In this issue:
- KBE discusses budget, approves KSBA training
- Floyd Co. board member wins KBE Award
- Rose decision anniversary, public education to be discussed on KET
- Suicide awareness training requirements
- Kentucky Chamber introduces Bus to Business initiative
- KSBA's Summer Leadership Institute is July 12-13
- Kentucky may expand student-based health services
- KSBA to offer book study for board credit
- School safety highlights Law Update
- Three student groups honored for educational excellence
- June Kentucky School Advocate available online
- Poll results
- Upcoming dates, deadlines and events
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KBE discusses budget, approves KSBA training
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At its June 5 meeting, the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) approved KSBA’s annual training program and a deadline extension for the handful of board members who did not fulfill their 2018 hours.
Nearly nine out of 10 school board members exceeded their required training hours, Laura Cole, KSBA director of board team development, told KBE while explaining the
training report. In all, 99 percent met or exceeded the requirements.
During the meeting, KBE discussed their budget request for the next state budget. The discussion included baseline funding and a first draft of additional budget requests (ABRs), which the list of things KBE will ask the legislature to fund in the new budget. In the past, ABRs have included funding for all-day kindergarten and fully funding transportation to districts. Education department staff shared an
ABR draft, a preliminary list of what the KBE may ask for in the state budget.
KBE members also discussed how the state funds education and education reform including open enrollment across districts, “school stamps” and more.
This part of the meeting begins with a question from KBE member Rich Gimmel to Finance Director Charlie Harman and Associate Commissioner Robin Kinney.
In his KBE report, Commissioner Wayne Lewis
said more funding is needed, specifically in career and technical education and novice reduction. Lewis also said the state needs to take a comprehensive look at education funding.
The board will vote on the budget recommendation in October.
During the meeting, KBE also voted unanimously to move Menifee County schools from state management to state assistance. The district has been managed by the state since 2015. The vote restores full power to the locally elected school board.
A recent
management audit determined that a pattern of a significant lack of efficiency and effectiveness in the governance and administration of the district continues to exist.
The next KBE meeting will be Aug. 7.
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KBE honored Dr. Chandra Varia (third from left) with the Robinson Award. Also pictured left to right, Floyd Co. board member Sherry Robinson, KBE Chairman Hal Heiner, Commissioner Wayne Lewis, Superintendent Danny Adkins and Floyd board member William Newsome.
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Floyd Co. board member wins KBE Award
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Dr. Chandra Varia, a Floyd County board member, was recently presented with the Dr. Samuel Robinson Award by the Kentucky Board of Education. The award is given to an individual or group for outstanding leadership, commitment and service in promoting equity and opportunity to learn for Kentucky students.
Varia has served on the Floyd County Board of Education for 18 years during which she has made a difference in the lives of Floyd County students.
An OBGYN, Varia opened her medical practice in 1971 and went on to deliver more than 3,000 children. She then established a scholarship for the children she delivered and a scholarship fund of $1.6 million for other Kentucky colleges and universities.
Danny Adkins, Floyd County superintendent who nominated Varia for the award, said Varia sees possibilities for students where others see roadblocks.
“Whether providing warm coats, school supplies or groceries, to paying the heating bill, Dr. Varia is ready to help and to remove obstacles to student learning,” he said.
Varia has also donated to the East Kentucky Science Center with the stipulation that every child in Floyd County receives free admission once a year.
“She does everything possible to close the achievement gap for children. … There is no one more passionate about serving and helping kids become educated and become leaders,” Adkins said.
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Rose decision anniversary, public education to be discussed on KET
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KET’s Kentucky Tonight on Monday, June 17 will feature a conversation on public education in Kentucky with KSBA’s Eric Kennedy among the guests.
Kennedy, KSBA’s director of governmental relations, will be joined by Brigitte Blom Ramsey, executive director of the Prichard Committee, Wayne Lewis, commissioner of education, and Richard Innes, education analyst for the Bluegrass Institute.
Led by host Renee Shaw, the panel will discuss the 30th anniversary of the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling in Rose v. Council for Better Education, which declared Kentucky’s system of common schools unconstitutional, and the state of Kentucky public education today.
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Suicide awareness training requirements
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Suicide is the leading cause of death among youth ages 10-14 and the second leading cause among those ages 15-34. Kentucky’s Department of Behavioral Health, Development & Intellectual Disabilities has options available to districts to help them meet staff and student suicide awareness training requirements in Senate Bill 1.
Some of the options are free and school district safety coordinators will be receiving this information in upcoming trainings.
This
document looks at risk factors and warning signs for suicide, has recommendations for staff and student training, and lists recommended educational school policies for suicide prevention.
For more information on suicide prevention, visit the department’s
website or contact
Patti Clark, program manager/NPN.
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Kentucky Chamber introduces Bus to Business
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On Oct 2, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Workforce Center will launch Kentucky's first Bus2Business program, bringing school buses full of students to local businesses so they can see what opportunities there are after high school.
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KSBA's Summer Leadership Institute July 12-13
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Attendees can earn training credits in all mandated topics – ethics, finance, superintendent evaluation and charter authorization. Board members can earn up to 9.25 hours of training credit, which includes three hours during Friday afternoon bonus sessions.
This year’s Opening Session speaker will be Camille Towns, Ed.D., a national associate trainer for the Center for Teacher Effectiveness. Towns will discuss the importance of “practicing what you preach” and how perceptions of one’s leadership can be positively and negatively influenced.
The Plenary Session speaker will be Eric Kennedy, KSBA’s director of governmental relations. Kennedy will talk about how board members can advocate for their students, staff and schools – not as an extra task but as a part of their work. Information on issues facing boards, such as the state budget process and charter authorization, will also be presented.
The deadline to register is June 28. The deadline to make hotel reservations at the conference rate is June 27.
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School-based health services may expand
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Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is awaiting federal approval for a state Medicaid plan amendment submitted on April 28. If approved, districts throughout the Commonwealth may qualify for federal funding to provide students enrolled in Medicaid with increased access to school-based healthcare, including mental health services, health screenings, and diabetes and asthma management.
KSBA has been meeting with CHFS and the Kentucky Department of Education regarding plan specifics. More information will be made available in the weeks ahead. KSBA’s Medicaid Reimbursement Program currently assists nearly 150 districts and we will be ready to help them take advantage of this new initiative. Learn more about our
Medicaid program.
The potential expansion of school-based health services has been featured by several local news agencies:
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KSBA to offer book study for board credit
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There is no shortage of books offering insights on leadership and management, but you would be hard pressed to find similar resources catered specifically to school boards … until now! KSBA is offering a guided book study of
“The Governance Core: School Boards, Superintendents, and Schools Working Together,” by Davis Campbell and Michael Fullan.
Former National School Boards Association President Frank Pugh refers to “The Governance Core” as “the first book that captures not only the nature of the challenges but also the characteristics of highly successful school board trustees and superintendents working together.” Taking a topical approach to the critical relationship between the board team and superintendent, this 2019 publication devotes thoughtful attention to concepts likes shared moral imperative, strategic focus, governance styles and stewardship.
This guided study begins July 8, and many have already registered, so act now! School board members who participate in the study will earn two hours of elective training credit. For more information and to register the button below.
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Frederick Douglass student Bryson Berry led Law Update attendees on a tour of the high school.
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School safety highlights Law Update
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KSBA hosted its 13th Annual Federal & State Law Update on June 14 at Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington. School board members, attorneys, superintendents and other education leaders took part in a day of valuable training on legal changes resulting from the 2019 legislative session. This year’s event was co-sponsored by the Kentucky Center for School Safety.
Attendees were privy to important district policy and procedural updates, Open Meetings Act case law and federal and state law updates - all led by KSBA’s experienced attorneys and policy staff.
Much of the agenda focused on understanding and implementation of SB1, the school safety bil. Jon Akers, KCSS executive director, and Ben Wilcox (pictured), state school security marshal, highlighted their roles under the new law and offered insight into the new school safety risk assessments. The conference included student-led tours of the high school and a panel discussion led by Fayette County Schools’ administrative staff detailing the district's school safety efforts.
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Three groups honored for educational excellence
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Three student-based organizations from across the Commonwealth were honored by Commissioner of Education Wayne Lewis for their participation in a new initiative aimed at promoting the importance of education. The groups represented five school districts:
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Boys to Men Leadership: Bowling Green Independent, Warren County, Jefferson County
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Paducah's Pen Pal Project: Paducah Independent
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STEMY: Jefferson County, Oldham County
The initiative was inspired by Balling for a Cause, a Louisville-based group of students who canvas low-income neighborhoods, talking to parents about becoming more involved in their children’s education.
“The groups who were selected to be honored for their work with the initiative all displayed great initiative in spreading the importance of education to their peers,” Lewis said.
To participate in the Kentucky Department of Education’s Student Ambassador Initiative, student groups detailed an education-related community service project. Groups then submitted a video of their project. Lewis selected the student groups to be honored.
Applications are now open.
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June Advocate available online
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Earlier this month marked the 30th anniversary of Rose v. Council for Better Education, a Supreme Court decision that changed the course of Kentucky public education.
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Upcoming dates, deadlines and events
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This edition of
KSBA Aware is made possible in part
by the following KSBA Affiliate Members.
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Kentucky School Boards Association | 502-695-4630 | www.ksba.org
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