Some cities just want to have a better school system. And thus, the independent district. Don't really get your objection to independent school districts, or the idea that all school systems are the same. :confused:

Don't agree that it is better but usually smaller meaning more individual attention which research has shown is more effective in it's instruction.

...usually smaller, meaning more individual attention which research has shown is more effective in it's instruction.

This is true; but I think it can (but not necessarily) also be better in general, if done properly and with the right community support.

This is true; but I think it can (but not necessarily) also be better in general, if done properly and with the right community support.

I can agree with this and that it is easier for a smaller community (assuming that the cities is smaller than the counties that are in ) to build the proper support that is necessary.

 

It also can be a bitter fight when the end up merging. Tollesboro and Lewis County went through some bitter, bitter fights when Tollesboro was consolidated into Lewis County.

This probably isn't the forum to bring this up but...wouldn't consolidating some of KY's 120 counties address urban vs rural inequities? There are far too many little kingdoms in this state to the detriment of our rural population.

This probably isn't the forum to bring this up but...wouldn't consolidating some of KY's 120 counties address urban vs rural inequities? There are far too many little kingdoms in this state to the detriment of our rural population.

While I see some of the benefits, presently some kids have 90 minute bus rides WITHIN the county. Can't imagine the bus ride if they have to go to the neighboring county and what time they would have to get up in the morning.:scared:

They wouldn't be going to the school 20 minutes away???

They wouldn't be going to the school 20 minutes away???

Not if they lived in the middle of our county and depending on how the consolidation went.

 

Presently, it is up to the voters of that area and who they elect to the local board of education. Pretty good method on representing the wants/needs of those that put them in office.

If it'll make you feel better, there are kids getting on buses at 6:15 AM in Fayette county to get to a public school right in Lexington. Distance doesn't always equal time....

If it'll make you feel better, there are kids getting on buses at 6:15 AM in Fayette county to get to a public school right in Lexington. Distance doesn't always equal time....

That is a big WOW!!!!

Not if they lived in the middle of our county and depending on how the consolidation went.

 

Presently, it is up to the voters of that area and who they elect to the local board of education. Pretty good method on representing the wants/needs of those that put them in office.

Also, from what I understand, isn't the situation dealing with roads in some counties a huge reason the times to school are so great?

Also, from what I understand, isn't the situation dealing with roads in some counties a huge reason the times to school are so great?

Yep, several of our routes see a bus go down a ONE-LANE road for about 3-5 miles to pick up a handful of kids, turn around in a turnabout which is basically a spot that some gravel has been dropped or in a barn's driveway and go back over that same road.

 

The turnabouts is one of the reasons why we miss some school days. Snow on roads are not an issue but still several inches of snow in the turnabouts and busses cannot get turned around.

 

Lastly, some of the busses are traveling on roads that are so curvy you have to go slow or simply you are cleaning up vomit all the time. Little kids, curvy roads and busses are not a good combination.

If it'll make you feel better, there are kids getting on buses at 6:15 AM in Fayette county to get to a public school right in Lexington. Distance doesn't always equal time....

What time does school start in Fayette County? Here, some get on the bus at 6:30 AM and are dropped off at 7:55 AM.

 

In addition, because of numbers a bus picking up on a route makes stops at the elementary, middle and high schools. Not enough kids to have an elementary stop only.

After watching this I am more convinced then ever that Sears and his ilk could care less about what is best for the students. They are doing whatever they can to make private schools less attractive. If Somerset truly gets almot 1/4 of their from outside their district then no woner he doesn't want any competition.

I just noticed over on the scoreboard that Mr. Sears' school has started out 0-4 this year. They got whooped by all public schools. I wonder what he has in store to level the playing field and handi-cap Danville who rang them up for 48 points last week. Maybe this guy should pay attention to his own team.

It seems like Sen Shaughnessy wants to have things both ways. On one hand, in light of the obvious inherent differences between public and private schools such as private schools' utter lack of enrollment boundaries or feeder patterns, when public schools voted overwhelmingly for separate state championship tournaments (exercising their right through the KHSAA legislative process to choose who they play), Mr. Shaughnessy screams about discrimination.

On the other, he says it is unfair to place eligibility limitations on kids who come to private schools from well outside what could be considered reasonable attendance boundaries or feeder schools because that would take away their right to choose which school is best for them.

 

The state Board of Education's direction was to seek compromise to championship separation. It seems that Mr. Shaughnessy isn't interested in anything other than maintaining the status quo.