Important Safety Procedures for East Carter High School Football Games
The safety of our students is always a top priority. Due to several recent incidents at East Carter High School home football games, we are implementing and reinforcing the following expectations, effective tonight and for all future home games.
1. Adult Supervision Required for Younger Students
Students in 8th grade and below must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult when attending football games. These students may not be dropped off and left unattended. Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their children throughout the event.
2. Restricted Areas of the Football Field
Students are not permitted in the grassy area beyond the far end of the track where football practice equipment is stored. The track serves as the boundary for where students may walk.
Unfortunately, we have had incidents involving students climbing on and attempting to damage equipment, hiding behind equipment trailers, and going through the fence onto private property. These behaviors create serious safety concerns and will not be tolerated.
3. Parent and Guardian Responsibility
While our schools host athletic events, football games are not supervised in the same manner as the regular school day. School personnel are responsible for managing the event, but parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising their children and ensuring they follow expectations.
4. Consequences for Unsafe Behavior
Students who engage in unsafe, destructive, or inappropriate behavior may be required to leave the event. Law enforcement will be contacted when circumstances warrant, and parents or guardians will be notified. If a child's safety is at risk and a parent or guardian cannot be reached, additional agencies, including DCBS, may be contacted as appropriate.
We want our football games to be enjoyable, family-friendly events where students, families, and community members can come together to support our teams. However, student safety is not negotiable. We need everyone's cooperation to ensure a safe and positive environment.
Thank you to our parents, families, and community members for helping us keep our students safe while supporting East Carter athletics.
Dr. Jennifer Fraley
Superintendent, Carter County Schools
The safety of our students is always a top priority. Due to several recent incidents at East Carter High School home football games, we are implementing and reinforcing the following expectations, effective tonight and for all future home games.
1. Adult Supervision Required for Younger Students
Students in 8th grade and below must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult when attending football games. These students may not be dropped off and left unattended. Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their children throughout the event.
2. Restricted Areas of the Football Field
Students are not permitted in the grassy area beyond the far end of the track where football practice equipment is stored. The track serves as the boundary for where students may walk.
Unfortunately, we have had incidents involving students climbing on and attempting to damage equipment, hiding behind equipment trailers, and going through the fence onto private property. These behaviors create serious safety concerns and will not be tolerated.
3. Parent and Guardian Responsibility
While our schools host athletic events, football games are not supervised in the same manner as the regular school day. School personnel are responsible for managing the event, but parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising their children and ensuring they follow expectations.
4. Consequences for Unsafe Behavior
Students who engage in unsafe, destructive, or inappropriate behavior may be required to leave the event. Law enforcement will be contacted when circumstances warrant, and parents or guardians will be notified. If a child's safety is at risk and a parent or guardian cannot be reached, additional agencies, including DCBS, may be contacted as appropriate.
We want our football games to be enjoyable, family-friendly events where students, families, and community members can come together to support our teams. However, student safety is not negotiable. We need everyone's cooperation to ensure a safe and positive environment.
Thank you to our parents, families, and community members for helping us keep our students safe while supporting East Carter athletics.
Dr. Jennifer Fraley
Superintendent, Carter County Schools
Substitute Training
November 3, 2026
8:30 AM @ Central Office
For: Any person who wishes to substitute in Carter County Schools for the spring semester and who has NOT participated in substitute training during the 2026-2027 school year. This will be the last substitute training for the current school year.
What to Bring: Driver’s License, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, transcripts (unofficial)
All questions should be directed to the Personnel Office via email or phone.
Joshua Mabry: Joshua.mabry@carter.kyschools.us 606-474-6696 ext. 20209
Kelly Bond: Kelly.bond@carter.kyschools.us 606-474-6696 ext. 20102
Students will have the opportunity to get flu vaccines at school. See the information from UK KDMC.
Hear ye, hear ye!
Today, a group of West Carter Middle School students traded their textbooks for a trip back in time at the First Annual Vandalia Renaissance Festival!
Students explored local vendors, experienced Renaissance-era traditions, and discovered how people in the past lived, communicated, and celebrated. From completing fantasy quests to trying new activities and stepping outside their comfort zones, our Comets enjoyed a day filled with history, adventure, and hands-on learning!
A special THANK YOU to the Carter County Board of Education for making opportunities like this possible for our students! Experiences like these take learning beyond the classroom walls, spark curiosity, and create memories students will carry for years to come.
We also want to thank the organizers, performers, and vendors of the Vandalia Renaissance Festival for bringing history to life and giving our students such a unique experience!
Huzzah for a day well spent!
Today, a group of West Carter Middle School students traded their textbooks for a trip back in time at the First Annual Vandalia Renaissance Festival!
