LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Elgin Foundation representatives astounded the Laurel County Board of Education Monday night with a positive progress report for the district’s kindergarten to fourth-grade student’s reading levels.

Linda J. Vinson, education consultant for the Elgin Foundation reported, “We more than hit our targets.” The Laurel County Schools are part of a six-district initiative that’s in its second year assisting 11,000 children to improve 90 percent of third-grade students’ reading levels by 50 percent or above by spring of 2016.

Laurel County kindergarteners improved their reading by 40 percent, first grade by 25 percent and second grade by 20 percent, and third by 15 percent.  Although growth had occurred, some schools exhibited slight negative growth, such as Cold Hill Elementary’s first-grade students, Colony’s kindergarten, Johnson’s first grade as well as London’s first grade. The only school exhibiting negative growth in fourth grade was Johnson Elementary.

Vinson said winter 2012 MAP testing scores from the Northwest Evaluation Association reportedly stayed strong, but a negative component affecting growth is summer loss.  Only one county out of the entire initiative showed summer gain, which was Clay County.

Since funding is not provided to carry on reading programs throughout the summer months, their community took it upon themselves to assist their youth with their outside resources such as vacation Bible school.  Vinson suggested that Laurel County do the same to connect with their local churches, camps and sports programs to continue in the initiative outside of the classroom as well as implement pre-school in all elementary schools.”

We have to stay the course, if it was easy — everybody would be doing it,” she said, adding, “the biggest winners here are your kids.”

As much as the district would like to implement more pre-school programs, the board determined that it was not feasible after a reading of the district’s draft budget for the Fiscal Year 2012-13. Revenue has remained static and the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) for next year will be reduced by a quarter of a million, said Jim Kennedy, business manager for the district. The tentative budget with revenues versus expenditures this year will be $1.7 million short, in taking money from the “rainy day” contingency fund to fill the gap, the contingency will stand strong at $3.9 million.

“Districts all over are beginning to hurt, but we’re in good shape,” Kennedy assured.

In other matters, the board:

• Approved the lift of a hiring freeze to hire 13 positions across the district including tutors at Bush and Colony Elementary, North Laurel Middle, South Laurel Middle; family educator positions at  North Laurel Middle and South Laurel Middle; and an assistant principal at North Laurel High School;

• Accepted the Offer of Assistance of $104,630 from the Schools Facilities Construction Commission and directed the funds towards the upcoming North Laurel Middle construction project;

• Agreed to the recommendation from the Local Planning Committee presented by The Sentinel-Echo Publisher Willie Sawyers, regarding the District Facility Plan to move Hunter Hills Elementary from a priority five facility to 2C and make a vocational technology school a top priority;

• Approved the contract agreement for Behavior Consultant Services for the 2011-12 school year.  The group of 10 licensed behavior specialists will be a cheaper alternative for the district, as well as closer to the district, traveling from Somerset;

• Agreed to Oce’ Financial Services Inc. Agreement for the replacement of all district printers by next summer. The board suggested to look towards the reduction of paper and color printing — in a year, the district makes approximately 15 million copies;

• Awarded the two-year Family Resource Youth Service Center Continuation Grant Plans for FY 2013-2014, funded through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

The deadline for superintendent applications to the Laurel County School District is fast approaching, Larry Bryson said, Attorney for the district, while 52 applications have already been requested and approximately 20 applicants had the appropriate credentials, Bryson commented. Applications will be accepted until January 31.