By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
The Carter County Board of Education typically holds its meetings at a different school within the district each month, and the regular April meeting, on Monday evening, was held at Prichard Elementary School. All board meetings are open to the public and are posted on the board of education website, and public attendance is encouraged. Parents, students, and concerned community members can witness firsthand how the board operates and how decisions are made that affect not only students but the community at large.
Each meeting of the board includes an instructional update, and April’s update included items such as Access to Algebra (consent item), New Teacher Seminar, and the Writing Club. Also discussed were the KYCL Literacy Grant (Totaling 1.5 million dollars over 5 years), CKLA Amplify, MClass Intervention Suite, and BOOST for K-5th Grade.
The instructional update covered Amplify ELA & Close Reading for grades 6-8, Study Sync for grades 9-12, and partnering with local daycares – August 29 (KCU). An RDIF Mini-Grant (Totaling $240,000 divided between six elementary schools), small group tutoring at Olive Hill Elementary School, West Carter Middle School with district leadership team, and Beanstack for elementary & middle school were also discussed, as well as the alignment of high school curriculum for math, science, and social studies, and CKLA Amplify Science K-8.
Board of education meetings allow parents and even students themselves to learn more about key issues in the education system, with professionals and board members ready to answer any questions. One important aspect that many might need explained is Assessment and Accountability. That covers items such as iReady: Data Review / Intentional RTI grouping, and IXL: Skills Plans. The testing window was also discussed, with a date of May 12 set. The consolidated monitoring visit was on April 15-17 for all Title Programs and Preschool; and Preschool Quality (Stars Ratings).
The board voted to approve an agreement between East Carter Middle School/Carter County Schools and the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), a Kentucky Nonprofit Organization, to administer a multi-year replication of Advance Kentucky’s Access to Algebra Program. That program is designed to increase the number of students who participate in advanced math classes, with the goal of making those students college ready. A full list of that agreement and the responsibilities of the school and the nonprofit are available on the Carter County Board of Education’s website.
The board also discussed the 2025-2026 Technology Plan, the 2025-2026 KEDC Cooperative Membership Agreement, out-of-state field trip requests, food service summer stipends, extra service pay, a food service position, school-wide fundraiser requests, the EBD stipend for teachers and assistants, the FMD stipend for teachers and assistants, speech therapists salary scale, and 2024-2025 school calendar amendments.
Upcoming items and events of note the board discussed were the Teacher Leader of Excellence Pinning Ceremony, summer BOOST, Camp Carter dates, leadership retreat, opening conference, and Professional Development Planning for 2025-2026.
Carter County School District police chief R.D. Porter also noted that East Carter High School would be conducting a “Prom Promise” event on Tuesday (yesterday), and that a similar event would be held at West Carter High School next Friday, May 2.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
