Funding should be a part of education talks

Challenger Learning Center honored

HCTC offers evening cosmetology program

SCC, Rockcastle Hospital partnership a win-win for students

Funding should be a part of education talks
Editorial

But it's what he's not saying -- namely how he intends to pay for his ambitious plans -- that should be cause for concern.

Fletcher continues to say his ideas are a work in progress and "not a plan that's etched in stone." But since the governor first began talking about rekindling a fire for education earlier this year, the agenda that's started to emerge is one that Kentuckians should be excited about.

Foremost, Fletcher has made it clear that he's not looking to tear apart the efforts of the Kentucky Education Reform Act, but rather he wants to build upon the progress and ensure that improvements continue. That's a key point, because it signals that education -- not a political agenda -- is his top priority.

Some of the proposed improvements that Fletcher outlined this week to the General Assembly's interim joint Education Committee include: improving early education, with more investment in preschool and kindergarten programs; more youth health screenings; establishing a better system for tracking student achievement on a year-to-year basis; raising teacher salaries; investing in programs that better prepare students for college; promoting lifelong learning and training; and making Kentucky a national leader in classroom technology.

All are worthy goals, and outside of passing a state budget, pushing forward this education agenda should be at the top of next year's legislative "to do" list.

The problem is, however, that Fletcher -- like many legislators -- has backed himself into a corner with his previous promises that he won't raise taxes, and that any tax reform package must be revenue neutral.

So we're left with a situation where the governor acknowledges that more money will be needed to make the education improvements he wants. But the only suggestion that he has offered as to where this money will come from is through closing certain tax loopholes.

It's hard to imagine that will be enough -- or even close to enough -- to have the type of impact that will strengthen education and build the type of work force Kentucky needs to compete on a national level.

Fletcher should be commended for trying to turn the state's focus back to education. But rather than ignoring the financial difficulties, he needs to lead the discussions on the realities the state faces. The General Assembly certainly has a responsibility and a role to play here as well, but it's the governor's leadership that will ultimately determine the level of attention paid to education.

If education truly is a priority, then any further discussions should not just be about the improvements that are needed, but also how they will be funded.

The answer may be expanded gambling, or a higher cigarette tax, or some other solution that's yet to be uncovered. But just as improving education is too important to be stifled by partisanship, it's also too important to allow funding options to blindly be taken off the table for fear of political repercussions.

Kentucky River News
November 12, 2004

Challenger Learning Center honored

The Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky was honored Nov. 4 by the Kentucky School Public Relations Association (KYSPRA) in Covington with the Flag of Learning and Liberty award because of the center’s demonstrated strong support for public education.

“We are very honored to receive this award,” noted Tom Cravens, director of the center. “It is exciting to know that we are making an impact on the area, especially in the area of math and science scores, and being honored for our work by the KYSPRA is especially rewarding,” Cravens said. HCTC President Jay K. Box, who also serves as co-chair of the Challenger Center board, also noted his appreciation for the award. “We are very humbled to receive this recognition.”

More than 10,000 students each year experience the excitement of simulation, merging the power of imagination with the excitement of discovery at the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky in Hazard. Students are able to launch a probe through the tail of a comet to Rendezvous with a Comet or explore Voyage to Mars in a realistic mock-up of an orbiting Space Station and a Mission Control room patterned after NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Students become participants in a NASA team of scientists, engineers, and technicians and are assigned a critical component to complete during the space mission. The simulators look and feel like real NASA machinery and are equipped with gadgets such as research computers, robots, remote glove boxes, NASA star charts, and video cameras. Other exciting opportunities arise to study Martian dirt, build a space probe, map a planet, and measure the sun.

The Flight Factory wing of Hazard’s Challenger Learning Center provides a “hands-on” experience for younger children. The Flight Factory gives an opportunity to learn about the science behind many types of flight from parachute drops to rocket blast-offs. During the actual visit to the Flight Factory students are lead through several other fun activities, and given a chance to field test their flight machines. One highlight of the new Center is a large orange balloon in the main Science Center room where students can attach their small handmade parachutes to the balloon through the use of cables and clips and later drop them 30 feet toward a “landing pad” on the floor. A control panel near the pad records the time and speed of the drop, while a “balloon cam” shows how the action looks from the air. Students also test the height and speed of their water/air rockets outside the building.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit believes that the Challenger Learning Center is a symbol of education in the future with the director emphasis on core content areas such as reading, writing, arts, vocational skills, as well as math and science. The curriculum is aligned to the Kentucky state science, math, and literacy standards, and is designed for fifth- through eight-grade students. Besides the Challenger Center at Hazard Community and Technical College there are two others in Kentucky—Radcliff and Paducah.

