In 2025, my reporting put me face-to-face with sharks and stingrays, crawling through a firefighter training course, sitting in a living room filled with a century of memories and digging into local schools. Every year, LINK nky reporters round up our top five stories from the year. I chose a collection of stories that I […]
Tag: Newport schools
Posted inNews
Newport Schools extend finance consultant contract through school year
The Newport Board of Education approved an extension of its consulting contract with former finance director Tete Turner, adding up to $20,000 in additional work through July 2026. Turner’s original contract from March 6 to February 2026 was to help the district assess its budget shortfall. That original contract was “not to exceed” $25,000, and […]
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Newport Schools receives check to support family resource center
Newport Independent Schools received a check for $30,800 on Wednesday night. EducateNKY Vice President Tom Haggard presented the check at the school’s Oct. 22 board meeting. The money will support the school’s family resource and youth services centers. EducateNKY is a regional nonprofit focused on improving educational outcomes from prenatal through high school. Check out […]
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Newport schools seek solutions as gifted, talented teacher opening persists
Despite state mandates requiring every district to provide gifted and talented education, Kentucky’s credentialing system is making it harder for schools like Newport’s to hire qualified teachers to lead those programs. The Newport Board of Education and district teachers discussed during the Oct. 23 Newport Board of Education meeting the need for a gifted and […]
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Program distributing free books to kids looks to expand Kentucky footprint
What you need to know A Cincinnati-based organization that distributes free books to students at select schools, including five schools in Northern Kentucky, is hoping to bring the joy of reading to even more kids in the commonwealth. “It brings books into kids’ homes that might not otherwise have a home library,” said Molly Wesley, […]
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Newport kindergartner taken to wrong bus stop twice on first day of school
A Newport kindergartner’s first day of school turned into a stressful experience after he was directed to the wrong bus stop twice in one day, leaving his parents frustrated with what they describe as a lack of communication from the school district. “I mean, they knew that the times were changing for school, and they […]
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After deficit fears, Newport Schools now forecasts balanced budget
What you need to know In January, Newport Independent School District suggested it could face a $3.9 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2026. Now the district is projecting to be in the green. Last October, things started looking ominous for the district’s financial state with an announced $1.9 million budget deficit. By Oct. 17, […]
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Newport Schools tightens cell phone use for students
Newport Schools is making updates to its cell phone use policy for students. The Newport Board of Education voted at a meeting on July 30 to change its code of conduct to reflect that students cannot be on their cell phones during the “instructional day” versus the previous language of “instructional time.” After a conversation […]
Posted inEducation
Newport appoints interim superintendent
Newport Independent School District has appointed Matt Atkins as its interim superintendent. The Newport Board of Education appointed Atkins at its regular meeting on June 25. Atkins has served as principal of Newport Primary School since 2017 and graduated from Newport High School in 2000. He has worked in the district for 19 years. Atkins […]
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Newport Schools to pay superintendent $175K in exit agreement
Newport Superintendent Tony Watts’ duties with the district will end on June 30 after he and the board of education came to an agreement on his resignation. Watts resigned as superintendent on May 15 after an over two-hour closed session meeting with the school board. At a special meeting on June 4, after speaking in […]