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by Michael Monks
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SCHOOLS BUDGET CRITICIZED, TEACHER SALARY INCREASES DEFENDED
"I'm troubled by the increase in costs when we're trying to hold the line in city government," City Commissioner Steve Frank said to the Covington School Board. As a tax increase is considered by the district, criticism of the budget practices was raised at Thursday's meeting. Click the link. |
ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:
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Recommendation for the hiring of an additional psychologist
A letter from Janice Wilkerson, the district's executive director of student support services, to superintendent Lynda Jackson reads in part:
Several principals have requested additional service time from our school psychologists. (snip) Our school psychologists are leading the Response to Intervention process in their schools and providing invaluable information to our district RTI process.The letter included additional notes of support from district principals.
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Creation of a substitute custodian position
Adding this position eliminates the need to pay existing staff overtime of time-and-a-half. The hourly wage is $11.55/hour with a maximum of ten hours per week with no benefits.
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Effort to secure a school counseling grant
From the board meeting's agenda:
Student Support Services staff seeks the Board’s consent to apply for funding for a U.S. Department of Education grant, the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Programgrant. This competition focuses on enhancing school counseling programs. If funded, this grant would place one additional full-time guidance counselor at Holmes Middle School and a certified school social worker at Holmes Middle School and Holmes High School (total of three new staff).|
We are working closely with Dr. Brett Zyromski of Northern Kentucky University’s School Counseling program to develop our application. Included in our proposal are plans for extensive training for current and new guidance counselors as well as the school social workers, specifically in the areas of data-driven comprehensive school counseling. Funding will also support specific bullying prevention activities.
Our grant request will be approximately $1,100,000 for the three-year funding period.
ROTC students honored for service and achievements
This year's ROTC students have the highest cumulative GPA of any previous class in at least the past five years. Photos:
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| ROTC leads the Pledge of Allegiance before the meeting |
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SEE ALSO: Today at 10:30AM, students at Sixth District will have their annual walkathon to raise money for school programs. According to the school's outgoing PTA President Sandy Arnold the school raised between $2,500 and $3,500 in previous years with that money going toward trips to see theater productions and other educational enrichment programs as well as a $500 scholarship for a graduating Holmes senior. If you see any of these kids walking around Austinburg this morning, throw them a few bucks!
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ATTORNEY KERRY HOLLERAN ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR SCHOOL BOARD
From the candidate's newly launched campaign Facebook page:
Most importantly, I am the mother of Aryah (prounounced like the word aria), a soon-to-be fifth grader at John G. Carlisle Elementary. I'm currently an attorney, but I am a former professor of English at NKU and at Cincinnati State.
I moved to Covington in 2010. The day I enrolled my daughter at John G., I was asked to run for Site-Based Council. The school had no parents on their council because none expressed interest in running for the positions. I agreed. I soon realized the school had no parent organization. I started one with the help of other parents.
I was not raised in Covington; I chose Covington. I grew up in Bracken County, Kentucky. My plans were to move back to Cincinnati, where I attended college, when I completed law school. But Covington felt livable. It felt like a community. It felt like home. I've been here for two years and now Covington really is home to me.
I am running for school board because parents matter just as much as our children matter. Parent involvement is detrimentally low in our district and it's because we spend too much time focusing on the negatives. CIPS has done great things for my child. I appreciate the education she is receiving and I intend to use all the resources I have to assist the district in increasing the value of education in our district.
I have two hands, two feet, a quick wit, a sharp tongue, and an ability to bring people together. These are the tools I plan to use to help move CIPS forward.
I need your vote. Our children matter. So do their parents.
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| Kerry Holleran |
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COVINGTON CITIZENS SUMMIT AT CENTER FOR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS
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STORM ROLLS INTO COVINGTON
This photo from reader Candace Witte shows Thursday night's storm rolling into Covington:
More rain today...
|QUICKIES
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Five people hospitalized in crash on I-75 in Covington WLWT
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Cincinnati/NKY ranks 46 among US metro areas population with college degrees The New York Times
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Time Warner acquisition of Insight has resulted in the Louisville FOX station to be dropped from cable WDRB & WDRB
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Unitd Airlines sees opportunity at CVG Airport Cincinnati Enquirer
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Voices needed to support the Clean Water Act in Kentucky Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
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RACE FOR COVINGTON SENATE SEAT WILL GET HEATED
Taylor Mill businessman Chris McDaniel represents the Republicans while Villa Hills City Councilman Jim Noll represents the Democrats in the race to replace the retiring Jack Westwood (R-Erlanger) in the 23rd district state senate seat:
“My race will be an important signal to show the state and Northern Kentucky that the Democratic Party is a party to be reckoned with,” Noll said. “We need to put up serious candidates that stand up for our region in a way that’s more of a centrist view. I believe the people have views that are more center than what the tea party, for instance, believe.”Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman
But McDaniel, who defeated a primary challenger, has already raised $70,600 compared to Noll’s $2,100. McDaniel said he thinks Kentucky Republicans will dominate in the 2012 elections. “This seat is a good solid conservative seat,” McDaniel said. “I feel I better represent the attitudes and issues of the voters in Northern Kentucky.”
