www.jcpsky.netEqual Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities

May 2012

September 2013

Jefferson County

PublicSchools

New Aquatic Center benefits students and the community (page 2)

Community Schools serve the whole family (page 4)

Educators say JCPS is a good place to teach (page 5)

2

New Aquatic Center benefits students and the community

Central High School Magnet Career Academy’s (MCA’s) new Aquatic Center will benefit not only students throughout the school dis-trict but also hundreds of other community members. The revamped facility de-buted with a splash from members of Central’s swim team and even Principal Dan Withers, who took a swim when the pool opened near the end of the last school year. Originally built in 1953, the Central facility was one of the first indoor pools in the JCPS District. It was later managed by Metro Parks before closing in the early 2000s and remaining va-cant for years. After much

community and school sup-port, the facility was ap-proved for renovation and is now a cutting-edge aquatic center.It features a state-of-the-art, 125,000-gallon, 25-yard pool that will be used in many ways:• More than 20 local middle

and high school swim teams throughout JCPS will use the facility for practices and meets, mak-ing it only the second competitive pool in the district.

• The center will be avail-able to Central’s physi-cal education (PE), Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC), and Ex-

ceptional Child Education (ECE) Programs for class-es.

• Area elementary schools will use the pool for swim-ming lessons.

• The center will serve Cen-tral athletic teams inter-ested in cross-training, which will reduce injuries throughout the season and shorten rehab time for athletes.

• Community classes will include water aerobics and lap swimming.

• The athletic complex sur-rounding the pool will house the practice facility for the Central wrestling team.

3

Students at Moore Tradi-tional School are explor-ing a new nature trail this school year. The trail is located along the school’s western prop-erty line and was once a dense thicket. Moore science teacher Tim Brennan and his daughter, fellow Moore science teach-er Erin Brennan, worked with middle school students during three school years to transform the thicket into a nature trail that winds through about two acres of woods, crosses a small stream, and circles a mas-sive tulip poplar. The route is now a certified wildlife habitat of the Na-tional Wildlife Federation.Due to the popularity of the project, Moore’s Nature Club membership grew to more than 40 students. Mr. Brennan hopes to add

Environmental science students are hitting the trail

educational stations along the trail where students can study water as well as mosses and other plants. Moore serves students in grades six through twelve and offers environmental science classes at all grade levels.

Moore also offers the Envi-ronmental and Life Science Optional Program for middle schoolers. For high school students, Moore offers courses in the Health, Medi-cine, and the Environment Professional Career Theme.

Science teacher Tim Brennan and his students worked for several years to create a nature trail on Moore’s campus.

New principalsAudubon Traditional Elementary: Tiffany Marshall

Bates Elementary: Alecia Dunn

Dixie Elementary: Stephen Howard

DuPont Manual High: Gerald “Jerry” Mayes

Gutermuth Elementary: Laura Mullaney

Jacob Elementary: Michael Terry

Louisville Male High: David Mike

Newburg Middle: Nicole Adell

Valley High: Rob Stephenson

Watson Lane Elementary: Joshua Williams

Western High: Michael Newman

Western Middle: Kymberly Rice

Wheatley Elementary: William “BJ” Bunton

Wheeler Elementary: Penny Espinosa

4

Community Schools serve the whole family

Aerobics, basketball leagues, and arts and crafts are just a few of the many activities available to you and your children at Com-munity Schools in the Jef-ferson County Public School (JCPS) District. Monday through Friday—from the end of the school day until 9 p.m.—Commu-nity Schools provide recre-ational and educational ac-tivities for the whole family. The schools are able to of-fer a range of programs because they have partner-ships with such organiza-tions as the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H, Dare to Care, Family and Children’s Place, Boy and Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, and JCPS Adult and Con-tinuing Education.

