By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
Caverna educators took the spotlight at Thursday’s Board of Education meeting as district leaders highlighted improvements in state testing results compared to previous years.
Whitney Paul, director of student achievement, presented data showing what she described as a positive academic trajectory for the district. In explaining how the Kentucky Department of Education determines accountability ratings, Paul outlined the role of year-to-year improvement.
“There are two different things that give us our color rating,” Paul said. “They take how we did, then they look at the year before and compare that to the current year. Using that matrix, they determine what color rating you get.”
The education department color system is a statewide accountability framework that rates schools and districts based on performance and improvement. Ratings range from blue — the highest — to green, yellow, orange and red. Red signals the greatest need for improvement. Paul said both the middle and high school improved by at least one color category, while the elementary school remained at an orange rating.
Reading and math were central to the discussion as principals from each school presented evidence of progress among students who have historically struggled. Caverna High School Principal Frank Beauchamp noted that reading scores at the high school level saw novice grades decrease by around 20 percent. He also cited a 12-percent increase in the district’s graduation rate since 2023.
Despite those gains, board member Allison Dennison questioned how the district plans to close the larger gap with the rest of the state.
“We’re still in the bottom five in Kentucky as a district as a whole,” Dennison said. “I understand the gains and I see those, but we’re in the bottom 170. What do you think we need to do in order to close that gap?”
Paul responded that meaningful improvement takes time and sustained effort.
“The one thing you have to understand is that improvement doesn’t go from the bottom to the top,” Paul said. “It doesn’t happen in one year, it doesn’t happen in two years. The things that we have done take multiple years to see.”
While education department does not formally rank school districts, current color ratings indicate Caverna is performing at or below state averages overall.
The board accepted the academic review, with Dennison withholding her vote on the presentation and consent items. Dennison said she did not have access to her computer prior to the meeting and was unable to review supporting documentation beforehand.
Public comment later turned to teacher pay, with educators Terry Thorpe, Joe Wilder and Kalyn Adler urging the board to consider raises for instructional staff. Adler addressed perceptions that smaller class sizes diminish the value of teachers’ work.
“There are teachers that may actually be teaching two separate classes at the same time because that’s the only way it can get done,” Adler said. “By insinuating that Caverna teachers do not have enough students in their rooms at any given time to warrant a pay that reflects a professional career, you are essentially saying that our students do not deserve excellent teachers because we are such a small district.”
With raises not expected to be addressed until next year, the board moved on to end-of-year business. Superintendent Amanda Abell reported the district will receive a reimbursement of $25,767 from the state, after an error related to student meal participation.
Dennison was also appointed to the district’s facilities planning committee with little discussion, and board members approved the calendar for the upcoming school year with minimal changes.
The board will next meet Jan. 8.
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