The Frankfort Independent Schools Board of Education on Monday heard a report on the district’s phase-in plan for instruction.
“We’ve taken a slow approach,” Frankfort High Principal Tyler Reed said. “I’m really excited about where we are, especially with our phase-in approach we just launched.”
Monday was the first day FHS had freshmen back in the building.
“We had 51 freshmen come out," Reed said. "That’s about 57% of our class, and they did a great job following protocols, getting in classes. It was like the first day of school, especially with those freshmen, just learning where the rooms are.”
Reed said staircases allowed just one-way traffic, and students sat two to a table in the cafeteria for lunch.
“I saw masks all day, and that’s just a testament to the staff,” he said. “We have relentlessly gone over the protocols. Due to that phased-in approach, bringing small groups back first, I think they really understood the significance of those.
“If the numbers hold with us, we’re excited to keep our freshmen in a few weeks through Thanksgiving, and hopefully bringing sophomores and juniors in with our next phase on Dec. 7. “
Reed said there were eight to nine students in a classroom with four to five students logging in for virtual instruction.
“We expected it to be a little low with the transition, getting word out, understanding,” he said. “Of course, you have the families that want to see what’s going on first as well.
“I expect it to pick up a few more percentage points as we get our feet under us and families become even more comfortable with understanding what we’re doing.”
Second Street Principal Sam Sams said the transition is going well at the school.
“This is week three or four where we’ve been doing our half-days, where anybody who wants to do in-person is in-person from 8 to 11,” she said. “It’s been working out really well. We hope to extend that in the near future.
“I think kids are seeing the benefits, being in person with a teacher and getting that help instead of through a camera because some were really struggling with that.”
A report was given on the renovation work at F.D. Wilkinson Gymnasium. Bobby Driskell, FIS director of pupil personnel and chief operations officer, said abatement would be complete on Friday and the facility would be asbestos-free by Friday.
The renovation has left FHS without a home gym for the upcoming basketball season.
FIS Superintendent Houston Barber said the district and Kentucky State University are working out the legal side of an agreement, from KSU’s side, to help FHS’ basketball teams have practice and games at KSU.
“I want to give a lot of credit to Kentucky State University,” Barber said. “They are going out of their way to partner with us right now, not just in the early college, but they’re looking at the minority teacher recruitment and how to help us solve that challenge.
“They are really going an extra mile for activities and athletics. They’re pushing to support us on facilities. They are doing everything possible to help us out in whatever facilities we need, which I think is remarkable considering our circumstance.”
The board dealt with several agenda items during the meeting.
• Approved KISTA (Kentucky Interlocal School Transportation Association) financing for a school bus purchase for the 2020-21 school year.
• Approved a contract with Woodland Tree Care of $19,900 for the removal of specified trees at F.D. Wilkinson Gymnasium.
• Recognized the Frankfort High cross country teams that competed at the state cross country championships Oct. 31. It was the first time since 2001 that both the boys and girls teams qualified for the state meet.
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
State-Journal.com’s comments forum is for civil, constructive dialogue about news topics in our community, state, nation and world. We emphasize “civil” at a time when Americans, in the words of the current president, need to “turn down the temperature” of political debates. The State Journal will do its part by more carefully policing this forum. Here are some rules that all commenters must agree to follow:
Absolutely no attacks on other commenters, on guest columnists or on authors of letters to the editor. Our print and online opinion pages are sacred marketplaces of ideas where diverse viewpoints are welcome without fear of retribution. You may constructively critique the ideas and opinions of others, but name-calling, stereotyping and similar attacks are strictly prohibited.
Leeway will be given for criticism of elected officials and other public figures, but civility is essential. If you focus your criticism on ideas, opinions and viewpoints, you will be less likely to run afoul of our commenting rules.
Keep comments focused on the article or commentary in question. Don’t use an article about the Frankfort City Commission, for example, to rant about national politics.
Hyperpartisanship that suggests anyone on the other side of an issue or anyone in a particular particular party is evil is not welcome. If you believe that all Democrats are socialists intent on destroying America or that all Republicans are racists, there are lots of places on the internet for you to espouse those views. State-Journal.com is not one.
No sophomoric banter. This isn’t a third-grade classroom but rather a place for serious consumers of news to offer their reactions and opinions on news stories and published commentary.
No consumer complaints about individual businesses. If you’ve had a bad experience with a private business or organization, contact the Better Business Bureau or the government agency that regulates that business. If you believe the actions of a private business are newsworthy, contact us at news@state-journal.com and we will consider whether news coverage is merited.
Absolutely no jokes or comments about a person’s physical appearance.
No promotion of commercial goods or services. Our outstanding staff of marketing consultants stands ready to help businesses with effective advertising solutions.
If you state facts that have not been previously reported by The State Journal, be sure to include the source of your information.
No attacks on State Journal staff members or contributing writers. We welcome questions about, and criticism of, our news stories and commentary but not of the writers who work tirelessly to keep their community informed. Corrections of inaccurate information in news stories should be sent to news@state-journal.com rather than posted in the comments section.