The partnerships allow the Community Schools to offer most activities at no cost. A few charge a small fee for supplies. In all, there are eight JCPS Community Schools.• Cane Run Elementary

(3951 Cane Run Road): 776-5998

• Fairdale High (1001 Fair-dale Road): 485-8100

• Farnsley Middle (3400 Lees Lane): 448-9799

• Frost Middle (13700 San-dray Boulevard): 995-0879

• Iroquois High (4615 Taylor Boulevard): 485-6601

• Meyzeek Middle (828 South Jackson Street): 584-8603

• Myers Middle (3741 Pul-liam Drive): 485-2316

• Western Middle (2201 West Main Street): 485-6799

Each school offers its own assortment of programs. For example, the Myers Middle Community School has offered drama work-shops and hip-hop dance and fitness. The Western Middle Community School has offered a walking club, monthly book giveaways, cooking classes, and youth league basketball. Contact a Community School near you to find out all of the programs it offers this school year.

Mark your calendarSept. 21 . . . . ACT

Oct. 1–31 . . . Advance Program testing

Oct. 4 . . . . . School not in session for students—Professional-Development (PD) Day for teachers

Oct. 5 . . . . . SAT

Oct. 7 . . . . . School not in session for students—PD Day for teachers

Oct. 8 . . . . . School not in session for students—Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Oct. 13 . . . . College and Career Expo (www.collegeandcareerexpo .com)

Oct. 16 . . . . PSAT

Oct. 19 . . . . PSAT

Oct. 18–19 . . Middle and High Showcase of Schools

Oct. 21–Jan. 10 . . . . .Middle and high school

application period

Oct. 26 . . . . ACT

Contact the Parent Connection editor, Thomas Pack, at 485-6315 or

at thomas.pack @jefferson.kyschools.us.

5

JCPS teachers reported overall higher satisfaction rates with their schools and with the district on the 2013 Teaching, Empower-ing, Leading and Learning (TELL) Kentucky Survey, which was the second state-wide survey of Kentucky teachers. The first was con-ducted in 2011.On the 2013 survey, teach-ers reported higher satisfac-tion rates in all eight areas measured: Time, Facilities and Resources, Community Support and Involvement, Managing Student Conduct, Teacher Leadership, School Leadership, Professional De-velopment, and Instruction-al Practices and Support.

Here are some highlights of the 2013 results for JCPS:• Eighty-two percent of teach-

ers agreed that the district’s schools are good places to work and learn.

• Teacher satisfaction grew by more than 6 percent in every sub-category of the Time component, which measures areas (including class sizes) that allow teach-ers to meet the needs of all students. The Time com-ponent also measures the degree to which teachers say they are protected from duties that interfere with the essential goal of edu-cating all students, and it measures satisfaction with the amount of time teach-

Teachers report high levels of satisfaction on TELL Survey

ers have to collaborate with colleagues.

• Teacher satisfaction in-creased in all eight sub-categories of the Instruc-tional Practices and Support category. In such areas as Professional Learning Com-munity involvement and effectiveness, satisfaction grew by more than 14 per-cent.

• Satisfaction ratings also increased in every sub-category of Community Support and Involvement (8 sub-items), Managing Stu-dent Conduct (7 sub-items), Teacher Leadership (7 sub-items), School Leadership (25 sub-items), and Profes-sional Development dimen-sions (13 sub-items).

Eighty-one percent of JCPS educators (5,646 teachers) responded to the survey. The results “support our be-lief that we are fostering an

environment where student achievement is a top priority and removing barriers that prevent teachers from be-ing successful,” says JCPS Superintendent Donna Har-gens. “We will use the survey data to support our goal of having all students graduate prepared and having JCPS become the country’s best urban school district.”

Stakeholder groups repre-senting teachers, superinten-dents, community organiza-tions, and businesses worked with the New Teacher Center (NTC) to conduct the TELL Survey. NTC is a nonpartisan group dedicated to supporting the development of an ef-fective and inspired teaching force. The 2013 survey was administered over a four-week window in the spring. For more information, visit www.tellkentucky.org.

