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Three finalists named for education commissioner

The Kentucky Board of Education did not have to look far to find three finalists for education commissioner. The KBE announced three finalists, all current or former Kentucky superintendents.

“I think many of you will see all three of these gentlemen as very familiar faces in the public education space here in Kentucky,” Interim Education Commissioner Robin Kinney said Tuesday during the Kentucky Department of Education’s Superintendents’ Webcast. “We are very pleased that we have the first round behind us.”

The three finalists are:

• Buddy Berry who has been superintendent of Eminence Independent Schools since 2010. He began his career as a high school mathematics teacher in Owen and Jefferson counties. Berry has a doctorate in education leadership from Northern Kentucky University, a superintendent certification from Eastern Kentucky University, a master’s in instructional leadership from Bellarmine University, a master’s in secondary counseling from the University of Louisville and a bachelor’s in mathematics education from the University of Kentucky.
• Robbie Fletcher who has been superintendent of Lawrence County Schools since 2014. He has also served as a part-time faculty member at Asbury University, and as a principal, assistant principal and mathematics teacher in Martin County. Fletcher has a doctorate in education and a superintendency certification from Morehead State University, a master’s in supervision and administration from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s in mathematics from Morehead State University.
• Jim Flynn who has been executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents since 2019. He was superintendent of Simpson County Schools from 2003 to 2019. Flynn has been a high school principal in Shelby County, and a vice principal and high school science teacher in Warren County. Flynn holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Kentucky University, a master’s in biology and secondary education from Texas A & M University at Corpus Christi, and a bachelor’s in biology from Western Kentucky University.

The KBE will meet March 18-19 in Louisville to interview the finalists. The board expects to have a new commissioner named and submitted to the Kentucky Senate for consideration of confirmation by the end of the month. The new education commissioner will be the first to require state Senate confirmation after lawmakers passed a bill in 2023 to give the Senate the authority to veto the board’s choice.

KBE hired McPherson & Jacobson LLC to lead the search which resulted in 15 applicants. During the last search for an education commissioner in 2020, the board received 46 applications for the job. 

Kentucky Tonight discusses SB2

On KET's Kentucky Tonight Monday, host Renee Shaw and a panel discussed the guardians program proposed in Senate Bill 2 and other related school safety topics.

Panelists included SB 2 sponsor Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Ryan Straw, Montgomery County Schools Chief of Police Chris Barrier, Moms Demand Action Kentucky chapter leader Cathy Hobart and Kentucky Association of School Administrators Executive Director Rhonda Caldwell.

Wise said the bill is a continuation of 2019’s School Safety and Resiliency Act meant, in part, to address a lack of school resource officers in 40% of Kentucky schools. He also noted that it would be a local school board decision to adopt and fund a guardian program.

“This is not a mandate that every school district would have to do this,” Wise said. “And the expenses that goes forward, if you're looking at becoming a guardian, that's decided upon by the school district if they wish to have a stipend or not.”

A school board would also have control over any additional requirements or criteria for guardians, should the board choose to use them.

Straw pointed to concerns with disproportionate training of guardians, compared to that of school resource officers, and questions about the inclusion of honorably discharged veterans as guardian candidates alongside retired law enforcement who are peace officer professional standards (POPS) certified.

“There is a concern that the guardian can end up not being able to do the same things that an SRO can do and could even potentially get in the way,” he said.

Guardians would be required to take the first of three training levels required for certified SROs. Barrier explained that level one is an introduction to how police officers operate in schools.

“In level two and level three, then it gets a little bit more in depth and there's some tactical trainings and some of those things that guardians wouldn't be subject to,” he said.

In the final minutes of the program, the panel discussed provisions of the bill that address student services provided by trauma-informed teams.

Watch the March 11 episode of Kentucky Tonight.

Superintendent Searches

KSBA's Superintendent Search Service is currently facilitating a search in the following districts. Click the district name to be directed to the position posting and application instructions.

Marshall County Schools

Application deadline: March 21, 2024

Barren County Schools

Application deadline: March 27, 2024

Jessamine County Schools

Application deadline: March 29, 2024

Shelby County Schools

Application deadline: April 8, 2024

Ludlow Independent Schools

Application deadline: April 8, 2024

In addition to the superintendent searches facilitated by KSBA, other Kentucky districts may have vacancies they are working to fill. See below for another search currently accepting applications:

Boone County Schools

Application deadline: March 25, 2024

Senate budget proposal to be unveiled today

The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee will meet at 10 a.m. today to hear HB 6, the biennial budget bill. The House has eagerly been awaiting the Senate’s version the budget it passed several weeks ago. On Tuesday, the Senate Majority issued a news release saying that its budget would contain “transformational one-time investments.”

Watch the committee meeting livestreamed on KET. 

Ky. School Board Member of the Year, top district honors, scholarships awarded during KSBA's Annual Conference

KSBA hosted its 2024 Annual Conference March 1-3 at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville. The annual awards luncheon on March 2 served as a celebration of award-worthy education leaders and student scholarships.

Mike Waller, a 30-year member of the Henderson County Board of Education, was named KSBA’s 2024 Kentucky School Board Member of the Year. 

“He embodies all of the district’s seven core values, but the one that he demonstrates most is core value number seven: Be the Change Agent,” Waller’s nomination said. “He has changed the trajectory of the lives of thousands of students and, in turn, changed the trajectory of our great community.”

The nomination also described Waller as an experienced parliamentarian, respectful even in disagreement, and a passionate alum of the district. He is credited with being “instrumental in enacting the reforms that came with the Kentucky Education Reform Act in the 1990s.”

In between two standing ovations from more than 700 luncheon attendees, a humbled Waller shared the award with this family and fellow board team members, many of whom were in attendance, and Henderson County Schools personnel. 

“I would like to accept this award today on behalf of more than 1,000 classified and certified employees of the Henderson County School District, one of the greatest teams I’ve ever worked with or been on,” Waller said.

Read the full press release on KSBA's 2024 slate of award winners and student scholarship recipients. Look for more in-depth coverage of the 2024 honorees in upcoming KSBA publications.

The 2024 Kentucky School Board Member of the Year award is sponsored by American Fidelity.

Photo: (From left) KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling, KSBA President-elect Pamela Morehead, Henderson County Schools board member Mike Waller, American Fidelity State Managers Rebecca Combs and Kate Mathis

KSBA asks members to submit professional and civic accomplishments

In an effort to better showcase the accomplishments of school board members, we invite KSBA members and administrators to submit details on their professional, civic and philanthropic accomplishments, awards, promotions, etc.

Complete a short online form if you wish to submit a recent accomplishment, preferably one that has occurred in the last two months. 

Examples of acceptable submissions include job promotions, community awards, special recognitions and retirements. Space is limited, so KSBA is unable to include updates that fall outside of the previously mentioned parameters (such as marriages, births, birthdays, etc.). Submissions may be included in upcoming issues of the Kentucky School Advocate magazine and in other KSBA media.

KSBA in the news

KSBA is often highlighted in the media and/or called on to discuss school-related issues. Below are recent headlines in which KSBA was mentioned, quoted or featured.

• Marshall School Board begins superintendent search, recognizes SROs – WPSD-TV Paducah (Feb. 16, 2024)

• Board sets criteria for new superintendent – Marshall County Tribune-Courier (Feb. 22, 2024)

• JCBOE, KOSAA honor Valarie Blair at board meeting – The Paintsville Herald (Feb. 28, 2024)

• 13 apply for DCPS superintendent position, review process now underway – Owensboro Times (Feb. 28, 2024)

• Henderson man named KY School Board Member of the Year – WFIE-TV Evansville (March 4, 2024)

March 13: Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee

March 14: Senate Education Committee (standing meeting subject to change)

March 19: House Education Committee (standing meeting subject to change)

March 22-23: KSBA Board of Directors meeting, retreat

April 9-10: Kentucky Board of Education meeting

April 11: KDE Superintendents' Webcast

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