Being one that lives in the Dixie district, I for one can say that Kenton Cty. and Ft. Thomas do have an agreement. I'm not sure if it is the only district that they have this agreement with, but I do know that none of the Campbell Cty. schools or Indendent School districts in CC have the same agreement as of this school year. I was told that those Districts just can't afford to release thier money. So HHS isn't all that bad now are they!

 

I can certainly understand the logic of those schools not wanting reciprocity agreements with Highlands. Don't make it easier for kids to leave their home schools to attend Highlands. It may be selfish and not necessarily in the best interest of the children wanting to go to Highlands, but from a fiscal responsibility standpoint, I can understand the other schools not giving up the ADA. And I'm fine with it as it is, although the proposal that the KHSAA is sending to the delegates for their October meeting will penalize those kids whom are enrolled at a non feeder middle school of Highlands and whose school district does not have a reciprocity agreement with Highlands. Those kids will need to sit out a year. The lesson to the parents will be if you live outside Ft.Thomas and attend a school system that does not have a reciprocity agreement with Highlands, you either need to move into Ft. Thomas or start your kid in the Ft. Thomas school system in the 7th grade (which will hurt those communities where these families used to live and will hurt St. Thomas and St. Catherine because some kids instead of finishing their 7th and 8th grades at those schools, will now start the 7th grade at Highlands). At the end of the day, any attempt to manipulate where parents send their kids will ultimately result in failure. Those parents concerned enough to pull their kids out of their existing schools and send them to Highlands after the 8th grade, will in a lot of cases be willing to do so after the 6th grade I would think. And again, I'm opposed to any proposal that hinders a parents ability to send their kids to the school system that the parents think is best for their kids (academically or athletically). Its the libertarian, individual rights beliefs in me.

I can certainly understand the logic of those schools not wanting reciprocity agreements with Highlands. Don't make it easier for kids to leave their home schools to attend Highlands. It may be selfish and not necessarily in the best interest of the children wanting to go to Highlands, but from a fiscal responsibility standpoint, I can understand the other schools not giving up the ADA. And I'm fine with it as it is, although the proposal that the KHSAA is sending to the delegates for their October meeting will penalize those kids whom are enrolled at a non feeder middle school of Highlands and whose school district does not have a reciprocity agreement with Highlands. Those kids will need to sit out a year. The lesson to the parents will be if you live outside Ft.Thomas and attend a school system that does not have a reciprocity agreement with Highlands, you either need to move into Ft. Thomas or start your kid in the Ft. Thomas school system in the 7th grade (which will hurt those communities where these families used to live and will hurt St. Thomas and St. Catherine because some kids instead of finishing their 7th and 8th grades at those schools, will now start the 7th grade at Highlands). At the end of the day, any attempt to manipulate where parents send their kids will ultimately result in failure. Those parents concerned enough to pull their kids out of their existing schools and send them to Highlands after the 8th grade, will in a lot of cases be willing to do so after the 6th grade I would think. And again, I'm opposed to any proposal that hinders a parents ability to send their kids to the school system that the parents think is best for their kids (academically or athletically). Its the libertarian, individual rights beliefs in me.

 

I know of 3 boys who I coach who are enrolling at Highlands Middle School next year and just completed their last year at one of the aforementioned catholic grade schools in Fort Thomas. I am sure there may be more but these 3 are athletically gifted kids who were planning on attending Highlands anyway. The parents of these 3 obviously are comfortable with doing this move at the 6th grade level.

I can certainly understand the logic of those schools not wanting reciprocity agreements with Highlands. Don't make it easier for kids to leave their home schools to attend Highlands. It may be selfish and not necessarily in the best interest of the children wanting to go to Highlands, but from a fiscal responsibility standpoint, I can understand the other schools not giving up the ADA. And I'm fine with it as it is, although the proposal that the KHSAA is sending to the delegates for their October meeting will penalize those kids whom are enrolled at a non feeder middle school of Highlands and whose school district does not have a reciprocity agreement with Highlands. Those kids will need to sit out a year. The lesson to the parents will be if you live outside Ft.Thomas and attend a school system that does not have a reciprocity agreement with Highlands, you either need to move into Ft. Thomas or start your kid in the Ft. Thomas school system in the 7th grade (which will hurt those communities where these families used to live and will hurt St. Thomas and St. Catherine because some kids instead of finishing their 7th and 8th grades at those schools, will now start the 7th grade at Highlands). At the end of the day, any attempt to manipulate where parents send their kids will ultimately result in failure. Those parents concerned enough to pull their kids out of their existing schools and send them to Highlands after the 8th grade, will in a lot of cases be willing to do so after the 6th grade I would think. And again, I'm opposed to any proposal that hinders a parents ability to send their kids to the school system that the parents think is best for their kids (academically or athletically). Its the libertarian, individual rights beliefs in me.

 

 

So in my case where I live outside the HHS district and planning on sending my now 4th grader who is now enrolled in a Catholic grade school to HHS, are you saying that I have to move or enroll by 7th grade in the Ft. Thomas system to be eligible to play sports?

They continue to operate because they do an excellent job, plain and simple! I for one think that the independent school districts continue to help raise the bar, forcing the public school districts to improve or continue to loose children to the independents! Our local indepentent school district is one of the best school systems (as determined by state wide testing) in the state. Our independent school system costs the state less per pupil than the county in which we reside. For this excellence, I pay a significantly higher tax rate than the county district. Competition is the American way and I support it and will gladly pay the higher taxes to maintain this option in education excellence!

 

Let's get one thing straight...Independents are PUBLIC schools...

 

Everybody clear on that...

 

As for the job the independents do, I can't speak for all of them, but Russell does pretty well. Better yet, the 2005-06 year was the best yet with state championships in academics (Govenor's Cup & Science Olympiad [third straight]) and football as well as a regional championship in boys' basketball and multiple other district championships...:thumb:

 

And yes, Russell's local property taxes are WAYYYYYYYYYY higher than the county's so the local support is there because the voters are the ones responsible for that fact.

Let's get one thing straight...Independents are PUBLIC schools...

 

Everybody clear on that...

 

As for the job the independents do, I can't speak for all of them, but Russell does pretty well. Better yet, the 2005-06 year was the best yet with state championships in academics (Govenor's Cup & Science Olympiad [third straight]) and football as well as a regional championship in boys' basketball and multiple other district championships...:thumb:

 

And yes, Russell's local property taxes are WAYYYYYYYYYY higher than the county's so the local support is there because the voters are the ones responsible for that fact.

 

 

Quite true my friend. The only difference between the county schools and the independent schools is the size of the school district. That's it. Nothing more. Both are public schools; both have to deal with the state education mandates; both are supported by their local taxing districts and the state SEEK formula; both have to accept students within their districts; and both can decide to accept out of district students if they choose to. Independent schools are as similar to private schools as I am to Brad Pitt.

Quite true my friend. The only difference between the county schools and the independent schools is the size of the school district. That's it. Nothing more. Both are public schools; both have to deal with the state education mandates; both are supported by their local taxing districts and the state SEEK formula; both have to accept students within their districts; and both can decide to accept out of district students if they choose to. Independent schools are as similar to private schools as I am to Brad Pitt.

 

In other words folks, they're NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!

No way I was letting that slide.:devil:

So in my case where I live outside the HHS district and planning on sending my now 4th grader who is now enrolled in a Catholic grade school to HHS, are you saying that I have to move or enroll by 7th grade in the Ft. Thomas system to be eligible to play sports?

 

 

If the proposal passes and is approved by the State Board of Education, he either starts at Highlands in the 7th grade or he'll need to sit out of sports one year (the proposal is only for a one year sit out, not the one plus one that Sears had been pushing). Which means if you wait to move him until his 9th grade, he'd have to sit out of sports his entire 9th grade. After the 9th grade, he could fully participate in sports. I'm not sure if the proposal will pass the delegates vote (some public schools may vote against it as not being tough enough and I'm sure the privates and some public schools may vote against it for obvious reasons). Since it is only for a one year ineligibility period, some State Board members may support it (they were really upset with the one plus one period and the only one year period in the proposal may appease these folks) but some State Board members may still oppose it as being unfair to parents as it requires them to make the high school choice after the 6th grade, which is way too early in their minds. I hope enough of them look at it that way. Actually I hope the delegates vote against it.

