BY Joe Parrino, NEW ERA STAFF WRITER

Board of Education members commended local schools for their progress toward No Child Left Behind goals and passed an $85.2 million budget.

“We are certainly moving in the right direction,” said board chairman Barry Cornelius at the end of the Thursday regular meeting.

Earlier, district officials Cathy Henderson and Paula Yoakum gave a 20-minute analysis of the district’s 2006-07 NCLB performance.

The NCLB Act of 2002 requires all states to test in math and reading from third grade through high school. Kentucky assesses its schools through the statewide test known as the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). CATS data is due for release on Oct. 2.

Henderson highlighted numerous gains. The district had met 82 percent of its NLCB targets, 3 more goals than the previous year. Math scores for African American students reached targets for the first time and the low income category showed yes’s as well.

In the breakdown of individual school performances, Henderson found more evidence of progress. For the first time, half the schools in the district made all their goals. Two other schools missed a perfect score by one goal.

Four elementary schools that didn’t make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals in 2005-06, did rise to the standard last year.

The middle schools and high schools also drew praise. Christian County High School increased its met goals from eight to 12 in one year. Christian County Middle School improved from 11 goals to 13.

Hopkinsville High School and Hopkinsville Middle School each scored one goal better than in the 2006-07 school year.

Henderson also acknowledged shortcomings such as the district’s failure in reading and math categories for students with disabilities.

Holiday, Sinking Fork and Indian Hills elementary schools missed AYP in 2006-07 after making the grade the year before.

North Drive Middle School’s slipped to meeting 53 percent of its targets.

Because the three middle schools have now fallen short of 100 percent for five years in a row, Henderson discussed looming consequences.

The schools are required to make plans for reorganizing personnel and, possibly, leadership. Unless the schools reach 100 percent proficiency this year, the reorganization plan must be implemented.

State law does allow for removal of leadership at chronically failing schools.

But Henderson said the state is more likely to work with existing principals and administrators than dispose of them. The district is still waiting for guidance on its reorganization plan from the Kentucky Department of Education, Henderson said.

Board members seemed to receive the report favorably.

“I don’t think any of us think that is where we want to be,” said board member Dr. Karen Dougherty. “But who doesn’t celebrate moving where you want to go, especially some of the big leaps that we’ve taken.”

Cornelius said there was more positive in the report than negative.

None of the other board members — Sheila Cottrell, Mary DeBow or Darryl Lynch — made comments supportive or critical of the district’s performance.

Superintendent Dr. Bob Lovingood acknowledged the efforts of teachers and staff.

“There is room for improvement, we all know that,” Lovingood said. “But there’s great things happening.”

The board also approved a close-to-final version of the 2007-08 budget.

“We had a very good year financially,” said Terry Minuth, the district’s chief financial officer.

Minuth said the district expects to spend a total of about $85.2 million this school year, an increase of nearly $4 million over last year’s budget. Most of the jump is due to a state-mandated pay raise for all certified teachers and classified staff.

Minuth expected the state to fund 90 percent of the raise.

The district’s contingency or reserve fund climbed from $5.5 to $6.2 million. Minuth attributed the district’s financial health to a growing tax base and investment of reserve funds.

JOE PARRINO can be reached at 887-3239 or jparrino@kentuckynewera.com.