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U.S. Secretary of Education visits Mason County

By BARBARA GOLDMAN, Staff Writer

Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:36 AM EDT

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U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings paid a visit to the Mason County School District Wednesday morning.

Spellings accepted the invitation to visit Mason County through Congressman Geoff Davis. Davis traveled with her to an education policy roundtable discussion held at the Mason County Intermediate School. The program was attended by educators, students and business and community leaders.

"He's been telling me about Maysville for over a year now," said Spelling.

Tim Moore, superintendent of Mason County Schools, introduced Spellings by saying, "We are very very honored to be one of the few schools in the state that the Secretary of Education is visiting."

"The hard work our teachers have done pays off. It's a real recognition of our teachers and students," said Moore.

Davis said he felt Spellings' visit provided educators the opportunity to discuss the local impact of federal education legislation in Kentucky and the improvements that can be made.

Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education, visited the Mason County Intermediate School Wednesday to meet with local educators and community officials. -- Terry Prather/Staff

"Improving our educational system is a critical factor for developing a competitive 21st century workforce," said Davis.

The roundtable discussion provided a forum for local educators to voice the community's educational needs to the nation's top education official. The event allowed the district to showcase the successful ways it has adapted to the specific challenges presented by the respective environments.

Mason County teachers and students discussed the school system's successful home visit program. Moore said the program began four years ago.

"Making connections," Moore explained is the goal of the program.

"When you connect, other things in education are possible," said Spellings.

"When you see the conditions some kids live in, you quit asking why can't they go home and do their homework," said Mason County High School teacher Col. Tom Cordingly.

Middle school teacher Grant Felice said after teachers drive the country roads students live on or travel 45 minutes to the tip of the county, they understand how long a student's bus ride is or why school is canceled when there is only a small amount of ice and snow.

"The visits establish a trusting relationship," said Felice. "We're trying to tell kids and parents what a great year we're going to have."

A parent attending the event said, "Home visits are something as a parent I hate, but they work."

"This isn't a time to have parents fill out 50 pieces of paperwork, it's a time to get to know the child and their family and listen," said Middle School Principal Betsy Cook.

MCHS senior class president Terry Cunningham II also participated in the roundtable discussion and commended Davis for his efforts in the district,

"The Congressman has been working hard to pull for our school system and his actions are definitely appreciated. I'm happy that our teachers are getting the recognition they deserve," Cunningham said.

Spellings challenged the state to keep working to increase the number of students who receive supplemental educational services, noting that only 8.5 percent of Kentucky's eligible students participate in SES, compared to the national average of 14.5 percent; and to increase the percentage of students taking advanced placement exams -- 19.6 percent of Kentucky students participate compared to 24.9 percent nationally.

"There's a lot of justifiable pride," said Spellings as she left Mason County. Spellings said it was obvious that the district's "secret to success" began with the home visits.

After Spellings departure from the school, students, teachers, parents and community leaders divided into groups according to school for a further roundtable discussion. Groups discussed issues ranging from, how to make school more meaningful for everyone involved how to get more people involved in the schools.

The discussions helped to foster dialogue between each school.

"The challenges are many and the opportunities are great," said Moore. "Our work is never done."

Contact Barbara Goldman at barbara.goldman@lee.net or by calling 606-564-9091, ext. 274.

Reader Comments

Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

idcare wrote on Mar 20, 2008 3:15 PM:

" id care if the education secretary wasnt just another Bush croonie who got her job because she was friends or did a favor for Mr President or his family. will we ever get people who are actually qualified to fill the positions of our government or will this game of nominating friends and business associates into office continue by our elected officials? "

Concerned wrote on Mar 20, 2008 12:21 PM:

" I wondering if anyone had the courage to ask Sec. Spellings why she thinks accrediation should be carried out by a single GOVERNMENT Czar instead of the accrediting bodies that are now in place?
Also an even bigger picture why did anyone ask her why students coming out of our area and NATIONAL public schools have such low math, reading, and writing scores and College, nationwide, have to spend their fund teaching foundational course to students who were, by their accounts A and B students in school? Why did most of the educators in the area not know she was even in the area? No child left behind, NOT! "

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