STEARNS — With hazing in the news following the hospitalization of an Eastern Kentucky University student last month and the Kentucky legislature wrangling over a bill which would require school districts to create a policy to deal with bullies, one member of the McCreary County Board of Education is leading a crusade against the practice.
Dist. 5 representative Deborah Gibson announced her intention to form a committee which would talk with admin-istrators and students alike to draft a district-wide policy for the school board to consider. Asst. Superintendent Aaron Anderson, she noted, has already prepared a packet on the issue. Gibson believes a policy is critical to preventing school violence.
“Most of the shooters documented were bullied at one time or another,” Gibson said. “We have got to put a stop to it. It has to stop at the elementary level.”
House Bill 91 was in conference committee at press time, having been initially approved in both the state senate and house of representatives. The bill would require schools to formulate a code of "acceptable behavior and discipline that prohibits harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student." It also asks for schools to have strategies in place to protect victims from retaliation.
In other news, the board heard reports from McCreary County Middle School and Whitley City Elementary School regarding their school improvement plans.
MCMS Principal Jason Creekmore discussed how his school’s academic index had jumped from 68.2 in 2005 to 77.4 this past year. The school has also improved its attendance and reduced incidents requiring student discipline.
“Our goal at the middle school every day is to have the kids come first,” Creekmore said.
WCES Principal Tim Moore noted that his school has already “reached our goal through 2013” with an academic index of 95.7. However, the school is working to improve its Arts and Humanities score (68.4) as other areas were emphasized in the past.
“I’m glad you will work on that,” Gibson told Moore. “Kids need to have education be fun.”
Superintendent Arthur D. Wright commended both prinicpals on their reports.
The board’s next meeting will be a special-called session on April 17 to approve bids for the McCreary Central High School renovation. They meet in regular session on April 24.
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