>> Renee: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODING'S IMPACT ON S LAST WEEK, STUDENTS IN LETCHER COUNTY, KNOTT COUNTY, AND JENKINS INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS RETURNED TO CLASS AFTER THE LATE JULY FLOODS DEVASTATED THE AREA AND DAMAGED MANY schools.

OTHERS HAD RETURNED IN THE WEEKS BEFOR BUT SOME STUDENTS MISSED ABOUT MONTH OF LEARNING.

AND SOME HAVE TO SHARE SPACE WITH OTHER STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS THAT WEREN' THIS IS JUST THE LATEST COMPLICATION FOR STUDENTS TRYIN TO LEARN, AFTER TWO YEARS OF INTERRUPTIONS CAUSED BY COVID.

TO DISCUSS CHALLENGES FOR EDUCATION IN THAT REGION, WE'RE JOINED IN YOUR LEXINGTON STUDIO TONIGHT BY: COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS OF THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMEN JONATHAN JETT, SUPERINTENDENT O PERRY COUNTY SCHOOLS.

WALLACE CALEB BATES, INTERN AND WRITER FOR "KENTUCKY TEACHER," A PUBLICATION BY THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

AND PHILLIP WATTS, SUPERINTENDENT O COUNTY SCHOOLS.

WE WA WHAT THE TO HEAR FROM YOU TONIGHT so SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT ON TWITTER AT KYTONIGHT SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/.

OR YOU CAN SIMPLY GIVE AS A CALL AT 1-800-494-7604.

PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE US YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT, AND WE WELCOME ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR BEING HERE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I DO WANT TO START WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENTS WHO ARE WITH US, AND I'LL START WITH YOU, SUPERINTENDENT WATTS, FROM BREATHITT COUNTY SCHOOLS, TO TELL US ABOUT THE DAMAGE OF THE AREA AND HOW YOUR SCHOOLS WERE IMPACT AND WHERE THINGS STAND NOW.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, REN, FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.

VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE CHANTS TO TELL THE STORY OF BREATHITT COUNTY SCHOOLS.

RENEE, IT STARTED, THE FLOOD IN JULY OF 27TH, 28th WAS JUST AN INTERESTING DAY WHEN THE FLOOD WATERS CAME AND JUST TRYING TO TELL THE STORY OF BREATHITT COUNTY SCHOOLS IS INTERESTING AND I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

IT'S OKAY.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS OUR STUDENTS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THEM, VERY EXCITED TO SEE THEIR FACES.

THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.

TO HEAR THE PERSONAL STORIES FROM DIFFERENT FAMILIES, DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS, WE'RE JUST OVERWHELMED WITH JOY TO HAVE THEM BACK ON CAMPUS.

WE'VE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT STEPPED UP TO HELP US, PARTNER WITH US AND TO MAKE THAT REALITY TO GET BACK IN SCHOOL.

>> WELL, WE KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH TIME, AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH ALL THAT YOU ALL HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO SIT WITH YOU AND FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR STORY WITH THE COMMONWEALTH.

SO I JUST APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND FOR YOUR KIDS, KIDDOS THAT ARE BACK NOW, I GUESS IT KIND OF SEEMS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A RETURN TO NORMALCY OVER MAYBE SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T HAD THAT LEVEL OF NORMALCY IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS THAT WE'RE GOING ON NOW SINCE THE FLOODS.

>> WE WERE TALKING WITH THE STAFF TODAY ABOUT THE RETURN TO NORMAL AND SCHOOL BEING A SAFE PLACE FOR STUDENTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOPES.

THAT'S CREATED A LOT OF EMOTIONAL BARRIERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT SENSE OF HOME, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO AT SCHOOL TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF NORMALCY TO MEET THEIR NEEDS YOU KNOW WE REALIZE, YOU KNOW, IF EVERYTHING NOT GOING GOOD AT HOM ON THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF THINGS, WE MAY REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THE LEARNING LOSS, THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SO WE'VE REALLY GOT TO TAKE TIME IN YOUR STRATEGIES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LISTENING TO STUDENTS, PROVIDING THEM WITH SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING, AND JUST TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN AND BE A GOOD LISTENERS.

>> SOMETIMES MAYBE THE GRADES TAKE MAYBE A BACK SEAT A LITTLE BIT TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING INTO.

SUPERINTENDENT JETT, WE SPOKE EARLIER FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION," PROBABLY A MONTH AFTER THE FLOODING, AND SO I DO WANT TO GET AN UPDATE FROM YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAD TWO SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR THAT SUFFERED TREMENDOUS DAMAGE, SO TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE DID.

ROBINSON ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS A PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE SCHOOL AND BUCKHORN SCHOOL WHICH IS K-12 WERE BOTH SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED IN THE FLOOD TO THE POINT THAT WE COULDN'T HOUSE ANY STUDENTS THERE, AND WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANY TIME SOON.

SO WELL WERE FORTUNATE.

WE HAD -- WE WERE FORTUNATE.

WE HAD AN OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT HAD ENCLOSED DURING THE CONSOLIDATION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HOUSE BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS IN THAT FACILITY, AND IT'S REALLY WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.

WE HAVE ONE SCHOOL ON ONE WING OF THE FACILITY AND ANOTHER SCHOOL ON THE OTHER WING.

AND THEY'VE KIND OF GOT THEIR PERSONAL TOUCH.

THEY'VE GOT THEIR MASCOTS ON EACH HALL.

IT HAS KIND OF A HOMEY FEEL TO IT.

WE'RE JUST THANKFUL, LIKE PHILLIP SAID, TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SO MUCH WITH COVID THE LAST TWO YEARS AND PART OF THE THIRD YEAR, AND THEN THIS ON TOP OF IT, JUST THE TRAUMA THAT KIDS HAVE EXPERIENCED.

AND WE WANT TO GET NEM BACK.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THEM NOT JUST PHYSICALLY BUT EMOTIONALLY AS WELL.

THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT, AND WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE TO PROVIDE ANY SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

>> I REMEMBER YOU TELLING ME WHEN WE SPOKE A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT HOW BEING IN-PERSON MEANT A LOT TO YOU, THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO VIRTUAL OR REMOTE LEARNING, THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THOSE KIDDOS BE IN THOSE SEATS AND I WAS EYEBALL TO EYEBALL CONTACT, AND YOU FEEL JUST AS STRONGLY ABOUT THAT NOW AS YOU DID.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY NEED TO BE IN-PERSON IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> I WA TO GO TO YOU, COMMISSIONER GLASS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID IT COULD COST $100 MILLION, AND MAYBE THAT'S EVEN A LOW ESTIMATE, TO REPAIR AND REBUILD, REFURBISH THESE REGIONS' FLOODED SCHOOLS, AND SO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT KIND OF AID OR ADVICE ORE EVEN JUST CONVERSATION HAS THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF ED BEEN LENDING TO THESE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY RAVAGED BY THE RECENT INCLUDED?

>> WELL, I THINK THESE -- FLOODS?

>> I THINK THESE TWO SUPERINTENDENTS EXEMPLIFY LEADERSHIP WE HAVE SEEN IN THE EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOOD-AFFECTED REGION INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENTS THAT ARE SURROUNDING THEM AND SUPERINTENDENTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE REALLY SAW LEADERSHIP IN ACTION IN THE FLOOD-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE STEPPING UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD WHAT THEY NEEDED.

ON THE UNITED STATES THAT THE FLOOD TOOK PLACE -- ON THE NIGHTS THAT THE FLOOD TOOK PLACE, WE STARTED GETTING CALLS THAT MIGHT, THAT IT MAY BE BAD.

THERE'S A LOT THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW.

OF COURSE, COMMUNICATIONS WERE DOWN AND THERE WASN'T A LOT OF COMMUNICATION COMING OUT.

THE NEXT MORNING WE STARTED TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE.

IN THE CASE OF SOME OF THE SCHOOLS IN LETCHER COUNTY AND PERRY COUNTY WE HAD COMPLETE FLOODING.

