[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6287532,"mediaKeyId","2550794-8934ddda52998c90a6d733394f005064","parentId",2550794,"title","Parent raises equity concerns and volunteer restrictions; board and administration say volunteer approval is an administrative decision","audioSeconds",1077,"startMs",4882000,"endMs",5959000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2550794-8934ddda52998c90a6d733394f005064&start=4882&end=5959","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2550794-8934ddda52998c90a6d733394f005064/thumbnail_4882000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287532/Kentucky/Parent-raises-equity-concerns-and-volunteer-restrictions-board-and-administration-say-volunteer-approval-is-an-administrative-decision","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287532-ebb8234c0e0c4f3df57b425c2703f057/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103648&Signature=A5ADSvxse2nz7v776b78rD7Yzyii~T65hlY3FxVOSVEv-vWnD6UeyyR7md2neLbM0UEBgjql6-uv1NdvBz9C-OT2d-TWzRXvWaQOwEwnLg-Y5-AZe7oK0it~liSOosDaEt4pCcxx~pRNAWUQcTHBOTVo6fTUATCh2Wqhnp6QCUWpnmmNmS2zNj2o3GyYLjaOf89yGH-g6xrFbWAv5TVlogtaxsM0pcFMzvXQUaA2j-k0lEVp9DFgfYjUDfYJ4ROd3pNED4r9WDMci~6eg61EgVAp4oS7tDauNmuwB9yzaUQoJgbKZx3qxOmA4YpM2GgOEQGg7i6~MvWAVc1V8EnFIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockcastle County Schools","date","2025-03-11T19:00:58Z","article","During the public-comment period Rochelle Riddle addressed the board about the district's Diversity Club and access to volunteers and mentors for students of color. Riddle said she has volunteered in district schools for years, that club members have provided peer mentoring and data for staff, and that she and other volunteers have faced restrictions. She told the board her son will not attend the district next year because he does not feel safe.

Riddle described the club as \"a light in the dark\" for students and said club members and mentors provided support for younger children. She said that despite multiple offers of help, she has been told she cannot volunteer in schools and that she has been treated as a security risk despite background checks. Riddle said she was \"begging\" the board to seek help and urged the district to take students'expressed concerns seriously.

The board and administration responded. One board member said, \"As a board, you have a you have a group of people right here ... we make decisions that is the best for all students,\" and emphasized the board does not decide volunteer approvals. The board attorney clarified that volunteer approvals and in-school access are administrative decisions made by the superintendent and principals and said the administration had previously warned Riddle about required volunteer rules. Superintendent Doctor Ballinger told Riddle the board and superintendent support principals and said the board would not hash out allegations in open session; she offered to pursue private follow-up and to ask administration to revisit volunteer access with school leaders.

Why it matters: the comments raised questions about district volunteer screening, whether school staff and leadership are responding to concerns raised by students of color, and how the district balances community volunteers with safety and policy compliance. Commenters said the club gathered qualitative and quantitative data about student experiences, and Riddle said students reported feeling isolated and unsafe.

What's next: the board directed that the matter be handled administratively; the superintendent offered to follow up with school leaders and asked that private channels be used for investigation and resolution rather than extended discussion during the public meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockcastle County Schools Board Meeting 3/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","A public commenter urged the board to support a student Diversity Club and criticized district volunteer practices; the superintendent and the board attorney said principals control volunteer access and that personnel or volunteer disputes should be handled administratively rather than during the meeting.","taxTitle","Rockcastle County, School Boards, Kentucky","taxId",38766,"location","Kentucky","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287537,"Board hears middle-school construction update; road and site utilities work to continue around testing window",181,3930000,4111000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2550794-8934ddda52998c90a6d733394f005064&start=3930&end=4111","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2550794-8934ddda52998c90a6d733394f005064/thumbnail_3930000.jpg","/articles/6287537/Kentucky/Board-hears-middle-school-construction-update-road-and-site-utilities-work-to-continue-around-testing-window","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287537-4e32a6341084ea98c984fe4c6d257c20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103648&Signature=MgYHNpNRiozhgwboVw2gUPU4bpiiGljMkgdu31R4oGaaFvS~hIc1Itoqey7Op0jQ6gYtTKQzskgx20f7RFix0EOKci7r7w0rzScHrUyAD-Xd7SDnmvaq9aWDkNEQ0tW74I~kZQuyl-v6k21fW369ul39WZ4eOGtcb6NzVFjc5QV3JNtjzXRkq4qDE6rKXTu1Gsu2cxikDP4dAwICSO3rNEI3sYS00PTPaUoWyeDi4uHO1NrpBWh3sILbhWNqwvgHMIJqT5oNtx0q~4TnfdfqxGMrp8AHpSA~qR~gcwxdhEGMFO-6-R3deJ7peMWb8tbpNxrvN0WTe2nRU3xExrb~yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members received a construction update on the new Rockcastle County middle school site. Staff said contractors are continuing subgrade and underground utility work (storm system, sanitary sewer) and will move to field dirt work when those systems are completed. Weather-related lost days have affected the schedule, and the district described a plan to shift some work sequences to make up time without delaying building foundation work.

A district staff member told the board that the contractor has committed extra concrete and foundation crews to recoup time and that the dirt crew has been working long hours. The staff member said the team expects to begin road transfer work \"right after spring\" but that the plan will not delay starting the building foundation because crews can work at the back of the building until the road access is adjusted.