Two other organizations were honored by KYSPRA—The Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation and Linda Salyer, Cable 54 public relations director, of Daviess County Public Schools.

The KYSPRA State Board of Directors selected the recipients for the awards, which are presented annually. Each winner was recognized at the annual Outstanding Achievement in School Information Services (OASIS) Banquet on the Belle of Cincinnati in Covington, Ky.

Kentucky River News
November 12, 2004

HCTC offers evening cosmetology program

For the first time ever, Hazard Community and Technical College will offer an evening cosmetology class for the Spring semester, beginning in January 2005 at the Technical Campus. The initial class (COS114) will meet from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday. Wilma Maggard will be the instructor.

“We are offering classes at night and on Saturday to respond to the feedback we have received,” noted Susan Johnson, coordinator. “If someone wants to change their career path, or if they are working during the day, this new offering will appeal to them,” noted Ms. Johnson.

After completing the cosmetology program, a student can take a board exam to become a licensed cosmetologist.

The classes will be basic cosmetology courses, involving hair and nails.

To be part of the class, an HCTC admissions form should be completed and regular admissions requirements, such as COMPASS testing, must be met. Orientation and registration for all new students for Spring 2005 classes will be held Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Technical Campus in the Devert Owens Building; Thursday, Nov. 18 at the Hazard Campus in the J. Marvin Jolly Center’s auditorium at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 23 at the Lees College Campus at 9 a.m. in the multi-purpose room.

For more information about the program, call Susan Johnson at 487-3343. For admissions information call Nena Eddington at 487-3311.

Mount Vernon Signal
November 4 , 2004

SCC, Rockcastle Hospital partnership a win-win for students

Somerset Community College (SCC) and Rockcastle Hospital are working together to help relieve the shortage of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in the South Central Kentucky region. Beginning in January 2005, SCC will admit

50 students into its expanded LPN program, while, beginning in October 2005, Rockcastle Hospital will be offering four full scholarships for students who will obtain their LPN license and agree to work at the hospital for two years after graduation.

SCC has completed plans to expand the LPN program. This spring SCC will admit 25 LPN students to the program at its Laurel Campus. However, SCC has added 50 additional LPN openings by expanding its program to the Somerset Campus.

Licensed Practical Nurses provide routine bedside care, evaluate patient needs, develop patient care plans and supervise care provided by nurse aides. Some LPNs work in private homes and prepare meals and teach family members’ simple nursing skills.

Rockcastle Hospital announced this week that it will add a 19-bed addition to its facility. The expansion will require approximately 47 new, full-time employees. Rockcastle Hospital specializes in the care of patients with respiratory problems. Therefore, many of the new employees the hospital needs will be LPNs and Respiratory Therapy Assistants. Somerset Community College has two-year program for both professions.

Mikhael Shaffer, the director of public relations for Rockastle Hospital, has announced that the hospital will be offering five scholarships for students studying in the SCC Respiratory Therapy Program and four scholarships for students in the SCC LPN program. He said that the scholarships include tuition, books and even other needs, on a case-by-case
basis. In return for paying for the student's college education, the hospital will ask the student to work at the hospital for two years following graduation.

"We think it is a win-win situation," said Carl Baker, the coordinator of the SCC Respiratory Therapy Program, which is located at the Rockcastle Area Technology Center. "Our students get their education paid for and they have a guaranteed job when they graduate."

To apply for admission to the College a student must fill out the SCC application, have their high school or previous college send official transcripts to SCC or provide an official copy of their GED score report, and take the appropriate ACT, Compass or placement tests.

Admission to the LPN program requires a pre-admission conference with the nursing coordinator, a letter of intent to the nursing coordinator and proof of active status in the Medicaid Nurse Aide Registry. Admission is granted to the top 25 applicants as judged by the selection committee.

"Anyone interested in more information about the LPN program can call me at (606) 679-8501, ext. 3637," said Ruth Martin, the director of the SCC LPN Program. "I'll be more than happy to help them get started."

Baker said that anyone interested in the Respiratory Therapy Program can contact him at (606) 256-4346.