THE RIVER WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE BUILDINGS, AND IN THE CASE OF THE BREATHITT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, THE WATER CAME RIGHT UP INTO THE BASEMENT OF THE BUILDINGS AND FLOODED OUT SOME OF THEIR PLACES ALMOST LIKE A LAKE HAD APPEARED RIGHT IN THE BASEMENT AND AROUND THE CAMPUS.

SO WHAT THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN THROUGH, UNLESS YOU WERE THERE AND HAVE SEEN IT, YOU REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE THE DEVASTATION.

I THINK THAT WE ARE -- WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER SENSE NOW OF WHAT THE COST OF THIS IS GOING TO BE.

INITIALLY THERE WERE CONCERNS AROUND WHAT WOULD THE MITIGATION COST, AND THEN WILL WERE CONCERNS AROUND DO WE HAVE STRUCTURAL DAMAGES THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO REPAIR.

HOWEVER WE HAVE A BETTERY SENSE OF THOSE THINGS NOW.

AND THERE ALSO SENSE AROUND ELECTRICAL STEAMS AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO SOME LEVEL NOW.

SO WE'RE IN A MUCH LERT PLACE THAN WE WERE DIDN'T BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE INITIALLY.

WHEN THIS ALL STARTED HAPPENING AND I STARTED HEARING THE REPORTS THAT WHETHER COMING OUT LEPER COUNTY IN PARTICULAR AND KNOTT COUNTY, AS YOU CONCERNED THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO BACK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

IT'S REALLY A HEROIC LIFT WHAT ALL OF THESE INTERESTS KNOW HAVE DONE TO GET BACK OPEN.

>> LETCHER COUNTY OPENED LAST WEEK, RIGHT?

>> AMAZING.

AND THEY WERE THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T OPERATE A SCHOOL IF THERE'S NO WASTEWATER SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT THEY'VE ENGINEERED WAY, FIGURED OUT WAY TO GET I WORKING, GET IT OPEN AGAIN, AND LIKE YOU HEARD FROM THESE TWO SUPERINTENDENTS HERE, THERE WAS A REAL DESPERATE NEED TO GET SCHOOL OPEN AGAIN, TO START BRINGING -- KEEPING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND TO START ESTABLISHING SOME KIND OF NORMALCY IN THE TEMPEST OF THE DISRUPTIONS THE STUDENT WERE VICTIMS AT HOME AND ALL THE DISRUPTION THAT THE STUDENTS EXPERIENCED OVER THE COURSE OF COVID, TO TRY AND REESTABLISH SOME KIND OF NORMALCY IN YOUR LIVES WAS A REUTER.

>> CALEB, WE MET A FEW YEARS AGO I THINK DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WE HAD TALKED TO YOU ABOUT WHAT COONTZ NEEDED THE MOST -- STUDENTS NEEDED TO MOST DURING THOSE TIMES AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON BECAUSE I THINK THOSE WERE SKYPE INTERVIEWS, SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND YOU'VE BEEN A RISING STAR IN THAT STUDENT PUBLIC POLICY SPACE, AND YOU ARE A PROUD BREATHITT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ALUM.

SO I KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS VERY MEANINGFUL FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU LIVE STILL IN THAT AREA AND YOU WRITE FOR "KENTUCKY TEACHER" TO SHARE THESE EXPERIENCES.

WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN TAKEAWAYS, THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND FROM THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE AS WELL ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO HELP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, RENEE, I'LL ECHO PREVIOUS COMMENTS IN THANKING AND YOU KET FOR WELCOMING US HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK TO THE EXPERIENCES OF FOLKS ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND THINKING ABOUT THAT, I THINK ONE VERY IMPORTANT PIECE HERE THAT WE HAVE SEEN CONTINUOUSLY IS THE IDEA OF EASTERN KENTUCKY BEING A REGION OF RESILIENCY AND STRENGTH.

AND SO I, OF COURSE, AM HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BUT I'M ALSO HERE TONIGHT AS AN EASTERN KENTUCKIAN.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

I'M VERY PROUD TO BE FROM BREATHITT COUNTY AND TO BE LIVING IN BREATHITT COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

AND ESPECIALLY AS I'VE SEEN MY HOME COMMUNITY RESPOND TO THE CRISIS THAT FLOODING HAS CAUSED.

THAT BEING SAID, IN TERMS OF WHAT STUDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS NEED, I THINK THAT GETTING BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM IS KEY.

THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM CATASTROPHE THAT FLOODING CAUSED NOT ONLY TO SCHOOLS BUT TO HOMES.

AND THEN ALSO INY TERMS OF WHAT THEY NEED, MENTAL HEALTH IS GOING TO BE VITAL, FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH IS GOING TO BE VITAL MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK THAT CONSIDERING THE TRAUMA THAT STUDENTS HAVE FACED AS A RESULT OF THIS FLOODING, BOTH PRIMARY TRAUMA THAT STUDENTS WHOSE HOMES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED THEY FACED, ALSO SECONDARY TRAUMA COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE FACED, AND I THINK THAT THAT NOT ONLY HAS IMPACTED STUDENTS BUT ALSO STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT LARGE.

AND SO THERE ARE REAL PRESSING NEEDS THERE.

AND, OF COURSE, IN TERMS OF WHAT A SCHOOL DOES, NOT ONLY DO SCHOOLS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY SERVE AS VECTORS FOR KNOWLEDGE.

WE KNOW THAT THEY ALSO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH RESOURCES.

AND SO AS SCHOOL LEADERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, AS THOSE EMPLOYEES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THINK ABOUT A PATH FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT NOT ONLY TEACHING AND PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH HOUSING NEEDS AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT.

WHEN ONE DOESN'T HAVE A HOME, ON CONTINUE IN THEIR LEARNING.

SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE NEEDS THERE, AND IT'S A BROAD SPECTRUM OF NEEDS.

>> RIGHT.

AND TO THAT POINT, COMMISSIONER GLASS, THE PART ABOUT NOT HAVING VIRTUAL OR REMOTE LEARNING, WELL, THAT MAY NOT HAVE WORKED ANYWAY IN PRACT BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE -- PRACT CAL BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HOME AND ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, THAT MIGHT HAVE TAKEN YOU MORE OUT OF THE LOOP.

BEING IN PERSON HAS SOME VERY PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR JUST BASIC, ESSENTIAL REASONS.

>> I THINK THE EXPERIENCE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THAT COUPLED WITH WANTING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A REAL WAY WAS REALLY DRIVING THESE SCHOOL LEADERS TO NOT IMMEDIATELY START MOVING TOWARD VIRTUAL LEARNING.

I THINK IF THEY HAD BEEN FORCED INTO THAT SITUATION, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT AND EXECUTED IT WELL, BUT WE HAD COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES, ACCESS ISSUES.

THERE'S STILL LOTS OF THINGS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE NAVIGATING THROUGH.

ROADWAYS, BRIDGES, INTERMITTENT POWER AND INTERNET ACCESS.

I MEAN, ALL THESE THINGS ARE STILL NOT OVER.

SO EVEN THOUGH THINGS ARE MUCH MORE STABILIZED THAN THEY WERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

WE SHOULDN'T -- WE SHOULDN'T JUST ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL JUST YET.

>> RIGHT.

TO GET TO MR. BAITS' POINT, I WANT TO CALL YOU CALEB BUT I'LL CALL YOU MR. BATES, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE FRIDAYS CAN I'S, THE FAMILY RESOURCE AND RESOURCE CENTER WITNESS WE HEARD FROM BOONE COUNTY A ANNA SHEPHERD FROM THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, AND EARLIER TONIGHT ON KENTUCKY EDITION WE HAD SOME SOUND FROM HER TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY REALLY STEPPED UP, THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING CLOTHES DRIVES AND THAT SCHOOLS WERE OPEN FOR THAT AND TO REALLY MAKE SURE THEY WERE A HUB FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR NOW IS HER TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT'S WERE VERY FORTUNATE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE LOSS OF LIFE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE DAMAGE OR BUS FLEET DAMAGE THAT THEY CAME OUT FAIRLY, FAIRLY WELL IN THE FLOODING.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR HER TALK ABOUT TRAUMA INFORMED, AND A THEY HAD BEEN DOING THAT FOR A YEAR PRIOR TO THE FLOODING AND HOW THEY REALLY ARE TENDING TO THE WHOLE CHILD, THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AS WELL AS THEIR ACADEMIC NEEDS.

