State board approves new graduation requirements

New minimum graduation requirements are headed to the state legislature after the Kentucky Board of Education unanimously approved proposed changes despite calls for a delay.

Starting with freshmen entering high school in the 2019-20 school year, graduating students will have to meet one of eight qualifiers and students entering high school in 2020-21 will also have to prove basic competency in reading and math on either a state assessment or through a portfolio of work.

The proposal, which will now be reviewed by a legislative committee, is a scaled-back version of Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis’ original plan that was opposed by every state education group.

Just days before the vote, Lewis amended the plan saying he agreed with critics who cautioned that many districts would not be able to offer the numerous pathways to transition readiness, which students were required to achieve under the original plan.

 

“In some of our larger and better-resourced districts, we have those opportunities, but in resource-starved districts, they could only provide two or three pathways,” Lewis said. “Whether we are talking about high school graduation requirements or not, there is an equity issue among districts.”

Instead of requiring students to meet a transition readiness requirement as laid out in the accountability system, the department added the graduation qualifiers.

As the plan moves through the legislative process, KSBA will work with its partners in the General Assembly to review all aspects of the proposal.

“Our concerns on behalf of local school boards over inequities and unintended consequences at the district level — the same ones echoed by other education groups throughout the Commonwealth — warranted further discussion,” said Kerri Schelling, KSBA executive director.

KSBA legislative priorities

KSBA has adopted the legislative agenda for which will guide our advocacy efforts during the 2019 General Assembly. The legislative priorities are not fundamentally different than what we have advocated for and against in recent years and are all based on improving education and strengthening districts.

Read the full list of KSBA's 2019 Legislative Priorities.

Board of Directors ’ meeting recap

KSBA President David Webster presided over the Board of Directors’ meeting on Nov. 30 at the Louisville Marriott East. Amidst a very busy agenda, highlights included:

· Approval of changes to KSBA association bylaws.

· Approval of 2019 Legislative Priorities.

· Recognition of outgoing directors: Joe Brown (Garrard County), Larry Dodson (Oldham County), Ramona Malone (Newport Ind.) and James See (Lawrence County).

·  KSBA’s Selection Committee announced incoming president-elect: Davonna Page (Russellville Ind.).

· The KSBA committee reported selecting several school board member candidates to fill expiring director at large seats. Once complete, the selections for new directors-at-large will be submitted for ratification at the general business session of February’s Annual Conference.

·  Two names were drawn for the First Degree Scholarship winners. The scholarship is awarded to one male and one female first-generation, college-bound high school senior. The winners will be announced Feb. 23 at KSBA’s Annual Conference.

More than 300 attended 2018 Winter Symposium

Approximately 325 attendees racked up more than 3,500 training hours during the 2018 Winter Symposium Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 at the Louisville Marriott East. KSBA welcomed many newly elected board members (pictured above) eager to get a head start on 2019 hours. Many of those members completed a specific track entitled “New Board Member Boot Camp.”

Keynote speakers for the conference included Brian Creasman, superintendent of Fleming County Schools, and Trent Lovett, superintendent of Marshall County Schools. Breakout sessions covered a variety of topics in areas of finance, ethics, charter school authorization and more.

KSBA extends special thanks to all attendees. 

Walton-Verona Independent board member helps ‘fight the science of stink’

David Turner, who is completing his second year as a school board member, graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a chemistry degree. He works for Procter & Gamble as a senior scientist working on Febreze products.

The work of a scientist is not what people usually perceive it to be, Turner says, much like the perception of school board members is different from reality.

Being a school board member is "a job that requires a lot of research. That’s a little bit different than what I think the perception is from folks,” he said. “It’s right up my alley as being a scientist so I actually don’t mind it. Maybe a little bit nerdy, but I enjoy that.” 

Prior to being elected to the school board, Turner, who is a father of five, helped out with PTA events and served on school-based decision making councils at the elementary and middle school level.

In the video below, learn more about Turner’s profession, why he decided to run for school board, his advice for new board members and why he thinks funding is the biggest issue facing public education in Kentucky.

Would you prefer an equal number of parents and teachers on school-based decision making councils or the current teacher majority?

LEAD event to be held Feb. 21 in Frankfort

The date of KSBA's annual Legislative Education Advocacy Day (LEAD) event has been set for Thursday, Feb. 21, the day before the KSBA Annual Conference. This date was selected so that you will be able make a stop in Frankfort, meet with your legislators and then go on to the conference in Louisville. By that time we will have a much better sense of the bills that are moving, and those that aren’t, making it a critical time for advocacy.

 

As in all odd years, we will not have an evening reception in order to focus all efforts on the ‘day at the capitol.’ Please save the date with more info to come.

Other upcoming calendar items:

School Board Member Recognition Month, Jan. 1-31

2019 regular session of the General Assembly begins Jan. 8

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 21

Kentucky Board of Education meeting, Feb. 6

KSBA 83rd Annual Conference Feb. 22-24 in Louisville

KSBA would like to wish everyone a safe

and happy holiday season. The next

KSBA AWARE will be sent on Jan. 9.

This edition of KSBA Aware is made possible in part

by the following KSBA Affiliate Members.