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Board meetings are now streamed live on the Web

Board of Education frequently asked questionsWhat are the board of education’s responsibili-ties?The overall responsibility is to oversee the devel-opment, operation, and improvement of JCPS. Specifically, the board’s responsibilities include the following:• Approving high-quality

instructional programs• Reviewing student prog-

ress

• Reviewing the educational program

• Appointing the superinten-dent

• Approving the JCPS annual operating budget

• Approving purchases and contracts

• Accepting contracts for new construction, renova-tions, and building addi-tions

• Establishing tax rates • Ensuring that practices

During the summer, JCPS launched a new Web-based service that provides both live and archived video of board meetings. To access the site, visit www.jcpsky .net/board/ and click the Board of Education Online Broadcast link on the left side of the page.

In July, JCBE unanimously approved a recommenda-tion from Superintendent Donna Hargens to raise the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18 be-ginning with the 2015-16 school year. Dr. Hargens and several board members said the new policy will help the district move toward its overarching goal of graduating all students prepared to reach their full potential.

Board approves policy to raise dropout age

and policies are in agree-ment with Kentucky Re-vised Statutes

• Performing all duties pre-scribed by the statutes

• Board members may not act independently on offi-cial matters. They may act only as a group on board-related decisions.

How do I contact a board member?You can get e-mail address-es, mailing addresses, and phone numbers at www.jcpsky.net/board/. You also may contact board members by writing P.O. Box 34020, Louisville, KY 40232—or by calling 485-3566.When and where does the board meet?Generally, the board holds regular meetings at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.Most meetings are held in the Stewart Auditorium at the VanHoose Educa-tion Center (3332 Newburg Road). Regular meetings are tele-vised live by Insight Com-munications and can be seen on Cable Channel 98. An interpreter is provided for the hearing impaired. Special meetings may be called anytime by the chair-man or by written request

77

from three members to the board’s secretary. Notice of special meetings is sent to local newspapers and to ra-dio and television stations.Agendas are available at board meetings. You also can get agenda information by calling 485-3342. All meetings are open to the public, but the board may hold closed Executive Ses-sions to discuss the pur-chase of real estate, law-suits, collective bargaining, or personnel matters.What is the board meet-ing format?Generally, meetings are

structured like this:• Moment of silence• Pledge of Allegiance• Minutes• Recognitions and resolu-

tions• Superintendent’s reports

(People who want to ad-dress the board on a specific agenda item will speak when the item is brought forward.)

• Action items• Discussion items• Board reports/requests• People who want to ad-

dress the board on non-agenda items

• Executive Session (when necessary)

• AdjournmentHow do I speak at a board meeting?The board encourages parents and other com-munity members to share their opinions at meetings, but you should be sure that the issue you want to talk about is one that the school board should address. If you have a complaint or an issue concerning a spe-cific school, you first should contact the principal or the

(continued on next page)

88

School-Based Decision Mak-ing (SBDM) Council. The purpose of the board is to establish policies for the entire district, not to settle disputes that could be re-solved through other chan-nels.To speak at a meeting:• Register with the

secretary of the board by calling 485-3342, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tell the secretary the topic you would like to address. Or you may register on-site at a meeting before it starts.

• You’ll have three min-utes to address the board. If that isn’t enough time, write a letter to the board members or call your rep-resentative at 485-3566.

• When you’re called to

speak at a meeting, ap-proach the microphone and say your name and the name of any organiza-tion or group of citizens you represent.

• Explain your concern, complaint, question, or opinion. Give supporting examples or reasons.

• Limit your comments to one item or issue.

• End your remarks by tell-ing the board members the action that you want them to take.

• If you’re reading from a script, you may want to provide copies for board members and for the su-

perintendent.• Avoid repeating simi-

lar views of other speakers. In the interest of time, it’s best to designate a single spokesper-son to represent a group. You can show your numbers by asking those pres-

ent to stand or simply by telling the board how

many belong to your or-ganization.

• Be polite. Avoid name calling, finger pointing, accusations, or demean-ing language.

Vision: All JCPS students graduate prepared to reach their full potential and contribute to our society throughout life.