>> WE TAKE PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE HUBS, ARE MIN COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES, AND TYPICALLY THAT'S WHERE THE FAMILIES AND THE KIDS THINK OF FIRST.

IF THEY NEED HELP WITH SOMETHING, THEY THINK OF THEIR SCHOOL.

AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

SO DURING THIS TIME THAT SERVED THEM AND SERVED US WELL, WE HAD NINE OF OUR 13 BUILDINGS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

YOU KNOW, THEY SERVED AS SHOWERS FOR FAMILIES, A PLACE TO CONNECT TO WI-FI, TO CHARGE BATTERIES, TO COME IN OUT OF THE HEAT IN A COOL PLACE TO REST.

WE HAD LAUNDRY FACILITIES SET UP.

SO ALL OF THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO QUICKLY FOR OUR FAMILIES AND, YOU KNOW, MEALS PROVIDED, AND THEN WE -- AS WE STARTED ASSESSING THE NEEDS AND GETTING OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES OURSELVES, WE REALIZED LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE A BREAK TO COME TO US AND GET FOOD AND SUPPLIES AND THAT WE NEEDED TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND TAKE THEM TO THEM, AND WE DID SO WITH PERSONAL VEHICLES AND DISTRICT VEHICLES, BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A BUS.

AND WE KNEW THE ROADWAYS, MANY OF THEM WERE TORN UP AND WE COULD NOT GET INTO SOME OF THE PLACES BY BUS, BUT WE DID TAKE ONE OF OUR SMALL BUSES.

WE WANTED OUR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE BUS COME INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND AT THEIR HOLLOWS AND WITH SUPPLIES AND FOOD, AND WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD MAKE THEM SMILE AND GIVE THEM SOME HOPE, SO WE DID THAT.

AND WE JUST -- I AM JUST SO PROUD ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER, BOTH OUR DISTRICT STAFF, SCHOOL STAFF, THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, OUR REGION AND THE STATE, TO REALLY COMMUNICATE WELL AND GET, YOU KNOW, GET SUPPLIES, NEEDED SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES TO OUR FAMILIES AND TO GET ROADS REPAIRED SO THAT IN TWO WEEKS WE COULD START SCHOOL.

IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING WHEN I DROVE MY VEHICLE DELIVERING FOOD AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MET ME IN ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AS I WAS DELIVERING FOOD TO FAMILIES WITH SUPPLIES TO SEE THE ROADWAYS THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO TRAVEL, AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROADS THAT WE COULD NOT TAKE OUR BUSES ON TO PICK UP OUR CHILDREN AND BRING THEM TO SCHOOL.

IT WAS JUST PRETTY AMAZING HOW ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL HELPERS CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND I'M JUST SO THANKFUL.

>> WE ALWAYS SAY IN THESE TIMES, SUPERINTENDENT SHEPHERD, LOOK FOR THE HELPERS BECAUSE THEY'RE AROUND AND THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES, FORM AND FASHION.

WE KNOW THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID STEP IN IN AUGUST TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SCHOOLS AND, OF COURSE, THE COMMUNITIES.

WHEN THEY GO BACK IN JANUARY OF '23, CAN YOU THINK OF ANYTHING LIGHTEN THAT YOU CAN SAY, THIS IS -- RIGHT NOW THAT YOU CAN SAY THIS IS WHAT WE MAY NEED, THOSE OF US WHO SUFFERED NATURAL DISASTERS BOTH IN THE EAST AND THE WEST TO HELP US HAVE FIRM, SOLID FOOTING TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS GOING FORWARD?

>> I MEAN, FUNDING FOR SURE AROUND TRANSPORTATION.

WE'RE STILL TRANSPORTING STUDENTS FROM CAMPERS, FROM THE STATE PARK, ALL THE PLACES THAT THOSE STUDENTS ARE, WE ARE TRANSPORTING THEM TO THEIR HOME SCHOOLS, SO TRANSPORTATION IS A HUGE THING FOR US.

OF COURSE, WE FED HERE IN FLOYD COUNTY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK OVER 5,000 MEALS A DAY IN NINE SCHOOLS.

SO FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER SOME OF THAT COST, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SURE HOW LONG WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSPORTING THESE KIDS FROM ALL THOSE VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO THEIR HOME SCHOOLS, BUT DEFINITELY FUNDING AND LOOKING AT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR SURE WOULD DEFINITELY HELP US.

AND, YOU KNOW, A CONCERN FOR ME IS JUST WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER IN THE CAMPERS OR IN THE STATE PARK, IS GETTING THOSE FAMILIES FAMILIES -- AND LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE NINE STAFF WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES.

MANY OF THEM LOST THEIR AUTOMOBILES AS WELL.

GETTING THEM IN A PLACE SAFE FOR THEM TO LIVE AND THEN GETTING THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

WE PROVIDED THOSE BASIC NEEDS TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING WITH FOOD AND CLOTHING AND THOSE NEEDS, BUT LOOKING LONG-TERM, AND I KNOW OUR FRIST KES HAVE ALREADY MET AND THEY'RE LOOKING ALONG-TERM GOALS FOR EACH OF THESE FAMILIES, BUT TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR DISPLACED STAFF AND FAMILIES LONG TERM WITH WHAT THEY NEED IS SOMETHING WE'RE CERTAINLY WORKING ON BUT WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> SO SUPERINTENDENT JETT, I WANT TO COME TO YOU.

MS. SHEPHERD HAD SHARED WITH US THAT THEY HAD 35 STUDENTS OR 17 FAMILIES THAT WERE DISPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE NINE STAFF MEMBERS.

SO HAVE YOU QUANTIFY HOW MANY STUDENTS, FAMILIES ARE DISPLACED?

AND CAN YOU EMPATHIZE WITH SOME OF HER COMMENTS ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION THINGS A SHE'S FACING AND CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS, PROBABLY AROUND 50, THAT HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE DISTRICT.

AND SEVERAL STAFF MECHANICS THAT MEMBERS THAT LOST EVERYTHING.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT WE HATE TO LOSE STUDENTS TO OTHER DISTRICTS FOR ANY REASON, BUT WHEN A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS HAPPENS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE, THAT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

>> AND I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ENROLLMENT AND THOSE THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT THE TAX BASE.

>> SURE.

>> AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE KNOW THERE WAS ALREADY DEPOPULATION HAPPENING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

SO HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS WILL BE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED?

MAYBE YOU WERE ALREADY CONCERNED BEFORE BUT EVEN MORE CONCERNED NOW.

>> I'M REALLY CONCERNED.

DURING THE COVID YEARS WE USED ATTENDANCE DATA FROM THE 18-19 SCHOOL YEAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR ONE MORE YEAR, BUT THIS IS NOT A ONE-YEAR FIX.

THOSE PEOPLE MAY NOT EVER BE ABLE TO COME BACK.

SO MY CONCERN IS, LIKE I SAID, THE DEPOPULATION, IF WE CONTINUE TO LOSE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, FROM AN ALLOCATION STANDPOINT THAT'S GOING TO EFFECT THE NUMBERS OF TEACHERS THAT WE CAN OF IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS.

SO YOU GO FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE FLOODING AND THEN MAYBE THEY'RE NOT A TENURED TEACHER AND BECAUSE OF THE DECREASED ENROLLMENT, THEY NO LONGER HAVE A JOB.

SO IT JUST COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM OVER AND OVER.

>> YEAH.

SUPERINTENDENT WATTS, YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.

AND WHAT ARE YOUR LINGERING CONCERNS AS YOU LOOK TO LONG-TERM RECOVERY?

