Allen County Preschool’s Early Learning Bus Ready to Roll (by Don Meador)
“Cadet” is coming to a location near you.
The Allen County Preschool Program unveiled their new Preschool Early Learning bus Friday (December 19) and outlined plans for how the bus---which is called Cadet---will be used as a learning tool for preschool age children across Allen County.
“We have flipped a bus so to speak,” explained Allen County Primary Center Assistant Principal and Preschool Coordinator Matt Shepherd. “We have taken one of our buses, gutted it out, and created a preschool classroom that can be transported to areas within our community. Our goal is to start at one of the staples in the community---First Fridays---once First Fridays starts back in the spring. Then, once a month, we will set up our early learning bus in various areas in the community and provide an opportunity for children to experience what preschool is like. We also want families to understand the importance of preschool. The bus is not only for the children but also for families, encouraging them to come and see all the great things happening at Allen County Primary Center and our preschool program.”
The bus has been totally transformed. All seats have been removed and replaced with preschool age chairs and tables. Books on shelving line the walls. Early learning games are available. Art and science activities stand ready for use. Mats provide seating for kids on the new laminated flooring. A portable slide can be attached at the rear exit to get youngsters a little fun as well.
“It is a mini classroom,” Shepherd explained. “We have a dynamic play area and an arts center. We have puzzles and books. We have math and literacy manipulatives. The bus also has an awning for an outdoor area with materials where kids can practice gross and fine motor skills. We want to give kids the experience of preschool so that the kids will want to experience it more. “
The makeover of the bus into a mobile classroom was funded through a grant from the Kentucky Office of Special Education and Early Learning Center (OSE-ELC). Using Covid relief funds, the OSE-ELC was able to help create the new tool to enhance learning locally.
“Our goal was to support rural communities in ensuring that every child had access to a preschool environment.” noted Alisha Reeves, a representative from OSE-ELC. “We wanted Allen County to have an opportunity to reach as many children as possible. It’s been fun watching this happen.”
Shepherd added that information will be published (in print and online) about the times and locations where the early learning bus will be once the bus starts to roll. Parents/Guardians of preschool age kids are encouraged to watch for announcements, bring their kids, and discover the exciting adventures which await.
The revealing of the new bus also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the preschool staff , special guests, and the Scottsville-Allen County Camber of Commerce.
“Cadet” is coming to a location near you.
The Allen County Preschool Program unveiled their new Preschool Early Learning bus Friday (December 19) and outlined plans for how the bus---which is called Cadet---will be used as a learning tool for preschool age children across Allen County.
“We have flipped a bus so to speak,” explained Allen County Primary Center Assistant Principal and Preschool Coordinator Matt Shepherd. “We have taken one of our buses, gutted it out, and created a preschool classroom that can be transported to areas within our community. Our goal is to start at one of the staples in the community---First Fridays---once First Fridays starts back in the spring. Then, once a month, we will set up our early learning bus in various areas in the community and provide an opportunity for children to experience what preschool is like. We also want families to understand the importance of preschool. The bus is not only for the children but also for families, encouraging them to come and see all the great things happening at Allen County Primary Center and our preschool program.”
The bus has been totally transformed. All seats have been removed and replaced with preschool age chairs and tables. Books on shelving line the walls. Early learning games are available. Art and science activities stand ready for use. Mats provide seating for kids on the new laminated flooring. A portable slide can be attached at the rear exit to get youngsters a little fun as well.
“It is a mini classroom,” Shepherd explained. “We have a dynamic play area and an arts center. We have puzzles and books. We have math and literacy manipulatives. The bus also has an awning for an outdoor area with materials where kids can practice gross and fine motor skills. We want to give kids the experience of preschool so that the kids will want to experience it more. “
The makeover of the bus into a mobile classroom was funded through a grant from the Kentucky Office of Special Education and Early Learning Center (OSE-ELC). Using Covid relief funds, the OSE-ELC was able to help create the new tool to enhance learning locally.
“Our goal was to support rural communities in ensuring that every child had access to a preschool environment.” noted Alisha Reeves, a representative from OSE-ELC. “We wanted Allen County to have an opportunity to reach as many children as possible. It’s been fun watching this happen.”
Shepherd added that information will be published (in print and online) about the times and locations where the early learning bus will be once the bus starts to roll. Parents/Guardians of preschool age kids are encouraged to watch for announcements, bring their kids, and discover the exciting adventures which await.
The revealing of the new bus also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the preschool staff , special guests, and the Scottsville-Allen County Camber of Commerce.
In Loving Memory of Laura Rector
Allen County Schools mourns the passing of Laura Rector, a devoted teacher at Allen County-Scottsville High School.
Laura was known for her servant’s heart and her deep love for students. She consistently placed the needs of others before her own and viewed teaching not just as a profession, but as a calling. Laura shared her life with her students, lovingly referring to them as “her kids,” and poured patience, compassion, and care into their lives each day.
She embraced life with a positive spirit and faced even the most difficult moments with grace, strength, and an encouraging smile. Laura’s legacy is one of love first, expressed through quiet, faithful service that made a lasting difference in the lives of so many.
She will be deeply missed by her students, colleagues, and the entire Allen County Schools community.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Laura’s family, friends, students, and coworkers during this difficult time and ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Veterans Day at AC-SH. included words of thanks, remembering, music, and a special presentation. Today's Veterans Day program at the high school included a special Veterans Service Award given by the high school JROTC. The year, the special award of recognition was presented to US Army Veteran James "Boss" Weaver. As a young adult, Weaver served in both the European Theatre and the Pacific Theatre in the final days of World War II and in the years following . Returning home, Weaver's service to his community included over 30 years with the Allen County Road Department. This past summer, Weaver turned 99 years young.
Veterans are welcome!
Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Eighth-grade students from the James E. Bazzell Middle School attended the annual SCKLaunch Career Day on Friday, October 24. At the morning event, students were able to see the many careers available across in south-central Kentucky. The students explored the possibilities in fields such as business and industry, health care, technology, media, banking, government, and manufacturing. The SCKLaunch program was held at the Knicely Conference Center and sponsored by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Warren County and Bowling Green schools.
Earlier this week, Allen County Primary Center principal Leah Renfrow went back to school. In order to see what a typical third grader does on a regular school day, Mrs. Renfrow spent her day as a student in Mrs. Alex Stinson's classroom. Mrs. Renfrow listened to instruction and worked alongside her classmates. She also enjoyed bonding with the students throughout the day.
Your chance to check out the AC-SHS Patriot Band!
CORE Girls Basketball Info!
Allen County Schools is excited to expand the robotics offerings at each school thanks to a grant from the TVA! Watch the news story from WBKO!
Our SRO's for the 25-26 school year.
Across the District on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
Patriot Clinic Information
We've been missing our students! ACS faculty and staff have been eagerly awaiting the first day!
The new school year for students begins Thursday, August 7. Today, teachers and staff from every school and every building were welcomed back with breakfast at the Patriot Athletic Complex. Special entertainment was provided as well. After the meal, new staff were recognized and summer "joys" were celebrated. To close the opening day assembly, Superintendent Travis Hamby addressed the employees with a challenging and inspiring message for the new school year .
One of the more hands on presentations during Monday's ACS Connect professional development was on Diagnosing Student Engagement Issues. Educators attending the 45-minute session were asked to address the topic much like a "doctor" would to make a diagnose of an illness. The room were broken down into examine rooms with groups asked to look at a case file and determine what might be the issue with a student who would not engage. The exercise included a time of diagnosis before addressing ways for teachers to help their students be more engaged in the classroom. .
Educators and administrators from across the Allen County School District spent Monday, August 4 learning from and connecting with one another. The first Allen County Schools' Connect in-house professional development was held. The daylong event featured about 70 District educators presenting four, 45-minute sessions to their colleagues on a wide variety of topics. Earlier this year, teachers were asked what topics they would like to learn more about. Topics included C-Teaching, Creating Connections, Ignite Engagement, Intervention in K-6 Grade, Unlocking Literacy, Viewboard, Educator Wellbeing, and many, many more.
Partnership Enhances Computer Science Learning Opportunities
The Allen County School District in collaboration with the Scottsville–Allen County Chamber of Commerce and the We Lead CS initiative have launched a new program aimed at preparing local students for careers in a growing technology field. The initiative is supported by a $20,000 We Lead CS grant to the Chamber aligns with the school district’s P3 PIM (Perkins Innovation & Modernization) Grant.
“The Chamber is excited to partner with our schools, local businesses and industries, to help prepare workers that will come from our schools,” noted Chamber president Susan Carter. “The We Lead Computer Science program partners with local communities and organizations to expand access to computer science education. Collaborations with Chamber of Commences like the Scottsville Allen County Chamber are essential to building Kentucky's tech talent pipeline and creating meaningful pathways to careers.”
During last Friday’s official announcement for the new initiative, We Lead CS Director of Student Services Jenna Gray explained the goals of We Lead CS.
“It’s a pleasure to be here tonight to celebrate a community that’s stepping up to the lead,” noted Gray. “We are a non-profit working across Kentucky to prepare students for careers in the computer scene and technology field. We connect schools, employers, and families to build local tech talent to keep opportunities and innovation at home. We are proud to recognize the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber to accept the challenge to partner with us to help engage employers, students, parents and schools in preparing the next generation of tech leaders for this region. This community has shown they are willing to take the lead. We are here to support that work. Tonight I am proud to award a $20,000 grant to the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce. This will help develop the future tech workforce in southcentral Kentucky.”
The grant allows the Chamber to work with the Allen County School District to build additional computer science and technology opportunities at the Allen County Career and Technical Center.
“We are excited to partner with the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce and We Lead CS on this incredible opportunity to support our students,” said Allen County School Superintendent Travis Hamby. “This grant will help us build meaningful connections between our students and the local community, and local employers through mentorship and hands-on learning experiences. This will help our students see the real-world applications of the computer science field. There is nothing better than seeing a student’s face light up when they are learning about a career that excites them. The best way to do that is to expose them to the careers and the possibilities right here in Scottsville and Allen County.”
Joseph Cosby, the P3 Program Director for the Perkin's Innovation & Modernization Grant, shared how the partnerships benefits students and meets a need within the community.
“For the 25-26 school year, we have added the We Lead Computer Science program to our offerings,” Cosby explained. “The kids will start in eight grade with an intro to Computer Science. We have also started a Cybersecurity career pathway. The Intro to Computer Science and the Cybersecurity pathway are what we are focusing on right now. We found this to be a need in our community. We are also looking at adding additional pathways in this field in the future.”
Cosby further explained that the collaboration with We Lead CS allows students to take virtual classes to develop technology skills. Already, approximately 50 students between the James E. Bazzell Middle School and the Tech Center are enrolled in entry-level classes in the program for this school year.
“It’s hard to find a teacher to come in and teach these classes,” Cosby pointed out. “This fills the gap since they (We Lead CS) supply the teacher and it's all online. This is a great opportunity. The grant is another avenue to help students. But, we have to get partners involved that will help our kids be able to not only go through the program but also have jobs later on. The grant gets the Chamber involved and industries involved. It will get all of us working together.”
The We Lead CS program includes classes in programming, cybersecurity, network security, and network administration. Students who complete the required course load can enter the workforce as IT specialists with opportunities for advanced careers plentiful.
For more information on the We Lead CS program in Allen County or to serve as a business/industry partner, contact Susan Carter with the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce or Joseph Cosby with Allen County Schools.
The Allen County School District in collaboration with the Scottsville–Allen County Chamber of Commerce and the We Lead CS initiative have launched a new program aimed at preparing local students for careers in a growing technology field. The initiative is supported by a $20,000 We Lead CS grant to the Chamber aligns with the school district’s P3 PIM (Perkins Innovation & Modernization) Grant.
“The Chamber is excited to partner with our schools, local businesses and industries, to help prepare workers that will come from our schools,” noted Chamber president Susan Carter. “The We Lead Computer Science program partners with local communities and organizations to expand access to computer science education. Collaborations with Chamber of Commences like the Scottsville Allen County Chamber are essential to building Kentucky's tech talent pipeline and creating meaningful pathways to careers.”
During last Friday’s official announcement for the new initiative, We Lead CS Director of Student Services Jenna Gray explained the goals of We Lead CS.
“It’s a pleasure to be here tonight to celebrate a community that’s stepping up to the lead,” noted Gray. “We are a non-profit working across Kentucky to prepare students for careers in the computer scene and technology field. We connect schools, employers, and families to build local tech talent to keep opportunities and innovation at home. We are proud to recognize the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber to accept the challenge to partner with us to help engage employers, students, parents and schools in preparing the next generation of tech leaders for this region. This community has shown they are willing to take the lead. We are here to support that work. Tonight I am proud to award a $20,000 grant to the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce. This will help develop the future tech workforce in southcentral Kentucky.”
The grant allows the Chamber to work with the Allen County School District to build additional computer science and technology opportunities at the Allen County Career and Technical Center.
“We are excited to partner with the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce and We Lead CS on this incredible opportunity to support our students,” said Allen County School Superintendent Travis Hamby. “This grant will help us build meaningful connections between our students and the local community, and local employers through mentorship and hands-on learning experiences. This will help our students see the real-world applications of the computer science field. There is nothing better than seeing a student’s face light up when they are learning about a career that excites them. The best way to do that is to expose them to the careers and the possibilities right here in Scottsville and Allen County.”
Joseph Cosby, the P3 Program Director for the Perkin's Innovation & Modernization Grant, shared how the partnerships benefits students and meets a need within the community.
“For the 25-26 school year, we have added the We Lead Computer Science program to our offerings,” Cosby explained. “The kids will start in eight grade with an intro to Computer Science. We have also started a Cybersecurity career pathway. The Intro to Computer Science and the Cybersecurity pathway are what we are focusing on right now. We found this to be a need in our community. We are also looking at adding additional pathways in this field in the future.”
Cosby further explained that the collaboration with We Lead CS allows students to take virtual classes to develop technology skills. Already, approximately 50 students between the James E. Bazzell Middle School and the Tech Center are enrolled in entry-level classes in the program for this school year.
“It’s hard to find a teacher to come in and teach these classes,” Cosby pointed out. “This fills the gap since they (We Lead CS) supply the teacher and it's all online. This is a great opportunity. The grant is another avenue to help students. But, we have to get partners involved that will help our kids be able to not only go through the program but also have jobs later on. The grant gets the Chamber involved and industries involved. It will get all of us working together.”
The We Lead CS program includes classes in programming, cybersecurity, network security, and network administration. Students who complete the required course load can enter the workforce as IT specialists with opportunities for advanced careers plentiful.
For more information on the We Lead CS program in Allen County or to serve as a business/industry partner, contact Susan Carter with the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce or Joseph Cosby with Allen County Schools.
Stay Informed - Key ways families and community can engage with Allen County Schools!
At Allen County Schools, we believe that strong, consistent communication is essential to student success, as well as family & community engagement. That’s why we’ve taken intentional steps to streamline how we share information, making it easier for you to stay informed, connected, and involved.
Check out this Open Letter to Our Allen County School Families and Community
