WQXE News

More than 200 parents and caregivers of Breckinridge County Schools students submitted responses to a survey sent out by the district in February, and Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter says that feedback is a gift.

“The goal of the survey was to receive feedback and input about how our parents and caregivers in our school district feel about the educational experiences of their children,” Carter said.

Respondents were asked to score statements on the district on a one to five scale. Carter said the statements that scored best reflect efforts made across the district.

“We strive for our schools to be a place of respect and stability and positivity, and so to hear that positive feedback, there’s been so much emphasis on that,” Carter said. “Also, ‘I feel comfortable approaching school administration’ was another high area, and that’s terrific. I know that our school principals work really hard to build relationships, and that’s wonderful.”

The lowest scoring statements involved parents and caregivers receiving feedback on how their children are doing in school, but Carter said he was pleased that even the lowest scoring categories still scored in positive ranges. He said the feedback is already guiding district plans.

“Our district and school leaders have reviewed the data and had conversations about next steps,” Carter said. “They are also working to share this information with all of our teachers and staff, and then what we do is we use the feedback to continue to improve, to highlight the great things that are taking place in our district, and then look at the areas that maybe scored lower and think about what can we do to help with that.”

Carter said more opportunities for feedback from district families will be coming, and encouraged anybody with questions to reach out.

Meade County Family and Consumer Sciences is hosting a Disaster Preparedness Awareness event at the Meade County Extension Office Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Meade County Extension Agent Jennifer Bridge says area responders will have more than 20 booths set up at the event.

“Those are primarily service agencies, people that you would contact in the event of a disaster,” Bridge said. “We’ll be giving away a lot of just helpful items that you can put in your disaster preparedness kit, and then they will have information on who to contact and what their role is.”

At 6:30 p.m. a panel discussion will be held on how the community responds to a disaster.

“Let’s say a disaster has happened,” Bridge said. “What happened, what are the next steps? And as a consumer, what do you need to do? Like, do not call RECC or LG&E if you don’t have electric. Who do you get your information from? So we’ll talk about our community response to disaster.”

All are welcome to attend and admission is free.

“We are giving away some really nice door prizes, two of those which are really, really nice disaster preparedness kits,” Bridge said. “There’s all kinds of things in there that you might need.”

Find the Meade County Family and Consumer Sciences Facebook page for more information.

The Radcliff/Elizabethtown Metropolitan Planning Organization, a division of the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, is conducting a public transportation study to look into the possibility of implementing a fixed-route public transportation system in the area.

LTADD Executive Director Daniel London said this is the third such study the Radcliff/E-Town MPO has undertaken.

“The committee felt like that it was time to take another look at this given the economic development sea change, and the fact that there are some more publicly-available dollars at the federal level potentially for sustainability of such a system,” said London. “The cost, from a local government standpoint, has always been a very key concern and a key barrier.”

The study is looking for feedback concerning the MPO’s urbanized area which includes Elizabethtown, Radcliff, Vine Grove, Fort Knox, and Glendale, along with potential improvements in Meade County.

“What their concerns are, what the barriers may be to public transportation from their point of view, and what they would like to see included,” London said.” As we move through this study, the consultants will take a look at that, compare that to what’s feasible, and provide some recommendations to potentially move forward.”

The deadline to submit feedback is April 5, after which consultants hired for the survey will review and compile the results.

“They look at comparison of public input and what might be available and feasible for the region as far as transportation modes such as fixed route rail, whatever the case may be, and then what the dollars would look like in terms of the cost and sustainability compared to what’s available,” London said. “We look for the study to be completed sometime in September of this year.”

A link to the survey can be found on the Radcliff/Elizabethtown Metropolitan Planning Organization Facebook page.