>> WE HAD AROUND 56 STAFF MEMBERS THAT WAS DISPLACED OR RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, SO IT'S -- TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES AND TO HEAR THEM TELL THAT AND TO SEE THEM PROCESS THAT AND THEN IMPACT STUDENTS EACH AND EVERY DAY, IT'S VERY HUMBLING, SO MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM.

SOME OF THOSE FOLKS, TOO, WERE THE ONES DRIVING THE BUS TO HELP DO WATER RESCUES.

THEY'VE BEEN HELPING DO THE FEED EARLY ON.

AND SOME OF THEM REMOVED THEMSELVES FROM THEIR OWNIZATION SITUATION TO HELP OTHERS.

MAI HEART GOES OUT TO STAFF.

STUDENTS, WE HAVE RAUFLY 280 KIDS THAT WERE HEAVILY IMPACTED.

SOME OF THEM COMPLETE LOSS, SOME OF THEM SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

TO HEAR THEIR STORIES WANT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A LOT OF STUDENTS SHOPPING, AND THAT'S REALLY HELPED WITH AN EMOTIONAL BARRIER WITH THE STAFF AND STUDENTS.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE STORIES, EVERYTHING FROM PURCHASING CURLING IRONS TO CLOTHES, ITEMS THEY NEED.

IT'S REALLY HELPED US WITH HELPING HEAL AND PROCESS ALONG THE WAY AS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND THOSE MOMENTS WITH THOSE STUDENTS TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES, YOU THE ABOUT THEY'RE SO RESILIENT, AND I THINK ABOUT THEM WHEN THEY SAY THEY'RE LIVING IN SOMEONE'S BASEMENT ON AT A CHURCH OR AT A CAMPGROUND.

WHEN WILL THEY GET THAT FEELING OF HOME AGAIN SO THEY CAN GET FOCUSED ON EDUCATION.

SO IT'S HUMBLING.

EASTERN KENTUCKY PEOPLE ARE GREAT.

THEY'RE VERY RESILIENT.

I'M LIKE SUPERINTENDENT JETT, WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT SYNDROME DROP OF PROBABLY AROUND 50 STUDENTS.

I'VE ALSO HEARD STORIES OF STUDENTS MAYBE NOT HAVING HOUSING FROM BREATHITT COUNTY WHERE THEY'RE DRIVING FROM IN FROM ANOTHER COUNTY PI WONDER HOW LONG THEY CAN KEEP THAT UP.

WE JUST WANT TO BE A HOME AND A VORES FOR THEM.

>> SPEAKING OF HELPING KIDS ORDEAL WITH TRAUMA, HELPING STAFF DEAL WITH TRAUMA.

THEY WERE NOT IMMUNE FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH LOSS THEMSELVES, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SECONDARY TRAUMA OR TANGENTIAL TRAUMA, HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF THE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES?

>> WE'VE HAD RESOURCES FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS ON STANDBY AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME OF THAT TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING WITH OUR STAFF AND TEACHERS TO WORK ON SIMPLE TECHNIQUES, SIMPLE STRATEGIES.

JUST LIKE A MINUTE AGO I NEEDED A BOTTLED OF WATER TO GET A DRINK WHEN THE PRESSURE CAME ON AND MAYBE JUST LOOK UP AND JUST DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES THAT YOU CAN USE TO MAYBE REFOCUS ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT THE BIG PICTURE ITEM IS, BUT OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE GREAT.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE THEM AT SCHOOL.

I'M LIKE SUPERINTENDENT JETT SEEING THEIR FACES IN THE HALLWAY SAYS IT ALL, AND TO HEAR THEIR STIERS IS HUMBLING.

I GUESS AS WE MOVE FOSTERED AND WE TALK ABOUT NEEDS, I GUESS I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING AND STABILITY FOR STUDENTS GOING FORWARD IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> COMMISSIONER GLASS, I WANT TO COME TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT THESE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FOR A LONG TIME ANYWAY, BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS REALLY TAKEN UP TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO THIS?

>> WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF FUNDING CHALLENGES THAT EASTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW THAT, SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR WESTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS EXPERIENCED DURING THE TORNADOES.

THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADOES AND WHAT HAPPENED IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WITH THE FLOODING IS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS WERE LARGELY SPARED FROM THAT DEVASTATION.

IN FACT, THEY WERE THE HUBS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ALLOWED THOSE COMMUNITIES TO SORT OF STABILIZE QUICKLY.

IN EASTERN KENTUCKY YOU HAD SCHOOL BUILDINGS THEMSELVES WERE DEEPLY DAMAGED, AND YOU HEARD SOME OF THE STORIES ABOUT HOW THE SUPERINTENDENTS HAD TO MOVE STUDENTS AROUND OR PUT IN PLACE TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS JUST TO TRY AND GET SCHOOL GOING IN SOME FORM.

THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE ATTENDANCE ISSUES IN THE SCHOOLS.

KENTUCKY IS A STATE THAT USES SOMETHING CALLED AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE TO DETERMINE FUNDING FOR THE NEXT YEAR, SO THEY LOOK AT HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN ATTENDANCE ON ANY GIVEN DAY.

IN A TYPICAL SCHOOL DAY THAT'S 94 TO 96 PERCENT.

IN THESE COMMUNITIES, THE ATTENDANCE NUMBERS ARE MUCH LOWER THAN THAT.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE, BUT WE MAY SEE THAT GOING FORWARD.

IT'S ALSO BEING COMPOUNDED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE COVID IS STILL CAUSING OUTAGES WITH STUDENTS AND NOW WE HAVE FLU SEASON COMING UP.

WE'VE HEARD FROM PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT A DIFFICULT FLU YEAR.

ALL OF THESE THINGS WILL ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE FUNDING CHALLENGES THAT THESE COMMUNITIES FACE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT WHAT WE'VE ALSO LEARNED FROM OUR WESTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS IS NOT ONLY ARE THEY STRUGGLE E. WITH THE ATTENDANCE FUNDING AND DISRUPTIONS IN ATTENDANCE DUE TO COVID OR OTHER VIRUSES THAT ARE SPREADING AROUND, THEY HAVE ALSO HAD DISRUPTIONS TO THE PROPERTY VIEWS IN THEIR DISTRICTS SO THE LOCAL CALCULATIONS TO DETERMINE HOW SCHOOLS FUNDED FROM THE LOCAL SHARE OF THEIR FUNDING IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM POTENTIALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS MORE TO COME.

THERE ARE LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL NEED TO CONSIDER, BOTH FOR WESTERN KENTUCKY AND EASTERN KENTUCKY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S -- >> BUT THEY DID ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE IN THE SPECIAL SESSION, RIGHT, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

>> >> THEY DID, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

BUT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR WESTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS -- WE'VE THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT SUPPORT FOR OUR EASTERN KENTUCKY SUPERINTENDENTS BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS WENT THROUGH THIS DEVASTATION JUST SIX MONTHS BEFORE.

BUT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO START HEARING MORE AND MORE FROM OUR EASTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS AROUND CONCERNS AROUND PROPERTY VALUATION AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEIR LOCAL SHARE, AND THE LEGISLATURE WILL NEED TO CONSIDER SOME STABILIZATION FOR THAT FOR THIS REGION IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

>> WHEN YOU SAY STABILIZATION, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> WELL, IT COULD LOOK AT A NUMBER -- IT COULD TAKE A NUMBER OF FORMS.

ONE IS YOU COULD CONTINUE TO FREEZE THEM AT A HISTORICAL FUNDING LEVEL SO YOU COULD LOOK BACK AT HISTORICAL FUNDING LEVEL IN TIME, THE 18-19 SCHOOL YEAR IS WHAT SUPERINTENDENT JETT, WE'VE BEEN STUCK ON THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID DISRUPTIONS.

THEY COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEY COULD ALSO LOOK AT GENTLE STEPPING DOWN A DISTRICT.