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SEE ALSO: What to watch for in Kentucky politics this fall cn|2
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THURSDAY'S BIG NEWS
Don't miss any of Thursday's big headlines from The River City News!
-An arrest is made in a Downtown Covington stabbing death
-Talk of dispatch consolidation continues, but how to pay for it?
-Covington preservation projects score two awards from state
-Much more in the Thursday Evening News Round-Up
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YOU MUST READ WRIT OF MANDAMUS BY LOCALLY-BASED AUTHOR RICK ROBINSON
The political thriller has lots of local flavor and Covington references. Go buy it now.
Check out this latest write-up on the book: Cincinnati Enquirer
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WHAT A FRIDAY NIGHT IN STORE FOR COVINGTON AND THE RIVER CITIES
Check out all this fun stuff:
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Avenue Q opens at The Carnegie
This is the Showbiz Players first production since moving to Covington from Cincinnati where it enjoyed a reputation as one of the region's best community theaters. This show is hilarious - but it's not for kids. So go have a nice grown-up night of theater and laugh your a$$ off!
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Funny Mirrors opens at the Artisan Enterprise Center
This new art exhibit features some very interesting work, including a portrait essay titled Clown Genocide. There are also several small sculptures depicting clowns meeting their doom. If you still hold on to your childhood fear of clowns, this is the show for you. (It's also the show for you if you want to support the arts in Covington, so get down to the Artisan Enterprise Center!) From the City:
Nothing in this world is exactly as it appears to be. This is the premise AEC's "Funny Mirrors" which hosts work by artists Jeff Casto, Billy Simms and Helena Cline.(Note from Michael Monks: I'm in the play so come make fun of me and see it)
Curated by Katie Rentzke, "Funny Mirrors" asks deep questions about the values we hold as individuals and how those values play out in our society. Each artist tackles social justice based issues such as genocide, environmental policy and child welfare, yet with a touch of dark humor and playfulness, making their work approachable and thought provoking. The exhibit is open to the public and all are welcome.
Coinciding with the exhibit, is a play entitled "Fuddy Meers". Directed by Dan Doerger, the play integrates artworks from the exhibit into the scenes.
The play will be performed on June 8, 9, 15, 16 at 8:00 p.m. and ticket price is $10
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Oh, and this awesomeness is happening, too:
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| Click to enlarge |
Meanwhile, over in Bellevue...
Tonight's "First Friday" along Fairfield Avenue in Bellevue features the Diva Dash:
Dress as your favorite diva and hit Fairfield Avenue in style. You'll love to see Fairfield Avenue business owners and customers strutting The Avenue. We've invited a few special guests to add to the fun with Brooklyn and her friends performing in front of Healing Therapy located at 405 Fairfield Avenue.
With every purchase you make you'll receive a "coin" to place a vote for your favorite divas. The winning diva will be crowned and win a $50 Fairfield Avenue shopping spree.For more info, click here.
The Diva Dash celebrates the first night of National Gay Pride Month. Throughout the district you'll have an opportunity to make donations to Caracole. They provide safe, affordable housing and supportive services for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS.
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SEE ALSO: Bellevue considers outdoor dining Cincinnati Enquirer
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MOM ON A BUDGET VISITS TOTTER OTTERVILLE
From Fort Thomas Matters:
As you may imagine, they have a three level water table from which one would assume the name was derived. This is a neat attraction but far from the only one. When you first walk in, there is a ball pit and a number of rooms devoted to different play and learning activities. There is a Lego room, an art studio, a train room, a ballet studio, a puppet show room, a mailroom, a grocery store, and a live performance room, to name only a few of the options.For the rest, click the link.
But wait, there’s more!
Fort Thomas Matters
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THAT'S A LOT TO DO ON A FRIDAY NIGHT! BETTER STRETCH!
Shoulder! Chin! Double Dream Hands!
