June 27, 2013 Board Meeting

As always, these are my opinions only, and not the opinions of the Pendleton County School Board or any other individual board members.

Sorry to my voters.  I am catching up on writing about the second half of 2013.

During this board meeting, Ms. Pam Harper did a good job of presenting the TELL survey results.  The TELL Kentucky Survey assesses whether educators across the state report having the resources and supports necessary to facilitate effective teaching.  As school board members, our task is to use these findings to make informed decisions on school planning.  One area of concern is the percentage of educators that consider their class sizes reasonable to meet the needs of all students.  This percentage has decreased from 73.7% in 2011 to 41.9% in 2013.  This data is important because it impacts our district getting to Proficiency.  This is a quote from a letter I received from our Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday:  “When the results of the TELL Kentucky Working Conditions Survey reflect a high rate of teacher satisfaction with their working conditions, there is a high correlation to student achievement.”  I realize that we had to make drastic cuts these past few years to make us fiscally sound again.  However, we have to be careful adding positions that take another teacher out of the classroom.

Boone County Constable Joe Kalil presented the details of the POST (Protecting Our Students & Teachers) program.  This program is based on the very successful Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program, which the airline industry has used since 9/11.  After extensive background checks and training, selected teachers and/or administrators could carry a firearm on school property.  I know this sounds radical for some people.  Some people would even say that teachers should never be expected to protect our students in that way.  I had the same reaction when my husband (who is an airline pilot) came home after 9/11 and said pilots would be carrying firearms on the planes.  I initially thought it was nuts allowing pilots to carry firearms.  Twelve years later, more than 15,000 pilots have been trained, and we have not had another event like 9/11.  I honestly believe in this program and know that if this was implemented correctly, it could be another measure to protect our students.  The problem is that politics gets in the way of implementing this program.  This is sad because at the end of day, the people affected by the lack of implementation are our students.