OVER TIME YOU WANT THE NUMBER OF STAFF AND THE RESOURCES GOING INTO A DISTRICT TO MATCH THE STUDENT POPULATION SO HA YOU'RE NOT OVERFUNDING THAT DISTRICT, BUT IF THESE -- IN THE CASES OF THESE EASTERN KENTUCKY SCHOOLS, AND THE WESTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICTS AS WELL, YOU HAVE HAD AN EVENT, A TRAGEDY TAKE PLACE, AND SO IT MAKES SOME SENSE TO THINK ABOUT HOW CAN WE EASE THE DECLINE IN FUNDING TO ALLOW THEM TO ABSORB SOME OF THE LOSSES WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT IN PLACE MASSIVE LAYOFFS ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER DISRUPTIONS THAT THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE GONE THROUGH.

>> THIS QUESTION FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER GLASS.

CAN YOU ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ATTENDANCE BEING A MUST SINCE THE COVID VIRTUAL LEARNING IS IS A NATIONWIDE ISSUE OR JUST AN ATTITUDE THAT KENTUCKY FAMILIES SEEM TO HAVE.

PARENTS SEEM TO NOT THINK REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT ANYMORE, SO HOW WILL KDE PROPOSE NEW IDEAS TO COMBAT THESE ISSUES?

>> IF WE LOOK AT THE WAY ATTENDANCE AND FUNDING IS CONSIDERED DETERMINED FOR ENROLLMENT AROUND THE WHY I THERE'S A NICKED BAG.

KENTUCKY IS A STATE THAT USES AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE AS A WAY OF DOING THAT.

WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED AND LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED LAST SESSION AROUND AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP SO NOT HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING BUT HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE END RESOLVED SINGLE DAY.

OTHER STATES USE MULTIPLE POINTS THAT I YEAR, SAY FOUR POINTS IN A YEAR, HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU HAVE ENROLLED TO VALIDATE THAT THOSE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED.

AND SOME STATES SPEND A SINGLE DAY COUNT.

COLORADO WHERE I WORKED IT WAS HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU HAVE ENROLLED ON OCTOBER 1st AND THAT DETERMINES YOUR FUNDING FOR THAT YEAR.

IF YOU LOOK ACROSS STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, IT'S KINDS OF A MIXED BAG AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY CORRELATION OR CONNECTION TO THE WAY YOU COUNT STUDENTS FOR FUNDING PURPOSES AND OUTCOMES.

AND SO I THINK IT SHOULD CAUSE US AS A STATE THOUSAND ABOUT HOW CAN WE DO THIS IN A SIMPLER FASHION, A MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD FASHION SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTE FUNDS, BUT ALSO TO REDUCE SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT'S COME WITH FOUND COUNTING EVERY STUDENT EVERY DAY.

>> SUPERINTENDENT JETT, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF YOUR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDS RIGHT NOW IN THE DECLINE BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING?

>> FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR?

>> FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> MOST DAYS WE'RE FORTUNATE TO GET TO 90%.

>> AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO A TYPICAL?

>> 18-19 IT WAS 94, RIGHT A 94.

>> SO PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE MUCH A DECLINE BUT IT'S SILL SIGNIFICANT, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> SAME FOR YOU?

>> IS ALMOST SPOTO.

I RAN A REPORT THIS MORNING WE WERE RIGHT AT THE 90% THIS YEAR AND WE'RE RIGHT AROUND 93-1/2.

VERY SIMILAR.

>> IF I MAY INJECTION, RENEE, THAT DECLINE, 4%, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG SCHOOL BUDGET NUMBERS AND IF SIZES OF THESE DISTRICTS MEAN THAT THEIR OVERALL BUDGETS ARE 100, 150 MILLION DOLLARS, AND SO 4% IN A DECLINE IN THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE TO ABSORB THAT IS THROUGH STAFFING CUTS.

>> CALEB, I WANT TO COME TO YOU TO ONCE AGAIN TALK ABOUT WHAT'S YOUR WRITING ABOUT FOR "KENTUCKY TEACHER" AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'RE SHARING WITH TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS OUTSIDE OF THE EASTERN KENTUCKY REGION WHO WERE JUST SEEING THIS ON THE PERIPHERY.

>> WELL, RENEE, I'LL START JUST BY PROVIDING AN IDEA ON HOW WE WENT ABOUT THIS.

OWE OUR GOAL FROM THE WAY -- IN THE WAKE OF THE FLOODING, IT STARTED WITH SHARING THE PERSPECTIVES AND THE VOICES OF EASTERN KENTUCKIANS.

AND USING THEIR STORIES AS THE BASIS FOR OUR KENTUCKY TEACHER PUBLICATIONS.

SO I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF TALKING WITH FOLKS ACROSS DISTRICTS, OF COMMUNICATING WITH THEM ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TOPICS RELATED TO THE FLOODING.

AND SO ONE PIECE INCLUDES THE STORY OF, IN SUPERINTENDENT JETT'S PERRY COUNTY DISTRICT, OF HOW THOSE TWO SCHOOLS THAT WERE IMPACTED BY FLOODING, HOW THEY PULLED TOGETHER IN THAT ONE BUILDING AND FOUND A COMMUNITY THERE.

ALSO, WE'VE COVERED, YOU KNOW, SUPERINTENDENT HELTZEL THAT COMMISSIONER CLASS HAS HOSTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

AND ALSO WE HAVE CONTINUED TO UPDATE AS THING HAVE HAPPENED.

SO ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE, AS COMMISSIONER GLASS TOURED EASTERN KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPACTED BY FLOODING, WE PUBLISHED PIECES THAT WENT ALONG WITH HIS EXPERIENCES EACH DAY.

RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS AND OUR WORK CONTINUES TO BE CENTERED AROUND ALLOWING THE STORIES OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IMPACTED FIRSTHAND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO REALLY SERVE AS WHAT WE'RE -- THE FOCUS OF WHAT WE'RE WRITING.

>> THOSE SUPERINTENDENT HUDDLES THAT SOME OF US HAVE EAVESDROPPED ON HAVE BEEN VERY POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL, COMMISSIONER GLASS, AS YOU'VE KNOWN AND PARTICULARLY IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE FLOODING.

WE HAVE HAD HEARD DENISE YONTS, OF COURSE, WITH LETCHER COUNTY TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY WAS ENDURING.

HOW YACKETFUL HAS THAT BEEN ON YOU ELLEN EVEN PERSONALLY TO HER THE SUPERINTENDENTS OPEN UP AND BE VULNERABLE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING ON A PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN HUMBLING AND INSPIRING TO HEAR FROM HIM.

OF COURSE, I SPENT A FEW YEARS WORKING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, SO I KNOW FAMILIES THERE AND KNOW THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AND ALSO I HAVE SERVED AS A SUPERINTENDENT, SO I UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH THE JOB.

I THINK THEY WERE POWERFUL TO HEAR THE STORIES THAT WERE COMING OUT OF COMMUNITIES AND TO HEAR ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING OUT OF LOVE FOR THAT COMMUNITY TO TRY AND SEE ESTABLISH SOME NORMALCY, TO TRY TO GET THINGS BACK TO TRACK TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND ALSO VERY HELPFUL FOR THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE REST OF THE NATION TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN IN, AS YOU DID, AND HEAR THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY WERE HAVING AND WHERE DID THEY NEED SUPPORT.

I THINK IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT THAT CAME INTO THE COMMUNITIES EARLY ON.

I THINK IT'S MADE SOME DIFFERENCE WITH SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR STEPPING UP AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO HELP STABILIZE AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES.

AND ALSO TO SUPPORT, GATHER SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ONE OF THEIR ARE IS SUPERINTENDENTS JOINED ON US OUR TOUR.

WE NOW HAVE PEOPLE FROM FEMA EMBEDDED IN KENTUCKY WORKING ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE LIVING IN THE REAL IMPACT AND MAGNITUDE OF THE TRAGEDY.

>> I DO WANT TO TALK TO YOU, SUPERINTENDENT JETT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE TO REBUILD, SHOULD YOU REBUILD, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE IN THESE FLOOD ZONES, AND WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WELL, WHAT IS A FLOOD ZONE AND THEIR EVER THERE ARE OUTDATED MAPS, ET CETERA, MOVING FAMILIES TO HIGHER GROUND.

