Highlighting their talents: Laurel school board hears about Gifted and Talented program

Feb. 16—The goal of public schools is to educate the youth and prepare them for their future.

But outstanding students displaying specific skills are recognized in the Gifted and Talented (G/T) programs that extend into the elementary school level.

On Monday night, board members and school officials heard from some of those students who praised the benefits they are receiving through the extended studies.

Mrs. Kim Jones is the G/T Coordinator for the elementary and middle school and introduced some of the achievements and activities of those students.

"February is Gifted Education Month in Kentucky," Jones said. "I'd like to thank Mrs. (Superintendent Denise) Griebel and the board for giving us a space at CFI. It's so much better now that we have a space."

Jones then introduced some of the students involved in the GT program. Jones said she heard a quote at a training that stayed with her: Kids become interested in what they're exposed to.

"I don't think a lot of the students here in Laurel County are exposed to the things that may a spark an interest or lead them to a different path," she said.

She added that there are 146 fourth and fifth grade students in the GT program that go to CFI (Center for Innovation) several times each year. There they work on projects, explore and have new experiences that were not possible before. Some examples were a Lego robotics, constructing a spider web out of yarn and loading it with spiders to test its strength, and learning and performing Christmas carols for the CFI students.

Adley Schooler is a 5th grader at Bush Elementary and was selected for the math and science aspect. She said her favorite part of the program was being able to "challenge my mind and think out of the box."

Schooler added that the room at CFI features an area where students can do experiments with fire — something other classrooms do not offer at the elementary level.

Jude Hyde and Blake Woodyard attend Colony Elementary and constructed a robotic from Lego. Jones said Lego sponsors such projects. Woodyard made the robotic move by controlling it with a laptop. Jones said the two boys had constructed the robotic on Monday. That also involved coding the base.

There are 24 different groups from North and South Middle School programs that focus on their special interests.

"This just started in January and I have 184 students between the two schools," Jones said. "Those groupings are geared more to their individual giftedness which is the math group, art and music group, language arts groups, general intelligence."

Ava Cupp is an 8th grade student at North Laurel Middle School and is identified in the Gifted and Talented program in Leadership.

"While I was at CFI, I was able to participate an Escape Room for open and closed mindsets," she said. "I feel the opportunity to receive gifted and talented services outside the classroom will make me a better leader."

Board members also heard from Ray Vaske and David Jackson for updates on projects. Board member Brice Hicks asked about the artificial turf installation at the two high schools' softball and baseball fields.

Vaske explained that while one of the fields at one high school is being done, another one is being finished at the other high school.

"If the North Laurel softball field is being worked on, we'll use the one at South Laurel," Vaske said. "The same will be with the baseball fields. We'll use one field at one school for softball and use the baseball field at the other high school until they are all finished."

An additional cost Vaske mentioned was to extend an area around the South Laurel fields to allow the lift trucks space to reach the lights around the field. That addition was approved at a total of $38,660.30.

The district will also purchase 3 new school buses. Griebel said the district usually purchased 5 buses but budget constraints would only allow for 3 this year.

Those buses will replace some that had been damaged in accidents," she added. "We normally get five but we can still get three this year."

Board members also approved recreating several positions. Those include two Special Needs Assistants for Bush Elementary, a Technology Specialist for the school district, a Preschool Assistant for Keavy Elementary, a Special Needs Assistant for Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary, a Special Needs Assistant for Sublimity Elementary and a Preschool Special Needs Assistant for Keavy.

An executive session was held to discuss litigation and personnel. Board members — Brice Hicks, Ed Jones, Jeff Lewis and Chair Joe Karr — returned to the board meeting room to vote.

"We've exited executive session and need to take action regarding the information pertaining to the personnel matter discussed," Karr said. "How do we vote?"

All three board members voted in favor of that unspecified action. Board member Tony Krahenbuhl did not attend Monday's meeting.