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SubscribeJCPS elementary school one of 329 nationwide to earn distinction by U.S. Education Secretary
Today Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens announced that Schaffner Traditional Elementary has been selected as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Education Secretary. The award, given to 329 schools across the country, is based on the school’s overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
“I am proud to lead a school district that is focused on raising the achievement of every child in every school,” said Dr. Hargens. “Congratulations to Principal Phil Poore and his teachers for achieving this prestigious honor for our district.”
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.
“We are very excited to receive the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in education,” said Schaffner Principal Phil Poore. “This honor is a testament to the committed partnership between our parents, our staff and our students for the success of all.”
All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:
- Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
- Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools flag gracing a school’s building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. National Blue Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and a model for schools still striving for excellence.
Now in its 34th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on fewer than 8,500 schools. On Nov. 7 and 8, the department will formally recognize the 279 public and 50 private schools at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated each year.
More than 50 students from the Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District are among the 16,000 
across the country competing for merit scholarships worth about $33 million.
Semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced last week by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Semifinalists from JCPS include students from Atherton, Ballard, DuPont Manual, Eastern, Male Traditional and Seneca High. Those students are:
- Atherton High School’s Madison Dalton
- Ballard High School’s William Brennan and Leah Kasdan
- DuPont Manual High School’s Vaannila Annadurai, Andrea Ballena, Clare Bosco, Sylvia Bosco, Austin Bridges, Veronica Chancy, Emily Coffield, John Cullen, Emily Dotson, Nicholas Dudzinski, Joshua Dye, Eleanor Ellis, Ryan Folz, Sara Frigui, Anna Gilbert, Rebecca Goldberg, Catherine Ho, Morgan Horsley, Lavanya Kanneganti, Jacob Keisling, Jumin Kim, Austin Kline, Sanjana Kothari, Rohan Kulkarni, Sofia Labrecque Nieves, Emily Liu, Vincent Liu, Lydia Mason, Diya Mathur, Andrew McFarland, Nicole McGrath, Praharshasai Paladugu, Nelson Penn, Benjamin Ragsdell, Matthew Raj, Sterling Richmond, Abraham Riedel-Mishaan, Nathaniel Stromberg, Rishi Talati, Sneha Thirkannad, Mukund Venkatakrishnan, Carolyn Williams, Callie Wright and Manting Xu
- Eastern High School’s Silas Zoeller
- Male Traditional High School’s Cameron Fontes and Makenzi Mulkins
- Seneca High School’s Chloey Ramsey
“I am extremely proud of these remarkable students and what they have accomplished,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “They are leaders – both in our schools and in our community. At JCPS, we’re producing some of the brightest students in the state and the country, and the accolades today are a reflection of the hard work of these students as well as the dedicated efforts of our teachers and staff.”
The students were among approximately 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools who entered the program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level. Finalists will be announced between April and July of next year.
Two top leaders in Mayor Greg Fischer’s administration who helped build a data-driven culture of innovation have accepted new roles in the community that will allow them to continue their focus on making the Louisville region more entrepreneurial.
Chief of Civic Innovation Ted Smith, who is passionate about healthcare and technology, will become a full-time entrepreneur again as CEO of Revon Systems, a young health technology company in Crestwood that is revolutionizing clinical trials while empowering patients to seek appropriate care through artificial intelligence technologies. Revon was founded by Dr Cedric Francois and the co-founders of Potentia and Apellis Pharmaceuticals.
Theresa Reno-Weber, Chief of Performance & Technology, has leveraged her private sector experience to bring Louisville to the cutting edge of government performance improvement. She has accepted the position as President and CEO of Metro United Way beginning in January, where she will continue her work driving data-driven policies and collective impact across our community.
Fischer today also named their replacements.
Grace Simrall, founder of iGlass Analytics and most recently executive director of innovation for Intel Care Innovations, will be the city’s new Chief of Civic Innovation. And Daro Mott, currently Chief Innovation Officer for Cuyahoga County (Cleveland, Ohio), will be Chief of Performance Improvement.
Simrall starts this week, and Mott, who previously was director of quality and performance for Louisville Metro Government and integral to the success of the LouieStat program, will return this fall/winter.
Simrall has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a master’s from the University of Louisville. Mott earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and has two master’s degrees from the University of Louisville.
“Daro and Grace will make a powerful team and will continue to create a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in Metro Government,” Fischer said.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve the community,” Simrall said. “I look forward to continuing the work of my predecessor, Ted Smith, and welcome new collaborations across all channels.”
“Louisville leads the nation in local governments which have fostered a culture of data-driven innovation,” Mott said. “It is an honor to return to Louisville to lead its continuous improvement journey and help Louisville win a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.”
Fischer today thanked Smith and Reno-Weber for their exemplary service to the citizens of Louisville, calling them pioneers, both locally and nationally. “Ted and Theresa have helped make Metro Government more innovative and have taught others nationwide and globally how to transform their city governments,” the Mayor said. Continue reading
County Attorney’s annual list has netted $14.8 million in 10 previous years
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell today announced the eleventh publication of delinquent child support obligors is now printed in The Courier-Journal and the full list is available online.
The Child Support Division has collected $14.8 million, sent wage withholding orders to 11,029 employers and found 18,266 new addresses directly attributable to the lists printed each year since 2005.
“Children are our community’s most precious asset,” said O’Connell. “All of us in Jefferson County – parents, family members, employers and concerned citizens – can play a role in tracking down those who are not fulfilling their obligations to their kids.”
This year’s list of 4,034 names can be found online at www.louisvilleky.gov/countyattorney. Only 538 names appear in the printed insert, with this year’s focus on some of the county’s newest child support orders and those with recent court action.
“The nearly 200 employees in our child support division have a singular focus: connecting kids and families to the money that is rightfully theirs. Early intervention and proactive communication with parents owing support gives them a better understanding of their responsibilities and helps collect the financial support crucial to the futures of these children.”
Child support collection is one of the public’s most cost-effective programs. For every $1 spent, federal child support programs collect $5.25. In Kentucky that figure rises to $6.45 for every $1 spent.
Anyone with information that could help locate someone on the list should call 574-0821 or email jcaocs@ky.gov. Continue reading
CodeRED is Out, Smart911 is In
In the past, residents of the Greater Louisville Area and Kentuckiana have been able to sign up to receive emergency notifications by email, text, or phone calls through a service called CodeRED. During emergency situations, subscribers would receive notifications with details about the emergency along with instructions for what to do such as shelter in place or evacuate.
CodeRED’s coverage of the Louisville area will officially terminate tomorrow night, August 16, at midnight and currently subscribed citizens will no longer receive area alerts from that service. Area residents will still be able to receive alerts, although it requires action.
The new service that will provide emergency alerts involving the Louisville Metro Area is LENSAlert – with LENS short for Louisville Emergency Notification System. This service is provided through the Smart911 framework.
Those wishing to do so can sign up for LENSAlert by visiting the subscription page here.
Councilman Kevin Kramer of District 11 and Councilman Stuart Benson of District 20 will be holding a town hall meeting tonight at the Jeffersontown Fire Department (10540 Watterson Trail). The meeting will start at 6:30 PM.
The councilmen will be present as well as officials for other local government agencies to answer any questions. The meeting will include an update on the Urton Lane Project.
For more information, contact the office of Councilman Stuart Benson at 574-1120.
“SPECTRE” brings to a close another great season of Free Summer Movies at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, August 13th
James Bond, Agent 007, returns to fight a takeover of the world by one of the most sinister and terrifying organizations as “SPECTRE” closes out another great season of Free Summer Movies at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, August 13th at 8:00pm.
“This is a great movie to wrap up another successful summer of films. We invite everyone to come out and have some fun as summer winds down,” says Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15). “Once again, Iroquois Amphitheater has seen a great response and people are enjoying all the amenities of Iroquois Park.”
Actor Daniel Craig returns as the famous MI6 Agent in the 24th movie of the Bond Series. He encounters an attempt to create a worldwide surveillance network of control around the world by the criminal organization known as SPECTRE. He also meets the group’s leader Ernst Stavro Bloefeld.
The 2015 film also stars Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris.
“We’re grateful for the support of Councilwoman Butler and the Metro Council,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation. “It’s a pleasure to be able to offer free, quality programming the whole family can enjoy in the historic setting of the Iroquois Amphitheater. We’re looking forward to another great year in 2017.”
The Free Summer Movies program is made possible by several Metro Council members. For the 2016 movie season, more than 7,000 people attended the free films that were shown on Monday and Saturday nights.
Concessions are available. No outside food is permitted.