IS THERE HIGHER GROUND TO BE HAD IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> LAND IS A PREMIUM IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THERE'S A LOT OF FORMER STRIP MINE PROPERTY, BUT ROAD ACCESS IS THE ISSUE.

SO THAT'S A BIG HINDERANCE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROPERTY THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO CONSTRUCT A NEW SCHOOL ON, ROAD ACCESS BECOMES AN ISSUE.

THE BUCKHORN SCHOOL WAS NOT A TOTAL LOSS, WEI SO WE'LL START THE PROCESS OF RENOVATING THAT SCHOOL FAIRLY SOON.

>> DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST?

>> I DON'T.

>> BUT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THE REBUILDING OF IT.

AND IS THERE A TIME SPAN WHEN IT WHICH IT MAY TAKE FOR THAT SCHOOL TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR USE?

>> BASED ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERS, THE BUCKHORN SCHOOL COULD POSSIBLY REOPEN NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE ANY SOONER THAN THAT.

THE ROBINSON SCHOOL WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A MORE IN-DEPTH PROJECT THAT WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS.

>> RIGHT.

AND BUILDING IN THE SAME LOCATION?

>> ROBINSON IS NOT AN OPTION TO REBUILD.

>> THAT LOCATION.

>> RIGHT.

SO ARE THERE OPTIONS?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT AS FAR AS REBUILDING ROBINSON SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY POSSIBLE SITES FOR THAT FACILITY.

>> BUILDING COSTS RIGHT NOW STILL ARE HIGH EVEN THOUGH WE THINK THAT SOME COSTS ARE DECLINING.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IN THE END HOW MUCH YOU MAY BUDGET FOR VERSUS THE ACTUAL COST?

>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WE DON'T -- WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET TO RENOVATE BUCKHORN OR CONSTRUCT A NEW ROBINSON, SO THOSE FUNDS COULD HAVE TO COME FROM THE STATE LEVEL, NATIONAL LEVEL OR FEMA BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THOSE FUNDS IN OUR BUDGET.

>> SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THESE TYPES OF DISASTERS AND WHEN IT REALLY WREAKS SUCH HAVOC ON DISTRICTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO IT, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS, COMMISSIONER GLASS, OTHER THAN GETTING HELP FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK THOSE ARE THE BEST OPTIONS GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT THE DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING AT.

AND JUST TO PUT THING IN PERSPECTIVE, AND THESE NUMBERS INFLATE ALL THE TIME, BUT THE COST OF BUILDING A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MAY RANGE FROM $15 MILLION TO $35.

MIDDLE SCHOOL IN 35 TO $50 MILLION AND THE SCHOOL MAY RUN 60 TO 80 MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THOSE ARE ROUGH NUMBERS TODAY BY THE TIME IN A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND ALL THE CHALLENGES WITH RATES RISING, THEY MAY BE HIGHER GOING FORWARD.

AND WE'VE SEEN I THINK SOME POSITIVE THINGS COME OUT OF SOME SCHOOLS EARLY ON THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE THE FLOOD DAMAGE STRUCTURAL DAMAGES WERE NOT AT SIGNIFICANT AS THEY INITIALLY THOUGHT SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

TO WITH YOU YOUR POINT EARLIER, A LOT OF THESE ARE IN FLOOD AREAS, FLOODPLAIN AREAS BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THE BUILDABLE LAND EXISTS IN THESE STUDENTS AND IT'S IN PROXIMITY TO THE TOWNS AND WHERE PEOPLE RESIDE.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME WICKED CHOICES, I THINK, THAT THESE COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE TO FACE GOING FORWARD IF THEY RECONSTRUCT SCHOOLS IN THOSE SAME SPOTS KNOWING THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF A FLOOD COMING IN OR DO THEY RELOCATE AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH RUNNING UTILITIES AND ISSUES OF SOIL COMPOSITION AND STABILITY ON RECLAIMED MINE SITES AND TRANSPORTATION, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY RELOCATING THAT SCHOOL TO A PLACE THAT'S IN A MORE REMOTE AREA, SO YOU'VE GOT COST AND TIME RUNNING STUDENTS BACK AND FORTH FROM THERE.

SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH CHOICES AHEAD.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE COST ISSUES, THERE'S JUST SOME WICKED CHOICES THE COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE TO MAKE IN TRADEOFFS TO CONSIDER.

>> SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION?

IS THAT AN OPTION?

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT THERE'S PERHAPS A MORE OPEN BORDERS APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS A VERY CONTENTIOUS AND DIFFICULT ISSUE IN ANY COMMUNITY.

CLOSING A SCHOOL OR CONSOLIDATING A SCHOOL IS AN EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION AS MUCH AS ANYTHING BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE MEMORIES IN THOSE SCHOOLS AND THAT SCHOOL HAS MEANT A LOT TO THAT COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE IN IT, SO THERE'S AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THAT.

IT'S NEVER JUST A COST FACTOR OR A LOGISTICAL DECISION.

IT'S AN EMOTIONAL DECISION.

IN THESE CASES, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE -- THERE HAVE TO BE CONVERSATION ABOUT CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATIONS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE DECLINE IN POPULATION THAT THE COMMUNITIES HAVE SEEN.

YOU CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE SMALL SCHOOLS AND REMOTE SCHOOLS.

IN SOME CASES IT'S A NECESSITY, AS IN SUPERINTENDENT JETT'S CASE.

THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN BUCKHORN THAT IS A LONG WAY FROM ANYTHING, AND SO IT'S SORT OF GEOGRAPHICALLY NECESSARY THAT YOU OPERATE A SCHOOL THERE UNLESS YOU WANT STUDENTS ON A BUS 45 MINUTES EACH WAY EVERY DAY.

SO THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.

BUT WHEN A SCHOOL DROPS BELOW AROUND 250 OR SO STUDENTS, YOU REALLY START STRUGGLING WITH OFFER DIVERSE PROGRAMMING YOU.

START HAVING TO DO THINGS LIKE CUT COURSES OR COMBINE GRADES OR DO WITHOUT CUSTODIAL STAFF OR LIBRARIANS OR SCHOOL NURSES YOU.

START LOSING SOME OF THOSE SUPPORTS AS THE SCHOOL BECOMES SMALLER.

SO YOU EITHER DO THAT OR YOU START SUPPLEMENTING IT, YOU ADD MORE STAFF AND MONEY TO IT WHICH YOU HAVE TO TAKE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR DISTRICT.

HOW MANY KIDS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> AT THOSE TWO SCHOOLS?

>> OR EVEN DISTRICT WIDE.

>> AROUND 3600 DISTRICT WIDE.

ROBINSON SCHOOL HAS AROUND 265.

HELP.

BUCKHORN SCHOOL HAS AROUND 315.

>> SO WOULD YOU EVER EVEN CONSIDER THE NOTION OF SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION?

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU OR EVEN LOOK LIKE?

>> IT'S NOT A REAL POPULAR DECISION, BUT AS COMMISSIONER GLASS SAID, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS WHERE WE CAN BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS, NOT ONLY IN THOSE TWO SCHOOLS BUT IN OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT.

AND HE MENTIONED THE EMOTIONAL PIECE OF IT, AND IT IS, AND PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING EMOTIONAL ABOUT THAT DECISION.

AS LEADERS, WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

>> RIGHT.

SUPERINTENDENT WATTS, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT LONG-TERM LOOKS LIKE, IF THERE'S SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION IN YOUR VIEW AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT?

HAVE YOU HAD DISCUSSIONS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.

>> WE JUST KIND OF WENT THROUGH THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

WE CLOSED OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES SEVEN AND EIGHT AND COMBINED IT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, MADE IT 7-12 AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS.

IT OPENED UP A LOT OF OUR DUAL CREDIT CLASSES, OUR AP CLASSES.

WE GOT WALK TO OFFERING KIDS SOME VOCATIONAL SCHOOL CLASSES.

