I realize jumping into icy wintry waters is not for everyone! However, you can join me and celebrate winter in a “special” way by making a donation of $25, $15, or $10. (Of course, you may contribute more or less.) Every dollar will help give thousands of children and adults in Kentucky with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to grow physically, mentally and socially through year-round sports training & competition programs. Just click on the link to donate to this great event.

Not only is the Polar Bear Plunge for a good cause, it’s also a good time. With a wacky costume contest, hundreds of people jumping into a pool in the middle of winter and a great Post-Plunge Bash, no wonder they call it “The Coolest Event in Lexington!”

Thanks for helping me reach my goal and by doing so, you will be helping a Special Olympics athlete reach their goals as well.

Committed to giving opportunities to people with special needs,

Gina Blair
Special Educator
Crawford Middle School

Fred sightings

Fayette County school employees are placing a renewed emphasis on excellent customer service. We have encouraged everyone in our district to put those little personal touches on their work by going the extra mile and showing the people we serve every day that we care about our kids and constituents.

We call folks who provide excellent customer service “Freds,” inspired by the book, “The Fred Factor” by Mark Sanborn about a very service-minded postman named Fred. Anyone can be a “Fred,” just by going above the call of duty in serving the public. If you spot a Fred, please call, write or send me an email.

Generous heart warms stranger in need

Late Friday afternoon at 3:35 p.m. on December 8, a new neighborhood resident (who does not have children at Johnson Elementary) wandered up to the front door of our school and asked for help. One of the first people she met was Sherman Fields, our SAFE instructor. The new resident told him that she was new to town and had not had time to get food stamps or other social services. She had only made one contact to get a food voucher from God’s Pantry. Her dilemma was she didn’t know where the nearest food distribution center was located and she wasn’t sure she would be able to get there before 4 p.m. She was cold, hungry, and worried about getting through the weekend without food.

Mr. Fields located me and introduced me to the visitor. As she explained her situation to me, I began thinking about all the reasons why we would not be able to help her (it was almost 4 p.m., God’s Pantry was too far away, she didn’t know how to get around town, etc.)

When she finished talking, Mr. Fields took me by the arm and pulled me aside. He said, “My head says ‘no’ but my heart says ‘yes’. Let’s take her to God’s Pantry right now.”

We immediately jumped into his car and drove to the nearest food pantry. He parked, illegally, in front of the food bank so that she would not have to walk far in the cold and snow. We arrived just minutes before 4 p.m. I went in with her and helped her collect her food supplies for the weekend.

When we returned 15 minutes later, Mr. Fields had the car warmed and waiting for us. As he drove her back toward school, he realized that she had three large boxes of food and would have to carry the boxes home in the snow. So instead of taking her just back to school, he drove her to her apartment several blocks from the school. When she arrived at home, she thanked us repeatedly. I told her that Mr. Fields was 100 percent responsible for this act of kindness. She gave him another round of thanks and praise.

Mr. Sherman Fields clearly demonstrated his “Fred-like” concern for this unknown neighborhood lady, just as he does each and every day to our students, families, and school staff. He is truly an exceptional person. Thank you, Mr. Fields.

Submitted by Frank LaBoone, Principal
Johnson Elementary School

Fred helps child excel

I am Muqi Qiu, father of Maxwell Qiu, who is attending Veterans Park Elementary. I think I spotted a Fred at your school. That Fred is my son’s teacher, Mrs. Andrea Gilliam. I hope it’s not too late to let you know this. Maybe you already knew through other parents that she is a Fred.

I have been hesitating about sending this email out ever since I saw this request on your McVey’s Message of Decemeber 2005, because my son wasn’t her best student yet. But he made a great progress last semester and that has a lot to do with Mrs. Gilliam.

In August 2005, I wasn’t sure if Max was ready for kindergarten because he spoke very limited English at the time. He turned out to speak a much better, though not perfect, English, write much better, understand the language much better, and behave much better.

In the very few times I was having lunch with Max, I was surprisingly impressed with how well her students behaved outside their classroom, how orderly the line of their class was, and how quiet they were when they were eating in their classroom. I was surprised because those happened in the very first weeks of the semester. Mrs. Gilliam must have some magic so that the students were well trained in a short time. Besides the school open house, I had two teacher-parent conferences with Mrs. Gilliam. Each time, her classroom looked neat and well organized. She knew everything Max learned and performed at school everyday, his weekly progress, and things that Max needed to be emphasized from time to time.

Her teaching was interesting and innovative. The insect project at the beginning of the semester attracted all 27 curious and knowledge-thirsty young minds. It turned out to be very successful, because at least Max and our whole family learned many, many things from it. There’s one thing that must have to do with Mrs. Gilliam’s teaching and/or her magnetic personality: whenever Max was sick and stayed at home for more that one day, he always asked if he could go to school because he was missing Mrs. Gilliam very much.

