LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Laurel County School Superintendent Doug Bennett recognized the exceptional accomplishment of juniors and seniors who passed the Advanced Placement (AP) exams this year at the Board of Education Monday night.  

"We had a total AP pass rate beyond, over and above 2011's at about a 5 percent increase.  That's a good trend, and these classes are among the most challenging high school students can take," Bennett said.

In contrast to 2011, eight more students passed the English Literature Composition, 17 more passed the U.S. History exam, six more in Chemistry, and 12 more passed Calculus in 2012.

Another notable accomplishment for the district was the announcement that the Laurel County Schools Transportation Department was recognized as the Outstanding Transportation Department in the state of Kentucky.  They were chosen by the Kentucky Department of Education for their unprecedented safety measures, mechanics, finances and efficiency.

"There's nothing like riding a bus to school," said Ed Jones, board chairman.  "This is our children's first leg to their education."

Assistant Superintendent Randy Leger presented the Transportation Department with the award, noting that there are 86 bus routes altogether with 77 regular bus routes, and nine special needs bus routes.  Buses travel more than 5,500 miles in a day, transporting nearly 7,000 students.

"On the day to day job of getting students to and from school, athletic events, and field trips, I think our transportation (department) as a whole does a really good job," Leger said.

All Laurel County Schools open houses are posted online at www.laurel.k12.ky.us for the new school year.  Meanwhile, the Laurel-London Optimist Club will host a Back To School Bash on Tuesday, July 31, from 4 to 7 p.m. The event is open to all Laurel County Students in need of free school supplies.

In other matters, the board:

• Lifted the hiring freeze for approximately 20 positions.  Those positions included one Cold Hill lunchroom monitor; district custodian; South Laurel Middle social studies teacher; two North Laurel Middle teachers and assistant principal; one Title 1 Hazel Green teacher; one North Laurel High assistant principal and an instructional assistant credit recovery; four Day Treatment cooks and instructional assistant; one Bush attendance clerk; one London instructional assistant; one Wyan-Pine Grove kindergarten instructional assistant; a district secretary II; substitute cooks; substitute instructional assistant and after school child care workers.

• Approved the Kentucky River Foothills Full Utilization of Head Start agreement and addendum and the KCEOC Full Utilization of Head Start agreement for the 2012-13 school year.

• Approved construction documents for Keavy Elementary and re-roof project.

• Accepted the Title 1, district plan application for Spectrum Care Academy/London Group Home.



mmccrarey@sentinel-echo.com