Mission: To provide relevant, com-prehensive, quality instruc-tion in order to educate, prepare, and inspire our students to learn.

Values: • Our students are cared for

and treated as if they are our own.

• Children learn differently.• What happens in the

classroom matters most. • The differences of each

are assets of the whole.• High-quality teaching is

the most powerful tool for helping students reach high standards.

JCBE vision, mission, and values• Leadership and innovation

are essential to prepare students for their futures.

• Talents and resources are used wisely to benefit stu-dents.

• Partnerships among schools, families, and community are important for the health and well-being of our students.

• Adults model integrity, respect, creativity, and ac-countability.

9

New JCTA contract will provide more resources for schoolsIn July, the board approved a new five-year contract with the Jefferson County Teach-ers Association (JCTA). This action followed ratification by the JCTA membership, and the new contract became ef-fective immediately.

JCBE Chair Diane Porter said the new contract reflects the commitment of the board, the district, and JCTA to ad-dressing the needs of stu-dents and the community by directing more resources to schools.

Key provisions within the contract include:• Revising the transfer pro-

cess to provide principals and schools with more flexibility in hiring teachers who best meet the needs of individual schools.

• Providing parents with the opportunity to access grades and attendance information online via the

Parent Portal, a secure Web-based system (www .jcpsky.net/Parent/Parent-Portal/).

• Making explicit that princi-pals at the district’s 18 Pri-ority Schools have complete autonomy in hiring.

The board also approved em-ployee salary schedules for the 2013-14 school year. JCPS employees did not receive a cost of living increase, and only eligible employees re-ceived a step increase.

Separately from the contract and as part of ongoing efforts to provide more resources for schools, the board commit-ted $5 million in fund balance to provide targeted interven-tions and extended learning hours for students across the district.

“Under the leadership of Superintendent Donna Har-gens, the district has been deliberate in identifying and

developing those initiatives that align with our Strategic Plan: Vision 2015 and sup-port our 4 focus areas and 36 strategies,” Porter said. “Moving forward, the board remains committed to put-ting the needs of students first and fulfilling our re-sponsibility to ensuring the district produces gradu-ates who are college- and career-ready.”

According to Dr. Hargens, “The collaborative nature with which the district and JCTA approached [the con-tract] reflects an ongoing commitment to focus our collective efforts on those initiatives that will boost student achievement and help all students succeed. This agreement will further enhance the systems and structures we have put in place to ensure schools remain the center of our universe.”

District information—however you want itFacebook (www.facebook.com/JCPSKY)—The Facebook page offers district news and alerts. During inclement whether, the page provides school closing information. YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/jcpsweb)—The JCPS YouTube Channel offers news videos, feature stories, and the Our Kids television program.JCPS on Twitter (https://twitter.com/JCPSKY)—The district’s Twitter feed provides school and district news, including school closing information. To follow JCPS tweets on your mobile phone or wireless device, send a text that says follow JCPSKY to 40404. Superintendent on Twitter (https://twitter.com/JCPSSuper)—Tweets from JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens include information on events and student success as well as brief district news. On your mobile phone or wireless device, send a text that says follow JCPSSuper to 40404.

10

Pilot program will help improve college and career readiness

JCPS is implementing a pilot program that incorporates the principles of the Ford Next Generation Learning (NGL) initiative.

The program is the result of collaboration between JCPS, Ford Motor Company Fund, the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation (JCPEF), Louisville Metro Gov-ernment, local business part-ners, and community organi-zations that have supported the JCPS 5-Star Professional Career Theme schools.

The pilot program builds on the school district’s Profes-sional Career Theme rede-sign, which was fully imple-mented in 2010 in most high schools. JCPS and JCPEF began collaborating with the Ford Fund during the rede-sign process to help engage the community in the overall effort.

Using the expertise of the Ford Fund and its Ford NGL resources, the pilot program is being implemented at Fair-dale, Jeffersontown, Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP), Southern, and Waggener High Schools in the following ways:• Externships—Teachers

from different content areas work with local businesses to develop interdisciplinary projects that engage stu-dents and enhance learning.

