Lawrence County Board of Education Holds Special Meeting Regarding KPrep Data
LOUISA – The Lawrence County Board of Education convened a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss the most recent KPrep achievement testing data and hear each principal’s plan of action to address KPrep score deficiencies.
Superintendent Dr. Robbie Fletcher took the lead, going over the data for the district overall and address points of success and necessary improvement school by school at each level from elementary to middle to high school levels.
Fletcher pointed out that what caused the district to drop from proficiency and proved to be the main issue in the score report was primarily in the category of novice reduction.
“I want you to know that we plan to address this in various ways, but we are going to undergo novice reduction training this fall so that we can map out more strategies than what we already have to achieve what is needed in novice reduction,” he said.
Fletcher also pointed out that math scores across the district at all levels continued to lag.
“Difficulty in reaching benchmarks in math has been a historic struggle for the district and continues to be so,” he said.
He did point out positives in the data – such as the fact that the district’s graduation rate hovers at nearly 3 percent above the state average (92.6% for Lawrence County compared to 89.7 statewide). The district was above state averages in elementary reading and language mechanics at the elementary level; the high school level had students above state averages in US History and biology and the schools over all scored a 100 on program reviews.
“We didn’t call this meeting as a witch hunt or anything,” reassured Board Chairman Heath Preston before the principals began sharing action plans. “We are all in this together and we want to work together and improve together.”
Louisa West Elementary School Principal Debbie Delong began the section of the agenda slated for building principals to present their action plans. When she finished, the members of the board began asking questions and the principals and board members engaged in a frank and positive discussion about weaknesses and potential remedies.
“We want to make sure that you all have all that you need to address the things our students need,” was the sentiment echoed throughout the discussion as Preston and fellow board members Garnett Skaggs, Jim See, Barbara Robinson and Maddlene Roberts unanimously offered support and resources to the principals and their instructional staff.
Fletcher closed out the meeting by discussing possible changes in the accountability model used by the Kentucky Department of Education in the coming academic years.
“There is a strong possibility of changes in the system and we don’t know for sure yet what they will be. I have been asked to gather input from superintendents, principals and teachers as a member for the Accountability Steering Committee at the state level,” Fletcher said.
The board took no personnel action and adjourned. The next meeting will be Monday evening’s regularly scheduled meeting for the month of October at 6 p.m. at Lawrence County High School in the library.
