Education

While many students are taking advantage of summer break by relaxing by the pool or earning some spending cash with a summer job, Nolan Hughes and Emma Saarinen are using their time off to broaden their education.

Hughes and Saarinen are rising seniors with The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University. They were accepted into the program last year and could graduate next fall with enough credit hours to enter college as juniors.

 Walking into Southside Elementary School’s library in the middle of summer to the sound of kids running around, one might be surprised, but the kids have a much bigger purpose.

The 10 kids running around are searching for markers to make posters to let people know that they’re collecting items for food drives and chemotherapy care baskets.

As part of The Leader in Me, a countywide project, students in the Young Leaders organization are spending their summer learning how to become better leaders and to give back to their community.

The Shelby County Board of Education Thursday took another reluctant look at what it is asking parents and teacher to spend for children to attend school.

Last month board members voted in approval of presented student fees, with some slight hesitance.

Several board members noted that asking parents to pay student fees on top of the already climbing cost of supplies could be putting a financial burden on many.

Student costs and fees will again be a big part of the Board of Education’s discussion when it reconvenes Thursday at 7 p.m. for its regular meeting at the district’s offices, 1155 Main Street in Shelbyville.

SCPS Public Relations Coordinator Ryan Allan said the matter of school supplies will be raised during the superintendent’s report and he expects the board to discuss the issue and possibly take action on resolving some concerns with them.