The Whitley County Board of Education (BOE) provided updates on last year’s gifted and talented program, and highlighted the addition of five School Resource Officers (SROs) during a special meeting on Thursday, July 24, at the central office in Williamsburg.
Whitley County Superintendent John Siler informed the board and audience that they have been working towards securing up to five SROs over the past few years. He explained, “Our goal is to eventually have one in every building all day, every day. We’re slowly working our way towards that.”
The district partnered with Judge Executive Pat White and the Whitley County Fiscal Court. The five SROs appointed for the district are Mike Lawson, Staci Walker, Cody Harrell, Adam Dailey, and Todd Shelley, who is starting his first year as an SRO.
Ruth Osborne, the gifted and talented educator for the district, presented highlights from last year’s program.
Currently, there are 348 students enrolled. In the primary talent pool, there are 162 students, while 180 students in grades 4-12 have been formally identified. The categories for grades 4-12 include: creativity (9), general intellectual ability (62), leadership (4), math (67), language arts (33), science (50), social studies (30), visual art (28), dance (5), drama (3), and music (3).
The program continues to support students in grades 1-12 through various opportunities, including collaboration with classroom and special area teachers, primary talent pool pullouts, monthly seminars for grades 4-6, Advanced Placement (AP), honors, and dual credit courses for grades 9-12, educational competitions, participation in the Whitley County Elementary League, and the Governor’s Cup Academic Tournaments at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Additional activities included educational field trips, competitions for grades 4-12, and community service opportunities.
In advanced-level courses for grades 9-12, a total of 64 students participated. There were 122 AP and honors courses offered, along with 367 dual credit hours available.
Students also took part in several field trips. Notably, 12 middle school students attended STEAM Day at South Laurel Community College. In comparison, 13 students participated in the Spring “Day of Vibrant Learning” at the University of the Cumberlands. Additionally, five middle school students were involved in the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP). They attended a campus tour at the University of the Cumberlands. Two rising freshmen and one rising sophomore participated in a tour of the Gatton Academy, and there was a Gap Cave Tour for students in grades 4-6.
Vibrant learning experiences included the annual Art on the Lawn showcase, academic competitions such as Governor’s Cup, and community service projects like a Christmas partnership with the Williamsburg Rehabilitation Center.
Additional highlights included 13 students recognized through TIP-KY ACT testing, one earning Grand Recognition with a score of 30, and three students attending the VAMPY camp at Western Kentucky University, supported by over $11,000 in scholarships.
The board also approved construction documents and purchase orders related to gym bleacher improvements and updates to the athletic facilities at Whitley County High School.
