Media Relations, Adair County Schools
The discussion at Thursday’s September meeting of the Adair County School Board was the most positive in recent memory, with board members and Supt. Alan Reed speaking about the recently released, greatly improved 2016 state test scores and recognizing several outstanding high school students for their achievements.
Test scores show vast improvement
Reed and Academic Dean Phyllis Curry thanked essentially everyone associated with the district—students, teachers, board members, administrators, support staff, maintenance, and bus drivers—for their cooperative efforts to make one of the biggest leaps in test scores in all of Kentucky. Curry said she was “so extremely proud” of everyone involved.
Under the Unbridled Learning Accountability model, all four schools earned the Proficient/Progressing label, leading to the district’s first-ever Proficient/Progressing/High Progress rating. Adair County High School, the only school to qualify as Proficient/Progressing a year ago, improved one point for a score of 71.5. Adair Middle showed great improvement, jumping more than eight points for a score 67.9. Adair County Elementary and Adair Primary, which share accountability, scored 69—a 12 point improvement. The overall district score of 69.5 fell only one point short of a Distinguished classification.
To commemorate the achievement, the board unveiled five new banners—one for each school and the central office—that will be hung on each building.
FFA Students win contest at state fair.
Adair County FFA Chapter President Savannah Roy introduced five of her fellow students who won first place at the Kentucky State Fair for their restoration of an almost 70-year-old Farmall M tractor.
Sam Baker, Mason Carter, Preston Cundiff, Dylan Hancock, and Matthew McCarrol worked on the tractor for more than eight months rebuilding part of the engine, repairing the starter, replacing the head gasket, and sanding and painting. For their efforts, they took home top honors in the fair’s Agricultural Mechanics Exhibit.
Schmidt recognized for community service project
Earlier this year, ACHS senior Cole Schmidt hosted a 5k/10k race to raise money for local VFW Post 6097. The project was part of a community service requirement to qualify for Rogers Scholars, and Schmidt—who said he has close ties to several veterans—knew immediately that he wanted the money to go to the veterans’ organization.
According to Title I Director John Shelley, who introduced Schmidt at Thursday’s board meeting, the post used the money Schmidt raised to purchase uniforms for the high school’s newly-established JROTC program. Schmidt, who spoke briefly, said he was thrilled that the funds went to such a worthy cause.
McQuaide elected to second term as student board member
ACHS junior Lauren McQuaide, who last year became the district’s first ever student board member, was recently reelected to the position and was in attendance for Thursday’s meeting. McQuaide said she was thankful for the opportunity and that “it’s been a great learning experience.”
All board members were present for the meeting.