brought us that will remain . Mainly those things are related to the cleaning and sanitizing of our school and daily routines of hand sanitizing . Science Hill went “ mask optional ” early on and will continue with that policy . We want our students to feel safe and if wearing a mask accomplishes that then we certainly will support them , but it is not a requirement for any student or faculty member .
KL : We will continue to be conscientious in our efforts to mitigate transmission of the virus . However , we plan for this school year to be as normal as possible for students and staff .
3 . Another big talking point is school safety -- can you talk about the importance you place on that and what you all do to keep students safe in the classroom ?
PR : The safety of our students is our greatest priority . We have many safety protocols that are in place in buildings such as door locking systems , cameras , and other devices that enhance student safety . We have full time school resource officers in all middle schools and high schools . We have halftime officers in our elementary schools . We are currently working on placing full time officers in all buildings .
JD : As a school leadership team , we place great emphasis on school safety . The recent events in Texas only served to reinforce our commitment to keeping our Yellowjacket family safe . We have partnered with KSP to host an “ Active Shooter Training ” for our entire faculty this summer and will follow that with specific training on what to do in case of lockdowns in various locations of our school property . We will also continue to conduct various safety drills , including lockdown drills , throughout the school year to keep our students prepared in case of an emergency .
KL : Student safety is our first priority . We are continually evaluating and adapting our safety protocols / procedures to ensure students and staff are safe at all times . Thanks to the strong partnership with the City of Somerset and the Somerset Police Department we maintain a welltrained SRO in each school .
4 . How do you feel about where your district is academically ? Where does it shine ?
PR : Our district performs very well academically . We have performed in at least the top 25 % and regularly the top 10 % on state assessments at all levels for many years . Our diagnostic tests throughout the year have continually shown tremendous growth for our students in closing learning gaps . We have a multi-tiered system of supports ( MTSS ) in place to address students ’ learning deficits and their social-emotional well-being . How can it improve ? We always have room for improvement . One focus for next school year is to improve co-teaching in order to further close gaps for those students who struggle academically .
JD : I ’ m very proud of our district . Our teachers have continued to put the education of each student as their top priority , even through the difficult times they have faced the last two years . Science Hill continues to challenge students academically as well as provide extracurricular opportunities that contribute to a well-rounded education . Even with our strengths and unique design , we are always looking to improve . This year our focus is on student engagement and providing more opportunities for students to discuss , deliberate , and demonstrate their learning .
All of Our Students a Fun and Successful
Pulaski
County Schools
Our Community ’ s Future
925 North Main Street Somerset , Kentucky
606.679.1123
August 2022 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 9