Message from Stu

Goose bumps

There is nothing that gives me more joy than seeing kids reach their potential when given the right opportunities. I'd like to start this edition of Stu's News with a video that sent chills down my spine and brought a tear to my eye.

View the video by clicking here

Imagine what the Fayette County Public Schools will be like when we are able to help every child reach greatness.

Setting the record straight

It is rare that I would write about a single newspaper item, but an opinion column in Saturday’s Lexington Herald-Leader warrants a direct communication to our community.  Each of you has many contacts in Fayette County, and it is critical that you have the facts so that you can share them with the people you may interact with.

A column is supposed to represent one person’s opinion, and I have respect for the role that columnists play in raising topics of interest and pushing people to think about issues from different points of view.  However, this particular column misrepresented some critical facts about our district and painted a picture that I just have to correct.  It is important to note that we had no opportunity for input or clarification about the potential contents of the column before it was written.  We have worked extremely hard to build trust in our community and a column like this, which misrepresented the facts, can deteriorate this trust and we need your help to make sure that does not happen.

Saturday’s opinion column by Cheryl Truman stated that “When a Fayette public schools student does great things, we hear about it. Shouldn’t we get the same level of openness about safety in the schools?”  My message to the community is that there is the same level of openness and we have worked very hard on this since I arrived in Fayette County.  To insinuate otherwise is ridiculous as you will see from the facts below.

Ms. Truman later writes, “We expect that data about crime in the city will be freely available – and often published in the pages of this newspaper.  But we hold no similar expectation about crime data relating to the environment where our children spend much of their time.”  I must tell you that whenever a major incident happens we send home backpack letters to parents and we send press releases to the media.  As a matter of fact, some of the examples used in the column were actually reported in the newspaper after we sent out media releases.  Yes, that is a fact - the newspaper wrote about these issues after we sent them media releases.  How can it then be said that we are not being open?

She says, “It’s a question of how informed Fayette’s citizens are about the downside of life in their schools.”  Then she goes on to list some very scary sounding incidents, but since she didn’t call to ask about any of them, she didn’t have the full story.   Of the extreme examples utilized, all were either totally unsubstantiated by law enforcement officials and the Cabinet for Social Services, or the newspaper reported them after receiving press releases from us.  The picture painted in the minds of the readers by this column is not what really happened.  Readers were left with an impression that our school district had severe safety issues that we had not been open about or were trying to hide, but the true facts tell the real story and we needed you to know them.

Saturday’s column attacked the values of our school district, because everything that I have stood for since joining Fayette County has been about openness and transparency.  We have worked extremely hard to build trust with our community and this column threatens to deteriorate some of that trust, so that is why I am sharing this with you today.  Ms. Truman requested this data in an email she sent me on a Friday afternoon asking for three years worth of school crime statistics; she had copies of those waiting for her by 2 p.m. on our very next day back at work.  Does that sound like an administration trying to thwart openness?  She failed to mention that we send the Herald-Leader and other media outlets press releases about major issues.  She also failed to mention that we send home letters to parents whenever major issues arise.  Those are critical facts that were not included in the column.

Ms. Truman writes, “Fayette citizens are entitled to see what’s going on in their schools – not just the accomplishments, but the hazards. The school board has come a long way toward opening up its channel of information: Why not a monthly safety report, too?”  We do have a monthly safety report – that’s what she asked for and we gave her seven months of them, as well as the annual compilation of them from the past two years.  They are available to anyone who asks for them.  Additionally, we send out a yearly safety report to the media which includes our statistics and we also include safety data by school in annual school report cards sent to all of our families.

We do even better than a monthly report, a yearly report, and school report cards – as mentioned earlier, any time there’s a serious incident, we send home letters to the parents at the school where it happened.  In some cases, we have also sent letters home to parents at schools nearby to make sure they were aware as well.  Believe it or not, we even sent out a press release and backpack letter about a “toy” gun – now that is pretty open if you ask me.  Every time we send a parent letter home, we send a press release to our local media outlets.  The facts show that there is no question that we are being open and honest with our community.

I firmly believe we’re doing more than expected of any school district to open lines of communication with our community.  We will continue to do that, because that is the only way to build trust with the people we serve.  We have shared our concerns with the newspaper.  We need your help to ensure that the trust we are building is not deteriorated by a very misleading commentary in the newspaper.  Anything you can do to help correct this misrepresentation would be appreciated.

As things are turning the positive corner in our school district we do not need for something like this to set us back.  The focus we have on instruction and kids in Fayette County is at a very high level and we are making significant progress.  Let’s keep that focus and energy on kids and not allow this to be a distraction from our mission – to provide a world-class school district for every single child in our schools.

Thank you for your continued support of our kids.

Students shine in math

A team of middle school "mathletes" from Lexington Traditional Magnet School won first place at the local MATHCOUNTS competition this past weekend. The top-scoring individual at the local competition and the winner of the $500 Kentucky scholarship was Michael Druggan from Southern Middle School, coached by Vicki Nelson.

The names of students on the top three winning teams advancing to the state competition are: First Place: Lexington Traditional Magnet School team of Brian Fei, Sandy Huang, Jennifer Yu and Oliver Zhang, coached by Betsy Rickenbacker. Second Place: Winburn Middle School team of Tim Cui, Atanas Golev, Rohith Palli and Ranajay Sen, coached by Devin Onkst. Third Place: Morton Middle School team of Michael Bowie, Jeremy Bradford, David Brown and Mike Weaver, coached by Paul Sprague and Betty Robinson.

Other individual competitors advancing to the state competition are: Jay Li, Sadik Shahiddain and Ailin Shen of Lexington Traditional Magnet School, Taylor Mitchell of Winburn Middle School, and Aaron Davidson of Morton Middle School.

These students will participate in the state MATHCOUNTS Competition on March 18th.

At the state competition, the top four individual scorers are offered full-tuition, four-year scholarships to the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville. They will each advance to the National MATHCOUNTS Competition that will be held in Washington, DC in May.

Students qualify to take national math exam

This year, 12 Paul Laurence Dunbar High School students qualified to take the American Invitational Math Exam (AIME). Students invited to take the test were selected in two ways; those who took the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) and achieved a score of 100 or more out of a possible 150 and those who took the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10) and were in the top 1 percent.

The AIME provides the exceptional students who are chosen to take it with another opportunity to challenge their mathematical abilities. Like all examinations, it is a means to further mathematical development and interest. The real value of the examination is in the learning that can come from the preparation beforehand and from further thought and discussion of the solutions. The test will be administered in March.

The following students have been invited to take the AIME:

Papa Chakravarthy
Natalia Hoskins
Zachary Kratzer (School Winner for AMC 12)
David Parell
Amy Shah
Yuan Wen
Connie Wu (School Winner for AMC 10 with a perfect score of 150)
Jason Wu
Shuang Xu
Mimi Yang
Victor Yang
Colin Zhou

High school seniors named candidates for national honor

Congratulations to the following students for being named as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. The program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor some of the nation's most distinguished graduating seniors.

Scholars are chosen based on academic and artistic success, leadership and their involvement in school and the community. Candidates are identified based on their exceptionally high SAT or ACT scores. Semi-finalists for the program are identified in April and Scholars will be chosen in May. This year's candidates are:

Henry Clay High School
Michael Barnett
Jessica Horohov
Rosanna Smith
Carson Van Sanford

Lafayette High School
Charles Chen
Chris Menard

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Kara Albrecht
Rebecca Gallt
Adam Grasch
Winston Li
Qifei Sun
Austin Tzou
Jason Wu

All that jazz!

Congratulations to the following students for representing Fayette County in the Kentucky Music Educators Association's All-State Jazz Band. The band performed last week in Louisville.

From Henry Clay High School: Rachel Bentley, from Lafayette High School: Michael Vettraino, and from Paul Laurence Dunbar High: Chris Grzech, Taylor Huffaker, Cody Wells and Hunter Williams.

Support for grandparents raising grandchildren

The Southside Family Resource and Youth Service Centers host a free monthly lunch and support meeting for grandparents and guardians who are currently raising their grandchildren or other relatives. Information about community resources and services are provided to assist those in this situation fulfill their vital role in the live of children. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15th from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Gattitown on Nicholasville Road. For reservations and more information call 381-3505 or 381-3532.

Support is also available during the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren conference on Thursday, March 23rd from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fayette County Extension Center, which is located t 1140 Red Mile Place. The Fourth Annual conference will bring together professionals and experts to help relatives and caregivers understand issues concerning custody, grief, substance abuse, and mental health and abuse. The conference provides a wonderful opportunity to meet and share ideas with fellow grandparents and other relatives assuming primary care of younger children. Registration is $5 and must be made by March 10. For more information, call Diana Caldwell at 258-3813.

Find out more about Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Students interested in learning more about Bluegrass Community and Technical College are invited to attend open houses on Friday, March 3 and on Friday, March 31. Visitors will get an overview of the college, receive financial aid information and can take a tour of the campus. The March 3 Open House will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center located in building C at the Leestown Campus, 164 Opportunity Way. The March 31 Open House will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Oswald Building Auditorium at the Cooper Campus located at 470 Cooper Drive.

Reservations are requested and can be made for the Leestown Campus by calling Kristi Key at 246-6747 and for the Cooper Campus by calling Melissa Gabel at 246-6212.

Rev. C.B. Akins named to State Board of Education

The Rev. C.B Akins - a longtime advocate for children in Fayette County and force for equity in education - has been appointed to the Kentucky Board of Education, a 12-member board representing all geographic regions of the state.

"The responsibility of being a member of the Kentucky Board of Education is truly unique," said Governor Ernie Fletcher, who appointed Akins and six other new state board members last week. "These nominees will work with Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit to determine how best to accelerate academic achievement for our nearly 650,000 elementary and secondary students."

Akins is the pastor of First Baptist Bracktown Church in Lexington, which has been an ardent supporter of education in the community, making education a central component of its ministry and offering tutoring and incentive programs for elementary and secondary students, adopting University of Kentucky students, and providing scholarships to its members.

Akins was a key leader in the group of African-American ministers and civic leaders that lobbied school district administrators in 2001 to draw attention to the disparities in student achievement in Fayette County. The work of the group, which later became known as "For the Good of Our Children", drew the attention of Wilhoit and local business leaders and eventually led to the creation of the One Community, One Voice blue ribbon task force that studied the education gap in Fayette County. The 2003 report of that group continues to guide the work of the Fayette County Public Schools today.

"Our kids are our future," Akins said, upon his appointment. "I pledge to honor the opportunity God has given me to make a difference in the lives of all our kids."

Akins earned a bachelor's degree in social work with honors from the University of Kentucky, and both a master's of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Lexington Theological Seminary. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a multilingual interpreter and later taught foreign languages in the military intelligence division of the U.S. Army Reserves. Akins has studied eight languages. His ministry includes Adopt-A-School, a program of the African-American Educational Coalition involving the adoption of Leestown Middle School by his congregation. Under this program, they offer mentoring to students, help monitor testing, assist on field trips and offer assistance to students at the school, including quarterly rewards for P-16 students. His community involvement includes his service on the Commerce Lexington Board of Directors, Fayette Educational Foundation Board of Directors, One Community One Voice Board of Directors, and the University of Kentucky President's Commission on Diversity. Akins serves as a spiritual consultant to Coach Tubby Smith and the UK basketball team and formerly served Coach Bill Curry and the UK football team. He and his wife, Roszalyn, are the parents of four children.

The Kentucky Board of Education develops and adopts the regulations that govern Kentucky's 176 public school districts. While the board has legal authority to establish performance standards for local school districts and to mandate corrective actions, the board respects the local autonomy of each school district.

Members serve four-year terms, and receive a salary of $100 per day when there is a quorum of the board. They also receive actual reimbursement for expenses and travel. The Kentucky Board of Education meets two days every other month statutorily, either at the Frankfort offices of the Kentucky Department of Education, or at other locations within the state. The board has three standing committees: management; curriculum, instruction and assessment; and internal audit. Special task forces and work groups are appointed, as needed.

Akins' term will expire in April 2010.

Birdies for books

The Kentucky Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America recently donated 500 new and gently used children's books to Early Start programs and Family Resource Centers in the Fayette County Public Schools. This is the fourth year for the annual book drive, which was established by Gary and Karen Bebelaar, parents of Max Bebelaar, a student at Athens Elementary School. In addition to the books, the district was presented with a check for $200.

Free pediatric dental clinic offered!

The Dental Hygiene Clinic at Bluegrass Community and Technical College Cooper Campus is offering a free Pediatric Dental Clinic from March 6th through March 8th. Children ages 4 through 12 can receive a free exam, cleaning and X-rays as well as meet the tooth fairy and Crest Sparkle. For more information, contact Melissa Elliot at 246-6235 or Della White at 246-6237.

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.

Lost keys turn up Fred-like behavior

I am a teacher at Winburn Middle School, and I have definitely sighted a Fred.  Last week, I was packing up to go home when I realized that my keys were missing.  An hour later, I had backtracked through my entire day and was getting pretty nervous.  Four teachers helped me comb my room for them, but they were nowhere to be found.  Just as my husband arrived with a spare car key, our maintenance man Gordon Hawkins came into my classroom with a set of keys in his hand.  He had emptied my trash cans before I noticed the keys were missing, and when he found out that I lost them, he put on a pair of rubber gloves and went through the school’s trash to make sure they hadn’t fallen in there.  This was definitely over and above the call of duty.  Thanks Gordon.

Submitted by Hannah Geerdes Campbell
Winburn Middle School teacher

Team shows good sportsmanship off the court

I am the parent of two Morton Middle School basketball players. At our recent home game against Tates Creek Middle School, I was unloading my car to bring the concession stand items in for the game. Just as I was finished unloading, the Tates Creek team drove up in the bus and started walking into the school. Before I knew it, they had turned around and were headed toward my car! The coaches asked me if I needed help and proceeded to instruct the boys to carry in the entire load of concession stand items! The boys didn't even hesitate and in fact were "quarreling" over who got to carry in the last cooler!!!

When our young people do something positive, they need to be recognized!!! So even though you beat us, I am very impressed with the Tates Creek Middle School basketball team!

Submitted by Dee Lawless
Morton Middle School Parent

Teacher helps fulfill dream

I am so thankful for wonderful teachers like Mr. Matt Logsdon, the T.V. and Radio Production teacher at Henry Clay High School (HCHS), who recognize dreams for success in their students and make those dreams a reality. My daughter, Katie, a junior at HCHS, has always wanted to be a broadcast journalist. Mr. Logsdon sent her to WKYT-Channel 27 for an internship interview for the "Ball Report" show featuring area high school athletics. Katie, along with students from other area high schools who also serve as interns, is actually part of the show's taping. She thought she was interviewing for a production internship and was thrilled to find out the internship included on-camera experience!

Thanks to Mr. Logsdon and this internship, Katie is approaching her high school courses and college plans with increased energy, diligence, and a heightened sense of her future goals. The impact teachers have on the futures of our students and their success is immeasurable. As a senior, Katie plans to sign up for Mr. Logsdon's Advanced T.V and Radio Production class at Henry Clay High School next year.

Submitted by Nanci W. Simpson
Henry Clay High School Parent

Feeling appreciated is appreciated

We believe all the elementary secretaries/registrars were a little apprehensive about the new Continuation Plan for elementary schools. We all attended an hour and ½ training that turned into a four hour session of questions and answers. Communications Director Lisa Deffendall was there to answer questions and help with training. She was a very positive force in the room (as were Gary Wiseman and Bob Joice). She stressed that we should all pat ourselves on the back and how hard our jobs were. She seemed to show a great understanding of the work we do on a daily basis. We appreciated her enthusiasm and knowledge. The next morning we received an email with twelve "loose ends" that she had researched and gotten back to us. We felt as prepared as possible and confident that Lisa was there for us.

One secretary called her on the 15th at 7 a.m. on her cell phone about a potential problem and Lisa was helpful and took care of it, even though the call was at home and they could hear her child in the background. We were amazed when the courier came he delivered an envelope for us that contained a poem about enrollment on heart paper and a box of chocolates! She had taken the time to send each of us an individual thank you. I have NEVER felt so appreciated. She is an excellent "cheerleader" of Fayette Co. Schools and exemplifies a "Fred". If more people were positive like her, the world would be a better place. Thanks Lisa!

Submitted by Mary Ann Manuel, Vickie Hickey,
Sheila Robinette, Teresa Rushing,
Debbie Huffman, Connie Martin, Vicki Duffy,
Barbara Vogler, Jane Griffith, Zena Musgrave,
Carol Maggard, Linda Perry, Claudette Albrecht,
Mary Ann Strobel, and Sally Parsons.
Elementary School Registrars

Freds shine during time of need

On Friday, February 17, a friend of mine had a heart attack while practicing basketball with his daughter at Glendover Elementary. It was around 6 p.m. on a Friday and Mrs. Cathy Fine, our principal, was still there. Mrs. Fine took care of the children nearby while the parents and paramedics took care of my friend.

Shortly after the patient and family arrived at the hospital, Mrs. Fine showed up with Mr. Rehorn, the 5th grade teacher who instructs the daughter of the patient. Mrs. Fine had obviously called Mr. Rehorn and he left his wife and son on a Friday night and joined Mrs. Fine on her trip to the hospital.

Mr. Rehorn and Mrs. Fine stayed with the family until the patient was stabilized and the cardiac doctors finally came to speak with the family - fortunately, with good news.

Before Mr. Rehorn and Mrs. Fine left, the family realized they didn't have their car, and the keys were still somewhere in the gym. As you might expect, Mrs. Fine and Mr. Rehorn went back to Glendover, found the keys, and drove the car over to the hospital.

As you know, Glendover starts every morning at 7:30 a.m. and Mrs. Fine is usually there by 6:30 a.m. My son has Mr. Rehorn in class and I know he is always opening his door by 7 a.m. On Friday, February 17 their day ended at 10 p.m. because there was a family who still needed assistance. And this is the immeasurable kind of assistance that goes way beyond test scores.

Submitted by Margo Buchanan
Glendover Elementary School Parent

This week's Kudos go to...

To Beaumont Middle School music teacher Teresa Elliott for being named the “Kentucky Outstanding Bandmaster of the Year” at the Kentucky Music Educators Conference in Louisville.

To Paul Laurence Dunbar High School sophomore Papa Chakravarthy for winning Teen Jeopardy!  Papa took home $75,000 for winning the competition.

To Winburn Middle School seventh-grader Jessica Brewer, JR Ewan Elementary School fourth-grader Jeremy Robison and Beaumont Middle School sixth-grader Claudia Chamberlain for placing first, second and third in the Fayette County Farm Bureau Spelling Bee. Jessica will now compete at the state spelling bee in March.

To the LTMS Academic Team for winning the Regional Governor’s Cup.  The team defeated 15 other area middle schools and will move to the state competition in March.

To the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School varsity cheerleading team for winning first place at the National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando. This is the third year in a row the team has taken home top honors. The school’s junior varsity team placed third in the JV competition.

To the Tates Creek High School cheerleading team for placing second in the medium varsity competition at the National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando.

To Paul Laurence Dunbar High School junior Deloreon Burton for being selected to serve as a page for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell in Washington, D.C.

To Julius Marks Elementary School third-grader Ian Brooking for raising $1,860 for Jump Rope for Heart.  Ian, who had a serious heart condition, won a bike for his efforts and plans to donate it to a child affected by Hurricane Katrina.

To Julius Marks Elementary School for raising a school record $11,200 for Jump Rope for Heart.

To Bryan Station High School teacher Elizabeth Beck, for being named an Educator of Distinction by The National Society of High School Scholars founded in 2002 by the Nobel Prize Family.  Beck was nominated by student Kara Maples, for being an educator who works hard to make a difference in the lives of students.

Science Fair winners announced

More than 500 students caught the “science bug” at this year’s Science Fair sponsored by Kentucky American Water.  More than 100 students were recognized for outstanding achievement with four students receiving special recognition for projects relating to water.

Projects were judged in several categories, including behavioral science, earth and space science, botany, zoology, medicine/health, engineering, environmental, microbiology, chemistry and physics.  Each project was judged by at least two individuals based on predetermined criteria.  Every student received an official event T-shirt, certificate and blue ribbon, and was eligible to win door prizes at the event.  View a list of district winners.

[Please report omissions and/or errors to either David Taylor (859-699-1440) or Lori Bowen (859-699-1436)]

Winners advance to the Central Kentucky Regional Science and Engineering Fair to be held March 3-4 at the University of Kentucky.

Writing contest calls for "Extreme Inspiration"

To celebrate the Kentucky Association of School Administrators' (KASA's) 37th anniversary, the organization is hosting a writing contest for students in grades K-12. The theme for this year's contest is Extreme Inspiration and encourages students to write about a teacher, administrator, mentor or adult role model in a public school who has inspired them beyond the ordinary to believe in themselves and achieve at higher levels.

Entries will be scored holistically based on Kentucky's Writing Scoring Guide. Deadline for submission is March 31 and contest winners will be announced in late April or early May. To find out how to enter and to view the contest guidelines visit www.kasa.org

Leadership lessons from Sam

Sometimes Life Just Isn't Fair

Dad has been watching this show on TV with all these people jumping around. It looked like fun so I had to ask Dad about it. He said it was a reality TV show called Dancing with the Stars. He said he was very interested in it because ballroom dancing is going to be coming to some of our elementary schools this spring. Oh, so all of this jumping around with music in the background is called ballroom dancing . I decided to try it out so I hopped up on my hind legs and jumped around. I did it so well that I told Dad I needed a treat! Dad gave me one of my bacon treats which I love so much and then he started watching that TV show again.

All of sudden he blurted out that life is just not fair sometimes. As you are probably guessing, that really my perked up my little ears and set my eyebrows way back. I asked Dad what he was talking about and he said that one of the best dancers just got eliminated and the system was just not fair. Dad said there was a good lesson in all of this for me. He said that sometimes life sends you an undeserved curve ball and you just have to do your best to deal with it. He said the key to life's curve balls is how you deal with them and ... Wow, I was so confused now that I just hopped back up on my hind legs and started dancing again hoping for another treat. Dad just smiled and tossed me another bacon treat. Bow Wow