KSBA hosted its 2021 Annual Conference May 14-16 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. Attendees were treated to a weekend packed with informative sessions, inspiring keynote speakers and ample opportunity for networking. More than 1,000 board members, superintendents and other education leaders registered to attend. Participants took part in 50 breakout sessions while the conference trade show welcomed 77 exhibitors – making it the largest on record.

This year’s theme was "Kentucky School Boards: Champions for Education." The conference’s new, state-of-the-art location was the perfect backdrop for KSBA’s first in-person conference in 15 months. As a bonus, state mask requirements were loosened just hours before the conference kicked off – making it possible to see the bright, smiling faces of many of Kentucky’s public education champions.

Attendees were issued a special commemorative publication that featured dozens of student-designed banners denoting the conference theme. View a PDF version of the publication.

Check out the KSBA Annual Conference page for a photo slideshow highlighting the weekend’s activities.

Save the date! KSBA’s 2022 Annual Conference is slated for Feb. 25-27, once again to be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

Up next: KSBA will host its 2021 Summer Leadership Institute July 16-17 at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington. More detailed information, including schedule and easy online registration, will be provided on the SLI page of KSBA's site in the weeks ahead.

KSBA policy staff are currently finalizing annual policy updates for districts. Updates will be distributed electronically to districts tomorrow (Friday, May 21). Nearly 7,000 policy and procedural updates were made for the 170 districts that participate in KSBA’s policy service. Once received, please contact your designated KSBA policy consultant should you have questions.

School boards and district personnel will soon have the ability to check their board training records online as part of KSBA’s redesigned membership portal. Over the next few months, KSBA will be rolling out major improvements to our portal, beginning with a brand-new training hours dashboard feature. Board members, for the first time, will have the opportunity to review their own hours, saving them time and affording them greater flexibility in consideration of training opportunities.

Click the video below to view a short preview of some of the upcoming improvements.

KSBA was also just recently selected to facilitate the superintendent search for Henry County Schools.

Visit the Superintendent Search page on KSBA’s website to learn more about KSBA’s comprehensive search service.

To date, KSBA’s Superintendent Search service has contributed to more than 300 successful superintendent placements. Our experienced search consultants, backed by the full resources and personnel of KSBA, work closely with districts every step of the way, from the initial planning to final interviews. As Kentucky’s exclusive professional association for local school boards, it is only natural that boards would utilize our expertise in making the most important decision for which they were elected: the hiring of an effective superintendent.

The Kentucky Board of Education on Tuesday approved requests from 109 school districts that asked to waive a student attendance regulation in order to provide virtual learning options next school year.

When signing the waiver, districts agree to adhere to a list of 15 assurances, such as following guidelines for tracking attendance, implementing real-time strategies to monitor and track student and teacher interactions, and ensuring that virtual students’ schedules align with that of in-person students.  

KSBA has published a revised edition of its "School Board Leadership Guide." The publication is now available on KSBA’s website.

The guide includes helpful resources on topics such as the key responsibilities of school boards, policy, fiscal management, student achievement and a variety of special issues. While particularly helpful to school board members, the leadership guide is also a useful tool for anyone wishing to better understand the governance of public school districts.

The County Employees Retirement Systems (CERS) board has requested proposals from qualified prospects for the positions of CERS chief executive officer and general counsel.

Review a request for proposals (RFP) for the CERS general counsel position.

Review a request for proposals (RFP) for the CERS chief executive officer position.

Those interested in either position should submit proposals to Jerry Powell by June 5. Review CERS Board of Trustees “Statement of Bylaws and Committee Organization” adopted on April 19.

Legislation passed during the 2020 and 2021 regular sessions of the General Assembly made significant changes to the governance and administrative structure of the Kentucky Retirement Systems (KRS). Most notably, the governance of CERS has been transferred to a separate nine-member board of trustees. The administrative entity comprising the office of counselors and professional staff that has traditionally been known as KRS has changed its name to the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA). It will be governed by a third eight-member board composed of trustees from CERS and KRS.

Daily system activities, including administrative support, investment management, benefits counseling, accounting and payroll functions, and legal services are performed by a staff of professional employees working as the KPPA. Visit the KPPA website for more information.

Fayette County Schools board member Stephanie Aschmann Spires and KSBA Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy will serve as co-presenters. This webinar counts towards mandated finance training requirements for board members. Click the “Register Now” button below to sign up for the June webinar or view a complete schedule of the 2021 Learn and Earn lineup. 

This edition of KSBA Aware is made possible in part