Students explored local vendors, experienced Renaissance-era traditions, and discovered how people in the past lived, communicated, and celebrated. From completing fantasy quests to trying new activities and stepping outside their comfort zones, our Comets enjoyed a day filled with history, adventure, and hands-on learning!
A special THANK YOU to the Carter County Board of Education for making opportunities like this possible for our students! Experiences like these take learning beyond the classroom walls, spark curiosity, and create memories students will carry for years to come.
We also want to thank the organizers, performers, and vendors of the Vandalia Renaissance Festival for bringing history to life and giving our students such a unique experience!
Huzzah for a day well spent!
At the most recent CCBOE meeting, the Board approved Phase 4 of the new school facility project. This phase will allow us to complete the full Carter County High School building, including the competition gym.
Moving forward with Phase 4 now also allows us to eliminate some of the temporary structures and solutions that would have been needed between construction phases. That means less temporary work, fewer transitions, and ultimately a more efficient use of our resources.
The current timeline has the Carter County Career and Technical Center, greenhouse, and a portion of the general education classrooms for juniors and seniors opening for the 2028–2029 school year. The complete Carter County High School with competition gym is scheduled to open in 2029.
I know a project of this size represents a significant change for our community, and change is not always easy. East Carter and West Carter have long histories, strong traditions, and generations of people who care deeply about their schools. Those traditions and that pride matter, and they will always be an important part of who we are.
At the same time, our students deserve access to the same kind of state-of-the-art learning environments that many students in neighboring districts already enjoy. This new school will give Carter County students modern classrooms, expanded career and technical opportunities, updated technology and infrastructure, and facilities designed to support the way students learn today and prepare for tomorrow.
This is about making sure our students do not have to leave Carter County to experience the kinds of opportunities and facilities that already exist in many surrounding communities. It is an investment in our students, our families, and the future of Carter County.
There is still a lot of work ahead, but progress is happening every day. I wanted to share a few pictures of the work currently underway. It is exciting to watch the future of Carter County Schools taking shape right here at home.
Moving forward with Phase 4 now also allows us to eliminate some of the temporary structures and solutions that would have been needed between construction phases. That means less temporary work, fewer transitions, and ultimately a more efficient use of our resources.
The current timeline has the Carter County Career and Technical Center, greenhouse, and a portion of the general education classrooms for juniors and seniors opening for the 2028–2029 school year. The complete Carter County High School with competition gym is scheduled to open in 2029.
I know a project of this size represents a significant change for our community, and change is not always easy. East Carter and West Carter have long histories, strong traditions, and generations of people who care deeply about their schools. Those traditions and that pride matter, and they will always be an important part of who we are.
At the same time, our students deserve access to the same kind of state-of-the-art learning environments that many students in neighboring districts already enjoy. This new school will give Carter County students modern classrooms, expanded career and technical opportunities, updated technology and infrastructure, and facilities designed to support the way students learn today and prepare for tomorrow.
This is about making sure our students do not have to leave Carter County to experience the kinds of opportunities and facilities that already exist in many surrounding communities. It is an investment in our students, our families, and the future of Carter County.
There is still a lot of work ahead, but progress is happening every day. I wanted to share a few pictures of the work currently underway. It is exciting to watch the future of Carter County Schools taking shape right here at home.
Just a reminder that Carter County Schools are on Fall Break this week. Students will return on October 5th. All school offices are closed. The Central Office is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but will be closed Thursday and Friday (Oct 1 and 2).
At Heritage...a light in the gym caught on fire and then burned the floor under it. Lee, our custodian, happened to smell something and went by gym to see it and used a fire extinguisher to put it out. He definitely saved the day. Hitchins and Grayson Fire Department both responded. Thankful for everyone.
Congratulations to Cory Jones, who has been officially named Principal of East Carter High School! Mr.Jones stepped up as interim principal one month before school started and with his staff had the school ready and prepared for the 2026-2027 school year. There are established academic and behavioral expectations that are clearly communicated and consistently followed. Advanced courses, structured internships, and opportunities to develop and demonstrate Durable Skills.
Mr. Jones has been a valued member of the East Carter community since 2015, serving as a special education and social studies teacher before becoming Assistant Principal two years ago.
Congratulations, Mr. Jones!! We can't wait to see how far you and your team go for our students.
Mrs. Abby's Kindergarten class was hard at work on Tuesday morning. The were drawing triangles and identifying line types (diagonal, vertical, and horizontal) in a "Lines to Letters" activity.
Important School and Community Safety Update Carter County Schools is reviewing a concerning social media message involving one of our schools. This appears to be one of the widely circulating "Cat in the Hat" social media messages that other school districts in KY have received.
