Trigg County’s Board of Education meeting served as a moment of reflection for two reasons Thursday night.
The first: a salute to the district’s bus garage and transportation department.
The second: completion of Superintendent Rex Booth’s capstone project, finishing his first year at the helm while under the mentorship of local and state education leaders.
Laura James, director of pupil personnel, delivered the twice-a-month “Way of the Wildcat” honor to several drivers, who had to re-route and re-navigate these last two weeks — following treacherous rainfall totals that flooded state and county roads.
Meanwhile, Booth said he has spent the past year under the tutelage of Caldwell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Roach, as well as the retiring Dr. Fred Carter from the Kentucky Association of School Administrators, while working through what is essentially a final project.
By state law, superintendents must complete a training program and assessment within two years of assuming their duties, and they are annually evaluated on seven core leadership standards: instructional, cultural, human resources, managerial, collaborative, influential, and strategic.
Two of the biggest difficulties he had this year, according to him, was not being able to work with students in the classroom on a daily basis, and the financial portion of “playing point man” on major projects.
From there, however, Booth said he’s been able to build a team, and a culture, in Trigg County.
Carter, meanwhile, called these last few months “a really good year” for Booth, and the district as a whole.
No action was taken, but board members did close by going into executive session to begin discussions on Booth’s annual evaluation.
In other school board news:
— Booth noted that Kat Tellez has been selected to the prestigious Gatton Academy’s Class of 2027, and as such, she’s one of 98 students statewide who will experience dual enrollment with both their high school and Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
Earlier this week, Booth added that Trigg County High School’s Camila Tenorio placed 75th out of 600 students at state STLP competition, after showcasing a triangle system involving parents, faculty and classmates, and how to work with incoming international students needing help with English as a second language.
Also, Kylie Slone was named to the Governor’s Scholars for Entrepreneurship Program, while Sydney Bryant, Chloe Adams and Sydney Bryant were named to the Governor’s Scholars Program, with Cooper Brame as an alternate.
— The Annual Middle School & High School Art Show Opening Reception begins at 4 PM Friday at the Janice Mason Art Museum on 71 Main Street. Displays, Booth said, will be up until May 9.
— Parents Kevin Hestand and Dawn Pickett continued their ask for board member Charlene Sheehan’s resignation, or for something to be done in response to her online interference involving students at West Cadiz Park. Pickett also brought forth concerns about the Trigg County Recreation Complex’s concession stand at Josh Nichols Field.
— James said that, with fewer than five weeks of institutional days remaining before graduation and summer break, attendance was closing strong. Now up to 94% for average daily roll call, she also noted that April had fewer than 100 behavioral events.
Booth’s Capstone Project:
