KSBA Aware - News from the Kentucky School Boards Association

Nov. 20, 2019

In this issue:

Education groups ask for school safety funding
Beshear names educators to education-focused transition team
First charter application received
KSBA Annual Conference call for proposals
Nominations due Nov. 27 for Proudfoot and Dupree awards
2019 KSBA Winter Symposium preview
Save the date: School Board Recognition Month
Poll Results
Upcoming dates, deadlines and events

Education groups ask for school safety funding

Groups representing school board members, superintendents and school administrators asked legislators on Tuesday to fund implementation of the School Safety and Resiliency Act.

The law, designed to improve school building safety and student well-being, passed the legislature during the last session but did not include funding.

As the legislature prepares for the upcoming budget session, Eric Kennedy, KSBA’s director of Advocacy, Rhonda Caldwell, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Administrators, and Jim Flynn, the executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, explained the bill’s estimated costs to the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education.

“The real cost drivers of the bill are going to be facilities and personnel,” Kennedy said.

The bill includes eight facility requirements such as electronically locking exterior doors, having classroom doors closed and locked during instruction, and having covers for classroom door windows among other items which must be in place by 2022.

After a KSBA survey of districts, Kennedy estimated that $18 million would be needed for the minimum facility requirements to be met across the state.

The bill also calls for a school resource officer in every school as personnel and funding allow. KSBA estimated that the state would need 777 more officers across the state to meet that goal for a total annual cost of $71 million.

Another personnel cost is the bill’s goal of one counselor per 250 students. KSBA estimated that the state would need 1,362 more certified counselors at a total cost of $140 million a year.

“This is not a small price tag and we knew that that this was coming,” said Sen. Chris McDaniel, chairman of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee, adding that he wants to make sure the funding is equitably distributed among districts.

McDaniel also noted that it will be a tight state budget with the legislature committed to funding the state’s pensions.

“We will give you certainty. You might not get every dollar you want, but you will get certainty from the process,” he said. “We want to fund, we committed to fund, and we intend to get there, but understand the constraints that we face.”

Beshear planning administration

Now that the election is over and Gov. Matt Bevin has conceded, Gov.-elect Andy Beshear (pictured) is making good on his promise to change the narrative around public education and give Kentucky educators a seat at the table. Beshear invited teachers to be grand marshals at the Dec. 10 inauguration parade and named many educators to his education-focused transition team.

The volunteers who will help guide hiring and policy for the Education and Workforce Cabinet are Jefferson County school board member Corrie Shull, who was named co-chair, and three superintendents -- Fort Thomas Independent’s Karen Cheser, Eminence Independent’s Buddy Berry and Frankfort Independent’s Houston Barber.

Other education-related appointees include Kevin Brown, Jefferson County Schools general counsel, and Kentucky Education Association President Eddie Campbell.

“I am honored to serve in this capacity,” Shull wrote on Twitter after the announcement.

First charter application received

Days before the Nov. 5 election, the first charter application in the state was submitted to Newport Independent Schools. The application from a group of northern Kentucky parents proposes River Cities Academy, a K-8 school drawing students from six districts, including Ludlow, Covington, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton and Ft. Thomas independents.

The application notes that the school is dependent on funding from the state, however the General Assembly has not created a charter-funding mechanism. If funding were to be granted and the application approved, the school plans to open in the fall of 2020.

The Newport school board has until early January to decide whether to approve or deny the charter application. See more from the Courier-Journal.

The theme for KSBA's 84th Annual Conference (Feb. 21–23 at the Galt House in Louisville) is “Education in Focus: Vision 2020.” This theme will serve as inspiration for this year’s gathering, from session topics to student banner designs. It speaks to the importance of reprioritizing public education at a time where Kentucky’s system of common schools is vulnerable. KSBA's annual conference will celebrate where we have been and where we aspire to be in the years ahead.

Detailed conference information, including registration instructions and schedule, will be mailed around the first of the year. In the meantime, we are looking to districts to help make this year’s conference exceptional.

Here are several ways districts can participate:

Student banner displays

District banners are perhaps our most popular annual conference tradition. The banners remind attendees of schools’ primary focus - learning and learners. Submitted banners must identify the school district and depict the conference theme. Download detailed instructions for the banners which must be received by KSBA by Feb. 20, 2020.

Call for proposals

KSBA is accepting proposals for workshop presentations. Download a proposal form which must be submitted by Nov. 29.

Call for student involvement at annual conference

Student performers are featured throughout the conference, often at the start of general sessions. Download a student performance a proposal which must be submitted by Nov. 29.

If you have any questions about the 2020 Annual Conference, please contact KSBA Director of Board Team Development Laura Cole at 800-372-2962 ext. 1122.

Nominations due Nov. 27 for Proudfoot and Dupree awards

Each year, the Kentucky School Boards Association partners with local associations and businesses to present awards that honor education leaders . Award recipients are recognized during KSBA's Annual Conference in February, one of the largest gatherings of Kentucky education leaders.

The Proudfoot Award for Outstanding School Board Member was created in 1992 and is co-sponsored by the Kentucky PTA and KSBA. Named after the late Dr. Warren H. Proudfoot, a member of the Rowan County Board of Education and past president of KSBA, the honoree is selected by the Kentucky PTA. Please consider nominating one of your deserving board members by the Nov. 27 deadline.

The F.L. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent Award is jointly presented by KSBA and the family of the late F.L. Dupree, a school board member and public education advocate. To be eligible, a superintendent must have held the current position since July 1, 2015, and be serving in the post at the time of the award presentation. Winners are selected by a panel of past Dupree award recipients. The application deadline is Nov. 27.

More than 300 school board members, superintendents, education leaders and exhibitors will come together for this weekend’s Winter Symposium at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. The new location is not the only change at this year’s event.

The schedule has been adjusted to accommodate more training variety. Also, KSBA’s Friday evening Tailgate Reception will return, bigger and better than ever, offering appetizers and refreshments, cash bar, plenty of games and prize drawings. Attendees are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing their favorite teams’ colors and apparel.

KSBA is pleased to welcome Jennifer Stafford, director of the Division of Assessment Support for the Office of Assessment and Accountability at the Kentucky Department of Education, as Friday’s lunch session speaker. She will discuss the state’s new 5-star rating system for schools, and what school board members need to know as they analyze the performance of their district.

Have to miss Winter Symposium? Follow along on KSBA's Twitter ( @ksbanews ) or by using #KSBAwinter19.

Save the date: School Board Recognition Month

January is School Board Recognition Month, and KSBA will once again be providing districts with a variety of resources to highlight the service of locally elected board members. From social media graphics, to press releases and proclamations, KSBA has you covered. These tools will be available beginning in December.

Save the date! This year, KSBA will also offer a free webinar on School Board Recognition Month to district staff. Join us at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 for this free online discussion. We will walk you through the SBRM resources, provide ideas for your celebrations and answer questions. Look for an invitation and webinar instructions next week. Space is limited.