District and school officials are working closely with law enforcement and will provide additional information if needed.
Our Response
We take messages involving the safety or well-being of students, staff, or schools seriously.
* School officials and law enforcement are reviewing the information.
* Appropriate action will be taken if anyone is found to have violated school policies or the law.
* We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Current Safety Information
At this time, there is no indication of a credible threat to Carter County Schools students or staff. School administrators, Carter County Schools Police, and law enforcement partners will continue monitoring the situation and reviewing relevant information.
What Families and Students Should Do
* Save screenshots of concerning messages, images, friend requests, or posts.
* Report them promptly to a school administrator, School Resource Officer, or law enforcement.
* Avoid sharing personal information online, including:
* Last names
* Addresses
* School schedules
* Bus stops
* Current locations.
* Do not contact, confront, or attempt to investigate the account or person behind a post.
* Talk with children about online safety.
* Encourage students to tell a trusted adult if something online makes them uncomfortable. *Limit social media time, especially unsupervised time
Questions or Concerns
Contact Carter County Schools, a school administrator, a School Resource Officer, or local law enforcement. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priorities.
Thank you for reporting concerns directly and avoiding the spread of unverified information on social media. If you see or hear something concerning, please report it. Speaking up helps keep our schools safe.
Carter County Schools did have a bus accident today on Hwy 773 past Carter Christian Academy. All students, monitors and driver were checked at the scene. One student and one monitor were transported to KDMC as a precaution. All parents of the students on the bus have been contacted.
Bus 22 and Bus 14 are still at Heritage. They will be leaving soon to deliver their students home
Emergency response to the bus accident was swift. EMTs checked the students who were on the bus and their parents were contacted if they were not already on the scene. Police and Fire also responded. We are thankful for the community response to this accident. The driver and monitor were being checked out. Thank you to everyone who helped.
Carter County Schools (KY) bus change: Bus #96 will not be traveling Huff's Run this afternoon due to the road being closed (tree/power lines down). This change affects HES, ECMS and ECHS.
Carter County Schools' staff join our neighboring school districts in wearing pink tomorrow (Monday 8/17) to show support for Johnson County Schools who lost a precious student last week. 🩷
We are just a few days away from Opening Conference 2026! We are ready for a day filled with professional learning and exciting instructional updates for the school year ahead.
East Carter High School students, families and those who travel Rt 1.
Prior to August 19 (first day of school) the KYTC will be making the intersection of East Carter High School and Rt 1 a four way stop.
They will change the electronic signage before you get to ECHS that notifies motorists of the change. The stop signs should be marked with orange ribbons. We have asked Grayson City Police to also help by being located near the four way stop.
Please talk to your child if you have a student driver about the stop signs and to use caution at that intersection because people will not be used to that change.
📣 Calling Our Community Partners & Vendors!
Carter County Schools is excited to welcome our community partners and vendors back for our 2026 Opening Conference on Friday, August 14, at West Carter County High School!
Our Vendor Event will be held from 8:00–9:00 AM, giving you the opportunity to connect with Carter County Schools staff and share information about your services, programs, and resources.
Interested in joining us? Please complete the form below to let us know you plan to participate:
🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NOqLkSpLJPqX8Cvc4iiIVUFWJ2RmQYfSuab4BaP1hKQ/preview
We are so thankful for the many community partners who support our students, staff, and schools throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you in August! 💙
Carter County Schools is excited to welcome our community partners and vendors back for our 2026 Opening Conference on Friday, August 14, at West Carter County High School!
Our Vendor Event will be held from 8:00–9:00 AM, giving you the opportunity to connect with Carter County Schools staff and share information about your services, programs, and resources.
Interested in joining us? Please complete the form below to let us know you plan to participate:
🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NOqLkSpLJPqX8Cvc4iiIVUFWJ2RmQYfSuab4BaP1hKQ/preview
We are so thankful for the many community partners who support our students, staff, and schools throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you in August! 💙
🌈 Ready to make a difference where it matters most? Join our Carter County Preschool Team as a part-time preschool teacher at Carter City Elementary! Come help our youngest Wildcats learn, grow, and thrive. 💙💛
Posting can be found at: https://cartercounty.schoolspring.com/
Posting can be found at: https://cartercounty.schoolspring.com/
2026-2027 School Calendar. First Day for Students is August 19th.
East Carter Middle will be offering back to school and sports physicals, vaccinations, etc. at their Jump Start on 7/16/26. Thankful to UK King's Daughters for this opportunity.
Current home school families are invited to attend an informational session to learn more about Carter County Schools' curriculum, programs and opportunities. Register here: https://forms.gle/ECxxwVVSRiYAr2Ac6
