Rotary Program 7/2/03
Program Chairperson: Jerry Kanney
Speaker: Jerry Green, Superintendent, Pikeville Independent Schools

Jerry Green is beginning his second year at the helm of the Pikeville Independent School District and facing many challenges for such a young administrator. Today’s program will provide him an opportunity to share with our club some of the many things that make Pikeville Independent Schools the unique and successful institution that it has been for many years. Using a power-point presentation, Jerry narrated through the information about some of the accomplishments of the year just past and some things of interest for the upcoming 2003-2004 school year. First, by way of introduction, he listed the members of the Board of Education, current faculty and administrators at both Pikeville Elementary and Pikeville High School and some new people that will be coming this year. One new employee, Billy Johnson, the new DPP came as Jerry’s guest to the meeting today to assist in the presentation. Mr. Johnson replaces Morgan Chapman, who retired after 27 years at Pikeville. Other new employees included Cindy Halbert, Jr. Hi. Science Teacher and new Girls Basketball Coach, Candi Roberts, Keyboarding and Technology, Anna Scott, PHS English, and Sheila Shull, Jr. High Special Education. Jerry also introduced the Site-Based Councils from each of the schools and the new members taking office this year.

Jerry stated that of the 176 school districts in Kentucky, Pikeville ranked 10th overall, but that he was not satisfied and would be constantly striving to improve. Enrollment at both schools held steady this year for the first time in several years and he hopes to see some growth next year. Student-teacher ratio continues to be a strong asset, 19:1 at the High School and 18:1 at the Elementary. There is one computer available for every three children and one for each teacher in the district. He also expressed excitement about some of the new renovations that are taking place at Pikeville this summer and into the school year to come. New windows, main entrance, ceiling tiles and lighting are in store at the High School as well as 3 new Science Labs and brand new Heating/Air Conditioning Systems. At the Elementary School, a new roof is coming as well as playground renovations and new security cameras. Then he mentioned the renovations that everyone is talking about, the new athletic complex, which is a joint venture between the school district and the City of Pikeville. Hopefully, by the time the first football game is played this fall, we will have a new resurfaced field with Astroturf, new bleachers, a new press box and a new digital scoreboard.

Jerry also shared some highlights of student achievement from last school year. These included: Keith Starnes, a 2003 senior who was one of only 2 students in Ky. and 17 in the U.S. to make a perfect score of 36 on the ACT. Keith was also a member of the State Championship Quick Recall Academic Team. That team along with their Junior High counterparts won the 2003 Academic Championship, the first time in the history of the Tournament that one school district swept both trophies. Leigha Charles, a 2nd grader, won the 2003 Pike County Area Wal-Mart Golden Book competition, $1,000.00 and an opportunity to have her book published. Eighth-grader, Eric Johnson was chosen to attend the UK Apprentice Research Program and Brittany Tackett was the first Eastern Ky. student to be chosen to attend the Governor’s School of the Arts in Musical Theater. Teachers excelled too, as Jason Howell, H.S. World Civilization and Economics teacher was awarded the Outstanding Graduate in Secondary Education by MSU. Laura Cooley, PHS teacher was chosen to represent the Rotary Club on the exchange trip to Tasmania, Australia, and Libby White, Math teacher at PHS was voted the Pikeville Area Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. Space and time could not be awarded adequate measure for the athletic accomplishments this past year at Pikeville, so Jerry just asked us to read about it in the handout as well as information about two very important organizations, the Alumni Association and the Foundation for Excellence in Education that exist solely to support the ongoing efforts to make educational opportunities for our students second to none. He ended his presentation by urging anyone interested to visit the district website at www.pikeville.k12.ky.us. Thanks, Jerry for the informative and interesting program today. Submitted by J. Morgan Chapman