Parkway Superintendent Shares Updates on Coaching Change, Student Success and Safety Initiatives
As spring sports begin across the district, Parkway Local Schools Superintendent Laura Young says the Panther spirit is strong while the district continues working on initiatives to support students both academically and emotionally.
In a recent update, Young announced that Parkway has hired a new head football coach. Keenan Leichty will take over the program as he and his family relocate from Gainesville, Georgia. Young says Lichty is originally from Versailles and is excited to return to the area.
Young also highlighted strong academic performance among Parkway students. At the middle school, 229 students made the honor roll during the first quarter and 230 students earned honor roll recognition in the second quarter. At the high school, 184 students were on the honor roll in the first quarter, while 177 students achieved the honor roll in the second quarter.
Young noted the district is nearing the end of the third quarter and will soon enter the final quarter of the school year.
The district has also received a school bus safety grant totaling $35,444. The funding will be used to install LED safety lighting on all district buses. Route buses will also receive ground wash lights designed to illuminate the area near the bus steps to improve visibility for students entering and exiting.
Parkway is also working with the Mercer County Educational Service Center to develop a school-based mental health model. As part of that effort, the district is working to hire a school social worker to help address student needs in a proactive way.
In addition, the district launched a new anonymous reporting system called STOPit in January. The app allows students to report concerns at any time, even when school is not in session. School officials say the system is monitored around the clock so that issues can be addressed quickly, while still encouraging students to speak with trusted adults when they feel comfortable doing so.
