David Couch, associate commissioner for the Office of Education Technology in the Kentucky Department of Education, hosted his monthly Web cast live Tuesday from the Madison County Technology Center.
His special guests for the month included Madison County Schools Superintendent Tommy Floyd, Madison County Schools Board of Education Chairperson Becky Coyle and Madison County Schools Technology Director Charlene McGee.
“We are very proud to have you in our district today,” Floyd told Couch. “It’s always an honor to get to show off our district on the state stage.”
Couch talked with the three Madison County representatives about the integration of technology into the instructional practices throughout the district. The focus of his questioning was about the Dual Credit program which operates through distance learning technology, the district’s use of Turning Technologies, an instant assessment tool for teachers, and TransFinder, a software program that features bus routing and online field trip requests.
“Technology and education are no longer two separate subjects,” Floyd said. “The more we know and understand how to join the two together, the better equipped we are to serve our students.”
McGee agreed, adding that one fuels the need for the other and together they are helping Madison County students succeed at higher rates.
“We let instructional needs guide what the district does with its technology,” McGee said. “We generally get requests from teachers or principals saying they would like to accomplish this goal, what technology is available to help support their efforts.”
Madison County Schools is fortunate to have access to a great deal of technology, Couch said.
“A district can’t get as far as (Madison County has) without the full support of the Board of Education,” Couch said.
“We are presented with data that supports a need for technology,” Coyle said about the board. “When there is a need for something and data to support it, it is easy for the board to let the district move ahead with a purchase.”
The Web Cast also featured discussion about several education bills that are being considered by the Kentucky General Assembly, in particular those education bills that also affect technology.
Before closing discussions, the panel also touched briefly on the state’s budget situation and how the federal stimulus package might impact technology in Kentucky.
“If we receive the money we are anticipating, we will be able to continue to supply districts across the state with some of the current software packages that we are currently subscribing to, like Encyclomedia,” Couch said.
Religion and Education
Live Web cast
Education Department hosts show from Madison County
- Religion and Education
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Christmas on Sunday prompts many church schedule changes
With Christmas falling on a Sunday, many local churches are planning Christmas eve services on Saturday night and altering their Sunday morning schedules.
All but one church contacted in a random sampling by the Richmond Register are canceling Sunday school on Christmas day. -
Whitlock to leave school board Dec. 31
Doug Whitlock, the Eastern Kentucky University president who currently chairs the Madison County School Board, announced Thursday evening he will be leaving the school board Dec. 31.
Whitlock said time constraints prompted his decision. His first commitment is to his contractual position at the university, attempting to do both jobs would prevent him from doing justice to either obligation, he told the school board. -
Rockin' reward rally
Martha Scarberry, vice-principal of B. Michael Caudill Middle School, crowd surfs with students Thursday morning during the school’s 1980’s rock star-themed Renaissance Reward Rally. The rally, featuring teacher skits, games, music and prize drawings, rewards students who have good grades and good attendance and have demonstrated good behavior.
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EKU uses grant to help children with autism and their families
A series of grants from the WHAS Crusade for Children has enabled Eastern Kentucky University to enhance a program designed to assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families.
The University recently received $4,068.75 from the Crusade, the third consecutive year the Louisville station has assisted the ASD program, which was begun many years prior to the grants. -
Church hosts fall festival on Saturday
Rosedale Baptist Church will host a fall festival Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a kids carnival, food and refreshments, festival sale and open house.
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District finding ways to improve student growth
After last month’s release of Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) scores and the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) progress report, three Madison County Schools were labeled as NCLB Improvement Schools after falling short of their proficiency goals.
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Musical extravaganza
Five-year-old Carson Bennett catches a foul ball while performing Thursday alongside Madison Central High School students in “What a Game” from the musical “Ragtime” during an in-school performance of the third-annual MCHS Fall Musical Revue. Public performances of the show, featuring selections from several musicals including “Annie,” “The Sound of Music,” “West Side Story,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” and others, are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. in the MCHS Auditorium. Tickets, available at the door, are $8.
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Fresh and delicious
Mayfield Elementary School is one of 128 Kentucky schools to receive a grant to participate in a program that will introduce a variety of fruits and vegetables to students.
As part of the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mayfield will receive $19,332.50 for the 2011-12 school year. -
EKU to host Town and Gown annual conference
Eastern Kentucky University and the City of Richmond will host the International Town and Gown Association’s seventh annual University-City Relations Conference in 2012.
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Former commissioner visits with local students
Madison County Schools students welcomed the opportunity Wednesday to speak with Gene Wilhoit, executive director for the Council of Chief State School Officers. Wilhoit traveled to Kentucky for a site visit with the six school districts in the state that are participating in an initiative to discover how education can be changed to better prepare students for their futures.
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