• Cohort Scheduling—The same group of students take classes together in specific content areas, which lets the students work across disciplines and helps teachers closely follow student progress in multiple content areas.

• Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Enhancement—Im-proved technology infra-structure is creating im-proved access to ILPs.

• Data Enhancement—Real-time tracking of student outcomes within a school of study or major allows for immediate interventions and helps teachers and adminis-trators direct resources.

“This initiative aligns perfectly with the district’s Strategic Plan and our mission to pro-vide instruction that inspires,” says JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens. “Our work with Ford Next Generation Learning, JCPEF, and commu-nity leaders means more stu-dents will graduate prepared.”

The program will expand to all high schools in the 2014-15 school year.

JCPEF is leading the develop-ment of a five-year master plan as JCPS seeks to be-come 1 of 17 school districts in the country to receive the Ford NGL designation.

11

A B

1 1

2 4

3 7

4 10

This quick quiz features fifth-grade math questions. The first three parents who send the correct answers to the Parent Connection of-fice via e-mail and the first three who send the answers via regular mail will receive a free JCPS T-shirt. Please include the name of your child’s (or grandchild’s) school.The e-mail address is thomas.pack@jefferson.kyschools.us. The regular mailing ad-dress is Thomas Pack, Com-munications and Publica-tions North, C. B. Young Jr. Service Center, Building 4, 3001 Crittenden Drive, Louisville, KY 40209.You don’t need to write the questions or the answers. Just send the question num-bers and the letters for your answers. Or you may print out this quiz and mail it.

1. Which rule fits the function table below?

A. Multiply A by itself to get B.

B. Multiply A by 5 and then subtract 4 to get B.

C. Multiply A by 3 and then subtract 2 to get B.

D. Multiply A by 2 and then add 2 to get B.

Quick quiz for parentsAre you as smart as a JCPS fifth grader?

2. Which figure below has exactly two lines of symmetry?

Are you getting the e-mail newsletter?Parent Connection eNews is a JCPS newsletter that offers new, brief articles in a monthly e-mail. You can view the latest issue and sign up for future ones on the Parent Connection Web site.

3. The mean (average) age of Mary’s scout troop of six girls is 10 years old. If two girls are 9 and two girls are 11, which statement could be true about the ages of the other two girls?

A. Both girls are 11. B. One girl is 8 and the

other girl is 12. C. Both girls are 9. D. One girl is 9 and the

other girl is 15.

A.

B.

C.

D.

First and Last Days for Students 8/20, 6/4*

*6/4 will be the last day of school unless there are days to be made up. Inclement weather may alter the school calendar, grading periods, and report card distribution dates.

First and Last Days for Teachers(No School for Students) ................................8/16, 6/5

No School for StudentsLabor Day ................................................................9/2

Thanksgiving Break ...................................11/27–11/29

Winter Break .................................................12/23–1/3

Martin Luther King Jr. Day .....................................1/20

Spring Break ...................................................3/31–4/4

Primary Election Day ..............................................5/20

Memorial Day .........................................................5/26

Professional-Development Days .........10/4, 10/7, 10/8, 11/11, 2/24, 2/25, 5/2

Make-Up Days for StudentsMissed school days will be made up in the following order: 2/26, 2/27, 2/28, 6/5, 6/6, 6/9, 6/10, 6/11, 6/12, 6/13.

If 2/26, 2/27, and 2/28 are not used as make-up days, individual schools will decide whether to use those days to host enrichment activities for some students or to have a no-school day for all students.

Parent-Teacher ConferencesConferences will be scheduled on the following dates: 10/8, 2/24.

APRIL MON TUE WED THU FRI 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Offering Equal Educational Opportunities www.jcpsky.net

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AUGUST MON TUE WED THU FRI 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30

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J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y P U B L I C S C H O O L S

School Calendar 2013-14

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