Scott Co. Public Schools prepares for a new year with major changes

School starts Wednesday for SCPS with a new building and programs

SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEW NOW) — With only two days remaining before the start of the new school year, Scott County Public Schools is gearing up for the first day. The district is making substantial changes as it prepares for the academic year, including the unveiling of a new building at Scott County High School.

“Now the new Scott County High School will be open for business,” Superintendent Billy Parker told ABC 36.

The air around Scott County High School is filled with the sounds of construction as workers put the finishing touches on the new facility. Superintendent Billy Parker provided ABC 36 with an exclusive tour of the building, highlighting the updates and enhancements that will greet students on Wednesday.

“We were able to take the current pathways that we have with career and technical education, and make sure that we beef that up,” he said. “You know, I really think about the ag space, the space for agriculture education, is tremendously enhanced from what it was,” said Supt. Parker. “The art room space is tremendously improved”… “You know, we’ve got a gymnasium space and an auditorium space that’s second to none,” said Supt. Parker.

High school students won’t be the only ones stepping into a new building this year, as the district looks to make use of the old Scott County High School building.

“We’ve got students from Scott County Middle School that will be going from the previous school they’ve been in to the old Scott County High School, which we’ve renovated this summer. Put about a $4 million renovation project onto that school,” said Supt. Parker.

In addition to the new building, high school students will have access to a new educational program developed in partnership with Toyota. This initiative aims to create a direct pathway to careers in manufacturing, offering students valuable skills and opportunities in a growing industry.

“We have partnered with Toyota for a manufacturing pathway that what we’re referencing is the 4t Academy. People don’t realize the abundance of opportunities that exist at Toyota, and so I think students that will be a part of this program will get to see all of the different avenues that they could pursue, said Supt. Parker”

Despite the widespread teacher and bus driver shortages affecting many districts nationwide, Superintendent Parker reported that Scott County has not been significantly impacted by these issues. However, he acknowledged that some sectors within the district still face hiring challenges.

“The one area that there is some concern is the area of special education teachers, they’ve changed some rulings on on what types of people can fulfill those roles in our state, and so as a result, we were more limited in the pool of people that can fill those positions. So those positions are a little bit more challenging this year to fill,” said Supt. Parker.”

As Scott County Schools prepares to welcome more than 10,000 students, Parker expressed optimism about the district’s future. With growth on the horizon, he says there is potential for further expansion, including the possibility of adding a new elementary school in the coming years.