Every year, Kentucky school districts have to review their non-traditional instruction experiences, as well as their student-teacher ratios, and decide what’s best for the future.
Trigg County’s Director of Personnel and Student Services James Mangels navigated this conversation with the district’s Board of Education last week — and in the aftermath of wintry weather that resulted in four NTI days between January 16-19.
Mangels noted that Trigg County has been an NTI-approved district “well over a decade,” and as such, is allowed to have up to 10 days of remote learning annually, and in the name of student safety.
Trigg County was the third pilot group for the Commonwealth on this matter, and Mangels assured the district has always had close to 100% teacher participation and 90% student participation.
This held true this time around, where teachers maintained 100% attendance all four days, and the entire student body hovered between 95% and 96%.
Trigg County Middle School, he said, had the hardest trouble during the stretch — perhaps because of motivation — but Trigg County High School and Trigg County Primary School excelled.
TCPS Principal Lindsey Kinslow said parents are typically responsive, especially with packets, and especially after school hours.
So what worked well? Mangels said:
— Teachers had multiple options with which the district could communicate to students and parents.
— Classrooms using Learning Management Systems could continue their efforts unimpeded.
— Teachers were able to download and print NTI assignments for students without interruption.
— Student choice in work to complete was appreciated
— And students knew the expectations and processes for NTI.
What didn’t work well?
— Some parents and students didn’t communicate well with teachers.
— Some students didn’t show up for specific Google Meets with their faculty.
— Lost NTI packets created a delay in some assignments being completed.
— Some students completed their NTI work before the NTI days were assigned, or completed it after they returned to in-school learning. Neither is the intent.
— And absenteeism of students prior to, and returning, from the NTI days slightly increased.
Mangels also issued that only 65-to-70% of the district’s students have reliable home internet access or stable digital devices, and that online NTI systems “aren’t terrific” for cell phones.
Meanwhile, student-teacher ratios are governed by KRS 157.360.
Mangels said projected enrollment in TCPS could shift class sizes from 23-to-1 to 24-to-1, which would keep staff allocations at 22.5 in 2024-25. At Trigg County Intermediate School, third grade is expected to jump from 23-to-1 to 24-to-1, fourth grade from 26-to-1 to 28-to-1, and fifth grade up from 27-to-1 to 29-to-1, lowering the staffing allocation from 20 to 19.
At TCMS, Mangels said this could surge from 25-to-1 to 29-to-1, lowering the staff allocation from 19.5 to 17. And at TCHS, an increase from 25-to-1 to 35-to-1 would reduce the staffing allocation from 28.5 to 25.
Mangels confirmed that Section 6 SBDM funding could help offset any potential staffing concerns. The district will receive notification of SEEK funds available for the school, and the school council then determines — within the parameters of those funds — the number of people employed in each job classification. Base funding levels are 24-to-1 for primary grades, 28-to-1 in fourth grade, 29-to-1 in fifth and sixth grades, and 31-to-1 for high school.
