The list of persistently low-achieving (PLA) middle and high schools released two weeks ago by the Kentucky Department of Education, which included Monticello High School, isn’t a negative for leaders of the school district. Instead, they are viewing it as a challenge, from top to bottom, as they work to improve.

“We are accepting this as a challenge to get better,” said Monticello Superintendent Gary Abbott, as he talked about the high school’s designation. “We are all on the same page to get our school to be one of the top schools in the state.”

In fact, work is already underway, as the school puts together its improvement plan. The attitude of everyone involved is a plus and as Abbott noted the school has new leadership in place. This is Abbott’s first year as superintendent and the high school has a new principal in Roger Keith.

The 19 schools identified as PLAs for 2012-13 will receive leadership assessments, according to the Kentucky Department of Education. These leadership assessments will be administered by teams of current and former educators, parents and others trained in the process. The assessments rely heavily on specific Indicators for School Improvement to determine the capacity of the school’s principal, school council and district leadership.

Help in this form has been something that Monticello High School had requested in the past, according to Abbott. But because of lack of state funding it was not available at this time. Now that the school has been identified as a PLA, a leadership assessment team will be a valuable asset for the school.

“We have wanted help and we want people to come in and say that this is what you need to work on,” said Abbott.

There also may be some funds available for PLAs later to help them with improvement plans.

While some schools on the list will face sanctions, Abbott does not think that will be an issue for the Monticello School.

He noted that the changes being made at the school come at an opportune time, as the accountability system for Kentucky schools is changing.

“This will give us a leg up with the new accountability system,” said Abbott.

Other middle and high schools identified as PLAs include: Dayton Independent Middle School; Dayton Independent High School; Bryan Station High School; Fleming County High School; Hopkins County Central High School; Frederick Law Olmstead Academy North; Myers Middle School; Stuart Middle School; Thomas Jefferson Middle School; Westport Middle School; Knox Central High School; Lee County High School; Lincoln County High School; Livingston Central High School; Perry County Central High School; Pulaski County High School; Franklin-Simpson High School; and Trimble County High School.