$1.5 million granted to Paintsville Independent’s STEAM Academy

Posted on October 31, 2023October 31, 2023 by admin

$1.5 million granted to Paintsville Independent’s STEAM Academy

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 23, 2023) – Today, at Paintsville High School, Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear presented $1.5 million in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to benefit Paintsville Independent Schools.

The funding will be used to help renovate an old bank building on Main Street in Paintsville and turn it into a vocational learning center for students in 7th through 12th grades known as the STEAM Career Center. The STEAM Career Center will be within walking distance of the high school and middle school and is projected to serve 500 students annually.

“We know that the best investment we can make is in our future,” said Adkins. “Our students are the future of Kentucky, and they deserve every opportunity to get ahead and be successful. This new career center will prepare these students for the jobs of today and of tomorrow.”

“The new Paintsville Independent Economic Development STEAM Career Center is going to provide our students, community members and regional partners opportunities and options,” said Paintsville Independent Schools Superintendent David Gibson. “Our students will be able to explore different career paths and decide which one may suit them best. Investing in our region and helping our students achieve success and reach their dreams is our ultimate goal.”

The renovation plan proposes to modify the old bank building to support engineering labs, an allied health space, a sound studio and a meeting space. Programs expected to be offered will include nursing; phlebotomy; marketing and entrepreneurship; computer programming; advanced manufacturing; culinary arts; and media and sound production.

Several businesses have agreed to provide equipment and expertise to help with the new STEAM academy. Paintsville Independent Schools bought the old bank building in 2022 and received $2.5 million in state funds to establish the STEAM Career Center.

The $1.5 million in funding comes from the base program of the ARC. Projects from the base program are approved at the federal level upon Gov. Beshear’s recommendation.

The ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. Its mission is to innovate, partner and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.

Reported by K-94.7

Jami Ward earns this years KDPP Award

Posted on September 28, 2023September 28, 2023 by admin

Jami Ward earns this years KDPP Award

With her hard and outstanding work, Paintsville Independent would like to congratulate our very own Director of Pupil Personnel, Mrs. Jami Ward, for being named the Kentucky Directors of Pupil Personnel 2023 DPP of the Year! Congratulations!

Paintsville Food Baskets

Posted on December 16, 2022December 16, 2022 by admin

‘Small school, big impact’: Paintsville students to have fruitful Christmas break

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) – Students in Paintsville packed their pantries with produce Thursday, each taking home a bag of fruit as a district Christmas gift.

”Our Board of Education has been adamant that we start helping our kids, because of what’s going on with inflation and stuff,” said superintendent David Gibson. “So, this is one way that we can give back to our community- to give back to our students, who we think are some of the best kids in the world.”

The district used some of its excess funds to buy enough fruit for more than 800 gift bags, then the seniors and juniors at the high school helped divide them up and personalize the bags for their peers.

“This is a small school so it feels more like a family and a community,” said senior Camryn Helton.

The idea to make the district-wide gift something sustainable and substantial was important to administrators. Culinary teacher Melissa Castle said the students were able to take part in giving back in a way that could have a true impact on someone who will be home without school meals in the two weeks to come.

”It’s a gift that they can eat and it’s also a gift that they may not have in their house households every day,” she said. ”We take for granted that everybody has fresh fruits and vegetables in their home and they don’t. So, to be able to offer them something that’s fresh to eat during these next two weeks? I think it’s just a gift that will keep on giving.”

Board member Joe Porter said it was important to the Board of Education to see the students take home the provisions, since they do so much to make the district proud.

“Students appreciate what we do for them, but they do much more for us than we do for them,” he said.

Paintsville High School Principal Tiffany Austin said the project is a drop in the bucket of the outpouring of love her students are always willing to give.

”We may be a small school, but we’re making a big impact,” she said.

https://www.wymt.com/2022/12/16/small-school-big-impact-paintsville-students-have-fruitful-christmas-break/?fbclid=IwAR3R5zLyBMF350x2sClZeXY7f87-NafwJ1w73bmFNw1JcBITiBt6VciheN4