 

If you're a parent and think the proposal is an unfair infringement of your parental rights, call your school board members and your superintendent and let them know your feelings. Tell them that you will remember how the school delegate voted the next time there are school board elections and that you will attend the next board meeting that addresses a renewal of the superintendent's contract.

In other words folks, they're NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!

No way I was letting that slide.:devil:

 

 

While I figured it would be BF that pointed that out, it is you my height challenged friend that receives the Captain Obvious award today.

While I figured it would be BF that pointed that out, it is you my height challenged friend that receives the Captain Obvious award today.

 

When in doubt, go with the trump card...:irked:

 

I didn't think everyone had met you. I didn't want anyone getting the wrong impression.

Goherd96 is correct in regard to Russell. It is, without doubt, the premier public school system in the 16th Region and, most likely, east of Lexington. He is also correct in that property owners in Russell pay a premium in school taxes. Ashland property owners do the same. The Raceland-Worthington system does a good job.

 

None of the above independent systems stick to any kind of boundaries. All have students, particularly athletes, who do not live within the accepted boundaries of the respective schools. Of course, the same is true for the other public schools in this area- and most other areas of the Commonwealth, I would think.

 

Now, all of this is fine with me so long as we acknowledge reality. Private schools "attract" students from an "expanded" geographic area and so do the public schools- independent and otherwise. In other words, if they are honest, those who seem to think that privates should wear a scarlet "R" around their necks need to be sure that there are enough of those necklaces to go around.

In other words, if they are honest

 

Stop right there.

Good point, RunFirst. Maybe I am expecting too much.

I have to agree with Zig. Ludlow is an excellent example of a successful Independent School System. Naturally, I have to also add Beechwood to that list. Our city would also be ready to fight if the "C" word is ever considered.

Those are two classy examples of Independent School systems. I have a lot of respect for the Beechwood School- very nice area.

Add Paris High School to the list, they ranked 13th in the state of KY for their test scores. And that is another area where the "c" word will never happen. Something really bad would have to happen, you talk to Paris People and they STRONGLY OPPOSE (there was a write up on this about a year or two ago in the Lex KY Paper) - And tuition there is $1500 ish for out of district.

Goherd96 is correct in regard to Russell. It is, without doubt, the premier public school system in the 16th Region and, most likely, east of Lexington. He is also correct in that property owners in Russell pay a premium in school taxes. Ashland property owners do the same. The Raceland-Worthington system does a good job.

 

None of the above independent systems stick to any kind of boundaries. All have students, particularly athletes, who do not live within the accepted boundaries of the respective schools. Of course, the same is true for the other public schools in this area- and most other areas of the Commonwealth, I would think.

 

Now, all of this is fine with me so long as we acknowledge reality. Private schools "attract" students from an "expanded" geographic area and so do the public schools- independent and otherwise. In other words, if they are honest, those who seem to think that privates should wear a scarlet "R" around their necks need to be sure that there are enough of those necklaces to go around.

 

Don't know the criteria you are using, but Pikeville Independent's CATS scores are the highest east of Lexington (I believe top 5 or 6 overall in the state) and much higher than Russell Independent's.

Williamsburg is an Indy district and does very well on the cats testing. I think its a pretty consistent trend that independents do better percentage wise on test scores. Why? It ussually because of the teacher to student ratio. More teachers per students go a long way. That one on one interaction really helps. The bigger schools don't get that, sure they have more money for sports but they tend to lag in educating all the students like they need to be. Yes they can offer more AP classes and things of that nature but % wise more students tend to succed better at the smaller setting in academics at least.

 

If you want to solve the money problem in Kentucky, you need to change the coutny system in government. Kentucky has way too many counties. There are a lot of counties who have a jailer yet no jail. Instead of consolidating schools, why not consolidate counties and get rid of some of these dead beat politicians who are are only elected because there Grandpa and Daddy were elected. All many of them do is collect a pay check. Why cheapen the kids education by combining schools when IMHO the real problem is the way the government of this great state is being managed.