WHEN WE START DAWNING TALKING ABOUT OUR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OR IT GOT HIT REALLY HARD ON THIS LAST GO-AROUND.

HI IT WON A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE HAD TO PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LEES COLLEGE, THE CAMPUS OF HAZARD COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

THIEVE OPENED THEIR DOOR UP TO THEIR VOCATION A SCHOOL CLASSES AND WE'RE HAVING TO BUS THEM UPTOWN BUT, HIKERS WE'RE STILL HAVING SCHOOL, SO OUR CAMPUS GOT HIT REALLY HARD THEREAT BREATHITT HIGH SCHOOL.

IT GOT THE TRANSPORTATION, IT GOT OUR DOWNSTAIRS CLASSROOM, AS THE COMMISSIONER WAS SAYING, DOWN IN THE BASEMENT OF THE OLD COLISEUM.

IT WAS ROT CA-, ART, CREDIT RECOVERY, A LOT OF OFFICES, DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT WORK OUT OF THAT.

IT GOT FLOODED REALLY BAD.

OUR ATHLETIC FOOTBALL FIELD AND FOOTBALL DEN GOT FLOODED REALLY HARD.

AND ACTUALLY, WE GOT FLOODED IN THE SPRING OF 2021 AND THEN WE FOLLOWED IT UP WITH A HISTORIC FLOOD IN 2022, SO WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SOME CONSOLIDATION, AND WE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN PLANNING ON BUILDING A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

THE FIRST CONCEPT THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS REALLY EMBRACED WAS WITH THE HELP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ED WE MAD A DESIGN WHERE THE BOTTOM LAYERS WERE A PARKING GARAGE AND WE BUILT ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN LEVEL.

SO WE'RE KIND OF PROCEEDING WITH THAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER AVENUES AS FUNDING MAY BECOME AVAILABLE.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE HELP, STATE, FEDERAL FUNDS, HAVING A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER, ALL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, EVERYBODY'S BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE.

SO WE'RE HOPING WE CAN REBUILD THAT.

WE MAY NEED TO MOVE LOCATIONS, AND WE'RE KIND OF LIKE SUPERINTENDENT JETT, EASTERN KENTUCKY IS VERY LANDLOCKED, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, TO REPURPOSE THOSE FACILITIES.

BUT WE ALSO -- I GUESS WE MIGHT AS WELL TALK ABOUT IT.

THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITY WAS THE MARIE ROBERTS ELEMENTARY.

IT GOT A LOT OF PUBLICITY ON THE NEWS.

IT'S ACTUALLY WHERE LOSS CREEK COMES FROM PERRY KNOT AND MEETS DOWN AROUND THAT SCHOOL AND IT'S ACTUALLY SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED IN JANUARY, SO THAT SCHOOL WILL BE MOVING TO TOWN.

WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT CONSOLIDATION IN BREATHITT COUNTY WAY BEFORE THE FLOOD.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS LEAVE EASTERN KENTUCKY FOR WORK AND OTHER REASONS.

SO IT'S KIND OF -- THEY'VE ALL GOT THOSE SENTIMENTAL VALUES, AND JUST BEEN REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE BOARD AND THE SUPPORT.

THEY'VE MADE MADE SOME REALLY CRITICAL DECISIONS.

DURING THE FLOOD WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDINGS A NEW SCHOOL, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FEEL OR WHAT TO THINK ANYMORE.

IT'S HARD TO CELEBRATE THE NEW BUILDING WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DAMAGE.

AND THEN IT IS HARD TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SCHOOLS WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST EVERYTHING.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST LIKE WE NEED TO TAKE A PAUSE AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS BEFORE WE ADVOCATE FOR THE SCHOOL.

SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO JUGGLE THOSE DECISIONS.

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO QUANTIFY HOW MUCH ALL OF THIS BUILDING, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WOULD COST.

>> THE REPLACEMENT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, WE ALL KNOW -- WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE SOME FUNDING.

VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY GAVE A LITTLE MONEY THE LAST FLOOD.

A LITTLE MONEY THE LAST FLOOD.

AND IF WE USE THAT, CONSTRUCTION COSTS PROBABLY WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY, SO WE'RE JUST A LITTLE SHORT, BUT TO QUANTIFY THAT, TO BUILD A NEW ATC IT'S PROBABLY BETWEEN 15 AND 18 MILLION DOLLARS DEPENDING ON THE 69 AND THE LOCATION.

>> HOW MANY DISPLACED STUDENTS DO YOU HAVE OR DO YOU KNOW, STUDENT POPULATION?

YOU MENTIONED MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WHAT'S THE STUDENT POPULATION NUMBER FOR THAT?

>> IT'S ALL THE KIDS THAT TAKE OUR VO CABLING SCHOOL CLASSES.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT ENROLLMENT BUT IT'S EVERYTHING THERE FROM HEALTH SERVICES TO AUTO MECHANICS TO BUSINESS CLASSES, SO WE HAVE A -- WE HAVE A BUS THAT WE RUN, AND IT'S WORKING, AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR GIVING US A HOME AND TAKING THE VO CABLING SCHOOL STAFF IN.

>> CAREER PATHWAYS, RIGHT?

THIS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS IN PLAY, COMMISSIONER, AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT, ABOUT GIVING STUDENTS AN OPTION OR CAREER TRACKS OR FIELDS TO EXPOSE THEM TO.

THEY MAY NOT PURSUE THEM BUT AT LEAST THEY HAVE EXPOSURE TO THEM.

>> RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEEN AMAZING COLLABORATION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WITH THE HAZARD COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE STEPPING UP AND SUPPORTING THAT REGION, ESPECIALLY IN BREATHITT COUNTY WHERE THEY LOST THEIR AREA TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN IN PLACES WHERE IT'S NOT PRACTICAL TO RELOCATE A BUILDING OR RELOCATE A SCHOOL, I'VE ALSO HEARD THE ENGINEERS AND ACTORS AND ARCHITECTS TALK ABOUT HOW THEY FLOOD PROOF BUILDINGS LIKE THEY EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

WE CAN'T MOVE EVERYTHING OUT OF THIS SPOT, AND IN SUPERINTENDENT WATTS' CASE, THEIR BUILDING IS IN AN AREA THAT IT MAY GET FLOODED AGAIN, AND SO THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE CREATE A BUILDING EXPECTING THAT TO HAPPEN WHERE WE CAN FLUSH OUT MUD, MUCK IT OUT AND GET GOING WITH AS LITTLE DISRUPTION AS POSSIBLE.

AND I HEARD SEVERAL STORIES LIKE THAT IN OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS, OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY WERE SAYING, IT MAY -- IT MAY COME MORE THAN EVERY HUNDRED YEARS NOW BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE SEVERITY OF WEATHER THAT WE'RE SEEING, SO HOW CAN WE GET READY FOR THIS IN ADVANCE NEXT TIME.

>> YEAH.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU CARE TO ADD ON THAT FRONT, SUPERINTENDENT JETT?

, JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT AS THE SUPERINTENDENT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, OKAY, HERE'S OUR STUDENT POPULATION, HERE'S WHAT WE NEED, HERE'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY TOLERANCE IS, WHETHER THEY'RE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CONSOLIDATION OR USING A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

HOW DOES THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE BOARD KIND OF MAKE THESE DETERMINATIONS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT, NUMBER ONE, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RETAIN IN THOSE FACILITIES.

AND THEN IF THERE IS NO LAND AVAILABLE THAT IS VIABLE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND I THINK THE ONLY OPTION YOU WOULD HAVE WOULD BE TO LOOK AT CONSOLIDATION.

BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT'S THE LAST RESORT.

>> THAT'S THE LAST RESORT.

>> YES.

>> HOW CONNECTED, MR. BAITS, ARE PEOPLE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION WEEK WHAT YOU CAN ADD TO THAT.

