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Students praise Rockcastle County’s My Rock Online; staff report graduates and testing plans
Summary
Students and staff described My Rock Online (MRO), Rockcastle County Schools’ virtual program, as helping students catch up, pursue dual credit and manage health or anxiety issues. Staff reported recent graduates, weekly in-person supports and testing plans; enrollment figures given in the meeting varied.
At a Rockcastle County Schools meeting, students and staff described My Rock Online (MRO), the district’s virtual learning option, as a pathway for students who need a flexible schedule or extra support to catch up, pursue college classes and manage health or anxiety concerns.
MRO staff said the program runs semester-to-semester and includes weekly in-person check-ins and group Google Meet sessions with staff. One staff member said the program currently has about 60 virtual students — “30 or … 35 middle school students, about a 25 high school age students” — and explained a two-week trial window to confirm a student’s readiness for online learning was extended to March 1 this semester because of weather-related closures. Separately, student speaker Lila Holt described herself as “one of about 160 MRO students,” a discrepancy the presenters did not resolve in the meeting.
“MRO is more than just a program,” said Summer Carroll, a junior in the MRO program. “MRO has allowed me to improve my health and I'm thankful to say because of it I'll be able to attend my senior year in person.” Carroll told the board she used the program to catch up after medical absences and has enrolled in dual-credit classes at Somerset Community College.
Lila Holt, a senior and representative from My Rock Online, told the board the online option let her attend weekly therapy, hold a job at Rockcastle Hospital, take AP and college classes and “find a place to belong.” She credited MRO staff by name for individualized support: “Because of them, I was able to find a place to belong. My story has a happy ending. It's because of My Rock online.”
Staff also reported operational details: seven students had completed all credits for graduation and “about 13 total” had already finished course requirements, progress reports were mailed at semester break, and MRO students who receive related services get those supports when they come to the academy. Presenters said parents can review student progress on district grade platforms (referred to in the meeting as “Infinite Canvas”; the district’s student information system is Infinite Campus) and encouraged parents to check their child’s Chromebook for up-to-date status.
Regarding testing, a staff member said roughly 30 MRO juniors were scheduled for the ACT and “all but four” attended the test date referenced in the meeting. Staff said end-of-year testing will be scheduled across district sites given space constraints in the MRO building now that sixth graders are located there.
Board members and others at the meeting praised the program and its staff for building relationships with students and helping them re-engage in school and postsecondary planning. Presenters described ongoing college-application support: a counselor identified in the meeting as Miss Mahavish visited to help seniors complete FAFSA and college applications and scheduled follow-up appointments for students planning programs at Somerset.
The meeting record did not include formal votes or motions on MRO operations; staff requested continued support and resources for the program.
The board heard personal accounts from MRO students about academic recovery, dual enrollment and mental-health supports; staff provided enrollment figures, completion counts and testing plans but did not reconcile the different enrollment totals stated during the discussion.
