INDEPENDENCE — The news hit Simon Kenton High School Principal Mike Tolliver with the force of an algebra book to the side of his head. He was shocked and upset, he said.

        His Independence school was one of four in Kenton County that posted Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) scores in 2001 that not only did not go up, but were below 1999-2000 levels.

        Simon Kenton's scores are 7.1 points away from the state's 2002 target.

        “We're very upset about it,” Mr. Tolliver said of his school's drop from last fall from 68.8 to 66.1 on the assessment, which measures attendance levels and eight core content areas.

        The other Kenton County schools that dropped are: Caywood Elementary in Edgewood (a drop from 76.4 in 1999-2000 to 75.4 in 2001), Taylor Mill Elementary (80.8 to 79.0) and Visalia Elementary (60.6 to 60.2).

        Like every district in the state, the Kenton County School District is now preparing for the 2002 CATS exams in April — but these four, and Simon Kenton in particular, have the furthest to go to get back in the running toward the state-recommended goals.

        For the 1999-2000 biennium, schools received an average score based on attendance and test scores in eight content areas. Schools that achieve proficient status receive cash rewards, while others receive varying levels of state assistance.

        According to district assessment coordinator Barb Juengling, Simon Kenton was rated “proficient” in the 1999-2000 and 1997-98 periods and thus received state rewards money.

        The state Department of Education grades schools on a scale of 0-140, with 140 being distinguished. The department's goal is for all schools to have proficient CATS scores of 100 by 2014.

        Ms. Juengling said a grade of 100 means students should be proficient in all subjects, with fewer than 5 percent at the novice level — a designation that is determined separately from the CATS test.

        Taylor Mill Elementary Principal Gayle Helmer compares the process to losing the last 10 pounds of your diet.

        “As schools get closer and closer, it gets more difficult to achieve,” Ms. Helmer said.

        Simon Kenton's target score for 2002 is 73.2, requiring a 7.1-point increase that is the largest in the district.

        But Kentucky Department of Education spokeswomen Lisa Gross said making up such a deficit is doable. She said the first step is to re-examine core content results for each subject to determine where the most work is needed.

        “They can (also) look at internal structure to make sure that it's stable,” Ms. Gross said. “They can work with students who need help.”

        Simon Kenton's enrollment increased from 1,144 for the 2000-01 school year to the current 1,248. But Mr. Tolliver cited three reasons for the schools' CATS score decrease: staff complacency over being rewarded three of the previous four periods, significant teacher turnover over the past five years and student apathy caused by a lack of accountability for their achievement (Ohio students have to pass state tests to graduate, but Kentucky students do not).

        To fix the problem, Mr. Tolliver is putting in three changes: a return to giving the CATS test in homerooms rather than at larger test sites; creation of a curriculum map so what the students learn can better be tracked; and increased professional development instruction.

        “We didn't push hard enough,” Mr. Tolliver said. “The turnover in teachers the last four, five years has been 40, 50 percent. We have to make sure (students are) buying into what we're teaching them, or at least into doing the best you can.”

        Mr. Tolliver blames the turnover rate largely on teachers leaving for higher-paying jobs in Ohio and elsewhere.

        The overall report for the district's 12 elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools is good.

        Of the district's 19 schools, 15 have higher midpoint biennium averages than in 1999-2000, the last two-year period measured. Of them, seven elementary schools — Beechgrove, R.C. Hinsdale, Kenton, Piner, River Ridge and Ryland Heights — and Dixie Heights High School are above their 2002 goals.

        “We believe we're doing a good job because we have strong teachers and focused leadership at the building level and at the district level,” Superintendent Susan Cook said.

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