Testing coordination: board members confirmed the contractors will be far enough away from classrooms during the state testing window so as not to disrupt students. The district said they will pause or redirect any activity that could affect testing. The board emphasized that testing schedules and student safety remain priorities.

Why it matters: the status of road access, subgrade and utility work affects the schedule for building foundations and the overall opening timeline for the new middle school. Board members asked staff to provide ongoing schedule updates, especially if additional weather days occur.

What's next: staff said they will continue to track progress, coordinate with contractors on extra foundation work and provide updated timeframes to the board.","District staff reported progress on new middle school construction: subgrade and underground utilities work is underway, weather days have slowed the schedule, and contractors plan to work around state testing windows.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287540,"Rockcastle County highlights alternative-schooling and college-readiness programs; students credit My Rock Online and academy staff",2052,1672000,3724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2550794-8934ddda52998c90a6d733394f005064&start=1672&end=3724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2550794-8934ddda52998c90a6d733394f005064/thumbnail_1672000.jpg","/articles/6287540/Kentucky/Rockcastle-County-highlights-alternative-schooling-and-college-readiness-programs-students-credit-My-Rock-Online-and-academy-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287540-613728c9fdc1c0b15b662a309aa4496c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103648&Signature=gCD09rEE3P-ZZ7RJkSiWcmt9iV2tbrJ7jZaKj-XXvOC5h8EaZp8G1bRbuipVEOpNkDsDWV21mCS5qp9mJ~ZZ4pU8wq8EAopYcbM0R3ZjrWkpzkENydZvg8z7btDmr-73M0K5yJlMq15nhpEsSdHjVThhoy3z6zhvp9S7CbMXi46JW~ldFmRORLSelwGc2A2o13vtec8mPr7Y2VH~1JpXhM~xyWwbBDyQakM8nw6BnsudstaOcE0mLnOQwxB2j93aOzbs6gK4wwfxamKHxFJjR2WZKVcRius~peO8vMMCBRIKgzYETwf-rnT9q7pizdU3exNCQWWOcS4ZOm4Fb5-RVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rockcastle County Board of Education members heard detailed reports on alternative-education programming Tuesday night, including the in-person Rockcastle Academy for Academic Achievement and the district's My Rock Online (MRO) virtual program. Staff and students said the programs have helped students catch up on credits, enroll in dual-enrollment classes and prepare for careers.

The presentations, delivered primarily by Mr. McCluskey and academy staff, described two strands of the academy: an in-person program for students in grades 6'12 and an online cohort, MRO. Mr. McCluskey said in-person students attend four class periods daily, use the middle school for breakfast and lunch, and are assigned to individualized plans that can include JAG and community job-shadowing. He said six in-person students have already completed credits required for graduation this school year and several others are close to finishing. For the online program, staff reported roughly 60 virtual enrollees this semester (about 30'35 middle school and 25 high-school students) and said seven online students completed credits toward graduation this year.

The board heard firsthand accounts from two MRO students. Summer Carroll said MRO accommodated medical appointments and helped her catch up academically: \"MRO is more than just a program. Mister Hendrickson and mister McClure and the rest of the staff at the academy have encouraged me to go beyond my MRO classwork and enroll in dual credit class with Somerset Community College.\" Lila Holt, a senior who combined online and in-person MRO time, told the board, \"The online setting has turned out to be the best option for me,\" and credited staff for individualized support that allowed her to pursue AP and college classes while managing therapy and work.

Board members and presenters also discussed student supports and partnerships. Academy staff described peer-mentoring work with middle-school students, monthly club days, job-shadowing with local businesses and coordination of related services (such as speech or counseling) when students come to the academy building. Administrators said online students are required to attend at least one weekly in-person or Google Meet session and that teachers monitor progress through district systems; parents were encouraged to check student Chromebooks for real-time grade updates.

The meeting included an extended GEAR UP overview by staff from Partners for Rural Impact (project director Nikki Dye and program coordinator Casey). The GEAR UP presentation listed program objectives (college visits, mentoring, tutoring, family engagement and career exploration) and recent activities (visits to regional colleges, STEM programming and job-site tours). The presenters cited the program's tracking numbers for the year: about 161 students served and roughly 13,258 total service hours (an average of about 82 hours per student); academic tutoring reached 38 students for more than 1,000 hours; post-secondary assistance (FAFSA, college applications, scholarships) reached approximately 79 students for about 3,200 hours; STEM activities accounted for about 3,400 hours.

GEAR UP staff also told the board the federal GEAR UP grant that funds the program is scheduled to end at the close of this school year; presenters said a renewal application has been submitted and that the district is \"very, very hopeful\" for continuation. Board members publicly expressed support for renewal and for continued placement of staff whose roles depend on the grant.

Why it matters: district leaders said the academy and online program provide alternate pathways for students who are medically challenged, behind on credits or need flexible schedules. The GEAR UP services described by staff — college visits, mentoring and direct advising on FAFSA and admissions — are central to the district's postsecondary-completion goals.

What's next: staff said they will continue transitions for students who can return to the high school setting, refine screening and trial periods for online enrollment, and await word on the GEAR UP renewal.","Board heard extended presentations on the Rockcastle Academy for Academic Achievement and My Rock Online (MRO); students and staff described pathways back to graduation, college credit and work-based learning. GEAR UP staff outlined program metrics and said a renewal application is pending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parent raises equity concerns and volunteer restrictions; board and administration say volunteer approval is an administrative decision

Board hears middle-school construction update; road and site utilities work to continue around testing window

Rockcastle County highlights alternative-schooling and college-readiness programs; students credit My Rock Online and academy staff