Mrs. Gilliam is also very caring. Whenever Max was sick at home, she always sent him wish-well cards and called him to wish him get well soon. To help Max with his language learning and to make up the work he left behind due to sickness, Mrs. Gilliam made phonic charts and flash cards and personally brought them to our house with additional educational toys.

She did go extra miles to deliver to Max. And I am sure she delivers to all her pupils everyday!

Submitted by Muqi Qiu, Parent
Veterans Park Elementary School

This week's Kudos go to...

The Henry Clay High School Debate Team for advancing to the “Elite Eight” of the Bickel and Brewer National Public Policy Forum Debate. Team members are Matt Breen, Ryan Kurz, Roman Terentiev, Mallory Morehead, Jackson Lester, Ned Peters, and Caitlin Bryant.

The Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Girls’ Soccer Team for receiving an Academic Team Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The team had a weighted G.P.A. of 4.43 (equal to a 3.69 on a four-point scale). The team also had 18 players receive KHSAA Academic All-State Team honors with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.75. Four team members received an honorable mention.

Veterans Park Elementary School principal Amy McVey for being elected to serve on the Kentucky State Council and as a commissioner of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) at the 2005 SACS CASI Annual Conference in Houston, Texas in December.

The Beaumont Middle School Girls’ Basketball “A” and “B” teams for winning the county championships. “A” Team members are: Ali Ross, Stefani Cleaver, Caroline Smith, Corie Roberts, Sarah Fletcher, Christin Haney, Kristen Bowlds, Maggie Shell, Ebony Rowe and Courtney Haney. The team is coached by Mike Fannin. “B” Team members are: Lindsay Hieronymus, Morgan Kelsey, Laurel Noe, Paige Noe, Kyndall Lanter, Katie Lucas, Olivia Grabmayer, Callie Moore, Lauren Travis, Courtney Wright, Shomari Kendrick, Melani Earnheart, Alexis Siples and Kajsa Brindley. The team is coached by Jim Lankster.

Blood Drive continues

It’s not too late to give blood during the annual FCPS Elementary School Blood Drive sponsored by the Central Kentucky Blood Center and Chick-Fil-A. The drive, which runs through January 31, encourages kids to recruit their parents, relatives, teachers and neighbors to give blood. Each child that recruits a donor earns a “Half Pint” beanie baby, a certificate for a free meal from Chick-Fil-A, and a certificate of participation from the Blood Center. Adults receive a calendar with food coupons worth $25.

The Blood Center will hold a party at 330 Waller Avenue for students and adults who participated in the event on Monday, January 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call Karen Roach at 276-2530 ext. 2223.

Shout out!

The Youth News Team – a group of Fayette County students and parents aiming to amplify the voices of young people in education policy discussions – recently joined forces with the Public Education Network in Washington, D.C. to ensure that students across the country are represented in the public debates about the No Child Left Behind Act. Any high school student wishing to weigh in on the federal law can take a short, multiple-choice survey designed by the Youth News Team.

Results will be reported to policymakers at the state and national level.

Grant helps all children participate

Money is now available for children who need help in paying for field trip and extracurricular activity costs thanks to block grant funding provided by Community Action Council in partnership with the Fayette County Equity Council.

Grants will be awarded at a minimum of $25 per child and a maximum of $300 per child for participation in fee-based activities that have academic instructional value. Money will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Funding is limited, so apply now. Money must be used by June 30, 2006.

Judges wanted!

Judges are needed for this years’ Science Fair on February 18 at Tates Creek High School. Volunteer online or call David Taylor at 699-1440.

Award honors school and business partnerships

The National School and Business Partnerships Award is now accepting applications from schools and businesses that improve the academic, social or physical well-being of students. Six exemplary school-business partnerships will be awarded $10,000 and will be judged on the following categories:

• Foundation - how the partnership was initially established.
• Implementation - how the partners work together on an ongoing basis.
• Sustainability - how the partners work to sustain the partnership over time.
• Evaluation - the impact the partnership has on the business and school communities.

Applications are available on the Web and are due by January 30, 2006.

Leadership lessons from Sam

An ounce of prevention

Every once in a while, I get sick and Dad makes me do things that I hate to do. You see, I am a Dachshund and I tend to have a weak back. (OK, I know the joke, when did you get a weak back? About week back – ha-ha!) In order to prevent my back from getting worse or repeating the times where it was hurting so bad I couldn’t move, I have to go up and down ramps in my house and I am not allowed to jump or go up and down steps. Without those ramps, my back problems would continue and actually get worse. So, every day if I want to go up on my favorite couch or on the bed I have to go up the ramps. What is worse is that I can’t jump off when I am ready to get down. I got tired of this so I asked Dad about it. He went into this thing about “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” He said if you can prevent the problems from happening then it is much better than trying to solve them after the fact. As much as I hate the ramps and I especially hate not being able to jump, it would be much worse if I did nothing and got hurt really bad. I know that I am at risk of serious back problems but I sure wish they put in elevators or escalators instead of these ramps ... Bow Wow.