>> IT IS A VERY EMOTIONAL CHARGED TOPIC, AND JUST THINKING OF MY EXPERIENCE SINCE THIS FLOODING OCCURRED IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WEEK TALKING WITH THOSE EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS, IT IS VERY REFLECTIVE THAT THEY LOVE THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

NOW, GRANTED, I THINK THAT AS A REGION OUR PEOPLE HAVE DISPLAYED AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT TRANSCENDS THOSE BOUNDARIES, NOT ONLY SCHOOL BOUNDARIES BUT COUNTY LINES AS WELL.

AND SO IN THINKING ALONG THOSE LINES, I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN KENTUCKY WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO HELP ENSURE THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD, JUST IN THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND I KNOW WE'VE TOUCHED ON THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT'S A THOUGHT THAT REOCCURS CONTINUALLY, OUR SCHOOLS REALLY DO SERVE AS THE CENTER OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN RURAL EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND SO IN THE WAKE OF THIS EVENT, OUR SCHOOLS SHOWED UP AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES RALLIED TOGETHER.

AND I'VE SEEN IT MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, WHO WAS ON THE GROUND AS THESE EVENTS UNFOLDED.

TEACHERS TRAVELING OUT INTO THE COUNTY, BRAVING THOSE IMPASSABLE ROADS, GOING TO -- GOING FAR DISTANCES TO ACTUALLY SEE THEIR STUDENTS WHO WERE IMPACTED.

I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY I'M REFERRING TO.

AND THEN ALSO FOLKS WHO LIVE ELSEWHERE, WHO HAVE EASTERN KENTUCKY ROOTS, THEY POUR SUPPORT IN, AND SO THAT'S BEEN BEAUTIFUL TO SEE AS WELL AS IT HAS UNFOLDED.

BUT, YEAH, IT IS AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED TOPIC BECAUSE COMMUNITY AND PLACE MATTER SO MUCH IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND IT'S A CENTRAL EMPTY LAST CULTURE.

>> WE HEARD SUPERINTENDENT SHEPHERD FROM FLOYD COUNTY TALK ABOUT HOW SCHOOL PERSONNEL, EDUCATORS, AS YOU MENTIONED, CALEB, AND THOSE WHO WORK IN THE FRISKY CENTERS EVEN THOUGH THEY HADDIE THEY MAY HAVE PERSONALLY SUFFERED TREMENDOUS LOSS, STILL HAD IT IN THEM, SUPERINTENDENT WATTS, TO STILL GO OUT AND TO HELP THOSE OTHERS WHO WERE ALSO IN DISTRESS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE HELPING SOMEONE ELSE, IT DOES GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE ABOUT YOUR OWN SITUATION.

DID YOU FINE THAT TO BE TRUE?

>> YES, MA'AM.

IN THE 2021 FLOOD, I HAD A CUSTODIAN HELP ME SET UP A HOMELESS SHELTER ONE NIGHT PUTTING DOWN TARPS, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE LEE WAS GETTING FLOOD WHILE WE WERE DOING IT.

AND THEN I HAVE HAD SO MANY STAFF MEMBERS COME OUT AND PROVIDE SUPPORT THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AT HOME.

IT'S AMAZING SOMETIMES THEY FORGET ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS AT HOME TO COME BACK TO HELP THE STUDENTS AND STAFF.

SO WE DO HAVE VERY HUMBLING GROUPS OF STAFF AND STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND THEN I GUESS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I THINK ABOUT IS HOW ARE FAMILY RESOURCE, YOUTH SERVICE DIRECTORS HAVE HELPED ORGANIZE SO MANY EVENTS.

JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND ALONE THE SCHOOL HAD A MAKESHIFT BOUTIQUE SHOP SET UP WHERE YOU COULD COME IN AND SHOP FOR CLOTHE PSY WE KEEP HAVING SO MANY RESOURCES COME TO EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND I JUST WANT TO CREATE -- THANK YOU GUYS FOR CREATING HOPE, AND WE HOPE RESOURCES CONTINUE TO COME BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL ARE NOT IN A HOME, IN A HOME YET.

>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE AS WE GET COOLER AND COLDER OF PEOPLE STILL BEING PERHAPS EVEN IN TENTS NOT EVEN IN FEMA TRAILER YET, SO OUR HEARTS CERTAINLY GO OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE AND WE HOPE THAT HOPE IS ON THE WAY.

AS WE JUST NEAR THE END OF OUR PROGRAM, SUPERINTENDENT JETT, I WANT YOU TO SAY IF YOU COULD APPROACH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN THEY BEGIN THIS SESSION IN 2023, WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD ASK THEY WILL FOR?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE WOULD BE FUNDING.

KEEP THE FUNDING CONSISTENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OFY -- SEVERAL TIMES DURING THIS DISCUSSION MENTION OF TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND TRAUMA AWARE.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT AS A DISTRICT AS WELL.

BUT I THINK IT HAS TO BECOME A PRIORITY FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT THAT IS REQUIRED CONTENT JUST LIKE READING AND MATH, THAT NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT EVERY DAY IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, IT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE A PRIORITY IF IT'S IN LEGISLATION.

>> BUT TEACHERS, WOULD THEY NOT BALK AT YET THAT IS NOT UNFUNDED MANDATE ON THEM AND TAKE AWAY THE TIME THEY NEED FOR INSTRUCTION?

>> THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE.

WE PURCHASED ONE LAST YEAR CALLED TERRACE METRICS AND IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH SCREENER.

PART OF THAT PROGRAM PROVIDES MANY LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES, COPING SKILLS AND STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT STUDENTS ARE SUFFERING FROM.

>> COMMISSIONER, I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD ABOUT THAT POINT OR JUST TO TAKE AWAY OR WHAT YOU WILL BE SAYING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EVEN NOW DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD AS TESTIMONY IS STILL BEING HEARD ABOUT THE SITUATION THERE.

>> WELL, I THINK IF YOU TALK TO EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT THEIR PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW ARE PANDEMIC RECOVERY.

WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT STUDENTS WITH LOTS OF ACADEMIC NEEDS.

THEY'VE GOT LOTS OF SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL NEEDS AND CONNECTIVITY NEEDS THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, AND SO THAT'S A MAJOR PRIORITY.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE US A COUPLE OF YEARS TO FULLY RECOVER FROM THE DISRUPTION THAT WE SAW BECAUSE OF COVID.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT AN EDUCATOR WORKFORCE CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AROUND THE STATE STRUGGLING TO FILL JOBS, TRYING TO OOH TRACT NEW TALENT INTO THE PROFESSION, TRYING TO HANG THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT'S REALLY OCCURRED BECAUSE OF YEARS OF UNDERFUNDING EDUCATION IN THE STATE, NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, SO I THINK THESE CALLS FOR FUNDING, ADEQUATELY FUNDING EDUCATION ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN I VISITED SUPERINTENDENT JETT'S COMMUNITY AND SAW THE AB COMBES BUILDING, THE, THE BUILDING THAT HAD BEEN ABANDONED AND IT WAS CLOSED, STUDENTS HAD BEEN MOVED OUT AND IT HAD BEEN USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEN WE WALKED THROUGH IT, IT WAS A BEEHIVE ACTIVITY, PEOPLE SCRAPING, CLEANING, PAINTING, MOVING THINGS, CARRYING THINGS OUT, CARRYING THINGS IN.

THOSE WERE ALL EDUCATORS THAT WERE DOING THAT.

SO THAT'S NOT IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION.

WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR, THIS IS NOT IT, WEAR GOGGLES AND CARRY A SCRAPER AROUND AS PART OF YOUR TRAINING, BUT THIS IS WHAT EDUCATORS DO.

AS CALEB SAID, WHEN THE COMMUNITY NEEDS EDUCATORS, THEY ARE THERE, AND WE SAW THAT AGAIN IN THIS CASE.

I HOPE THAT OUR LEGISLATORS REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

>> YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.

WISE WORDS TO END ON AND GOOD REMINDER TO US A ALL.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DINING AND THE SACRIFICIAL WORK THAT YOU'RE DINING TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS AND YOU CONTINUE TO BE OUR THOUGHTS BE SURE TO JOIN US EACH WEEK NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION."

I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30.

UNTIL THEN, TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT