Some parents may be counting down the days, while for most school age children may feel that summer is too short, but either way another school year is here, as students will report for a full day of class next Monday, August 8. The official opening day for staff only in the Clinton County School District will be Friday, August 5.

With the just ended 2015-16 school year, which Clinton County Schools Superintendent Charlotte Nasief deemed a very successful school year, school staff are gearing up this week with professional development for the beginning of the 2016-17 school term.

Superintendent Nasief noted that Instructional Supervisor Paula Little and other administrators prepare “months in advance” for each new school year. This year will see only a few changes, new programs and initiatives, with start time at each school being unchanged, the second year of the Non-Traditional school day initiative and others. (A separate article highlighting the school calendar and school’s start and end times appear in a separate article this week.)

The superintendent, during an interview on Monday, said one of the district’s and her personal goals would be working to see every high school graduate be college or career ready, or both, and to see all seniors have the opportunity for nine dual credit hours through a program being offered by Somerset Community College.

“Everyday, we will be expecting excellence,” Nasief noted.

She also mentioned a couple of grant programs the district is applying for, including a supplemental grant for pre-school and an Area Technology grant where improvements to technology can be added to the Area Tech Center.

As with any new school year, there will be some staff and administration changes, including a new Transportation Director, Russell Decker, who moved to that position from School Resource Officer at CCHS. That position, which Nasief noted was hired through the City of Albany, will be filled this year by Jeremy Ferguson.

Other staffing changes will be forthcoming, but since school had not officially started this week, she said other staffing changes would be decided on–primarily through each school’s Site Based Council–closer to the start of school. “We still have several positions to be hired,” she added.

The superintendent, on two fronts, said she urged parent involvement in their child’s education, noting the parent is the “student’s first teacher.” She also stressed the importance of school attendance, saying a school day missed could not be made up and getting into a pattern of missing school adversely affected each student’s success in school.

In reviewing the most recently completed school year, Nasief mentioned several positives, including that all schools in the district obtained “proficiency” status on state testing, showing each school has improved. “We strive every day to make our schools better academically” she said.

The superintendent is also proud the district is able to offer free lunches and breakfast to every student and have the continued in-school nursing program through Cumberland Family Medical. The district was also able to provide transportation for after-school tutoring, and because the district is more sound financially than a few years ago, will be able to offer four days a week to pre-school, Monday through Thursday, which she said would better prepare children for the kindergarten and elementary school setting.

Also on the list of improvements was being able to hire an additional teacher at Clinton County High School to give that facility more options in courses they can offer.

Also this year, the GEAR-UP program grant was approved and the district is working again with the Healthy Hometown Coalition.

Some subtle changes parents, students, and the public will see will include the tobacco free schools policy. “It is important to teach students about the benefits of a healthier lifestyle,” she said. There are also some slight revisions in the bullying policy, which is included in the annual Code of Pupil Conduct, which Nasief again urges parents and students to be familiar with.

Although the issue of transgender students has been raised nationally, the superintendent said the district has no set policy, saying they would wait for guidance from the state (Department of Education). But she did add, schools assist students with unique situations on a daily basis and currently, the district, insofar as the transgender issue, should it ever arise locally, would follow the Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) policy that refers to the use of locker rooms, which basically recognizes the “birth” gender.

In closing, Superintendent Nasief said she was looking forward to the new school year, and looked forward to continued educational success through cooperation from the entire school staff, students, and parents making the district the best it can be.