The legislature’s School Funding Task Force on Nov. 8 made nine recommendations to the 2022 General Assembly on possible changes to how Kentucky funds public education.

KSBA, which supported the creation of the task force, also agrees with the group’s recommendations, said KSBA Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy.

KSBA President Davonna Page and Shelby County Superintendent Sally Sugg testified Monday during the legislature’s Interim Joint Education Committee meeting asking for changes to school-based decision making councils (SBDMs).

A bill making some changes has passed the Senate three times in recent years, but has yet to make it across the finish line.

Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, thinks this time will be the charm.

“I think the legislation this year holds even extra urgency because the eyes of so many parents and so many citizens right now are on our school system with questions around curriculum and other things,” he said.

Though the bill has not yet been written, Schickel said it’s expected to give superintendents final say on hiring principals and selecting curriculum after consulting with SBDMs.

Page, a Russellville Independent board member who previously served on an SBDM, said that in some ways SBDMs removed locally elected school board members and superintendents from decision making for the schools they govern.

“The result can be seen in varying approaches to curriculum, and even divergent goals across schools within the same district,” she said. “I’m not here today to selfishly advocate for more decisions to be made by boards, but instead to advocate for a better process that will strengthen student achievement and foster the connection between schools in our communities.”

Sugg noted that she has been a local board member, Kentucky Department of Education associate commissioner and superintendent, and in those roles has worked with SBDMs.

“What I have found over all of those different viewpoints and experiences is that the highest performing districts and the best functioning schools and districts are using a collaborative approach,” she said. “And if there isn't a coherent approach that is facilitated, at the very least by the district office, by the school board and also by the business community, then those students have big gaps in their learning.”

KSBA Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy, who also testified, noted that KSBA has long supported SBDM changes and will work with lawmakers on the legislation during the session.

The 2022 School Board Election Resources Guide is now available for viewing/download on the “Running for School Board” page of KSBA’s website. Whether you are running for your first term or your fifth, use these helpful resources to ensure compliance and best practices.

Southern Regional Education Board President and former Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt returns home as the keynote speaker for this year's Winter Symposium, headlining a weekend of informative sessions and networking.. Pruitt will discuss how local school boards can help navigate the new world we live in on behalf of students with a focus on how Mississippi was able to close reading gaps.

Back by popular demand, KSBA invites symposium attendees to the Friday evening Tailgate Reception – complete with food, games, prizes and the opportunity to network with association members and exhibitors.

Read our Winter Symposium preview in this month's Kentucky School Advocate.

Download a full schedule of KSBA’s 2021 Winter Symposium (complete with hard copy registration form).

Register online at the button below. Visit the Winter Symposium page of KSBA’s website for access to special conference-rate hotel accommodations. The deadline to take advantage of the special hotel rate is Nov. 22, or until rooms sell out.

Nov. 15-19 has been proclaimed Kentucky Family Engagement in Education Week. In honor of this commemoration, the Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools has released a variety of helpful resources for districts, schools and education leaders to build their capacities to foster meaningful relationships with families.

Schools can now access a library of interactive resources including self-assessments, a family and school partnership guide, online training modules and a new Family Engagement Digital Playbook.

Read the November Kentucky School Advocate cover story to learn more about the Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools and how some districts are rethinking their family and school partnerships.

As part of KSBA’s annual records update, we ask Kentucky’s 857 school board members to take two minutes and complete the survey linked below. The information requested is used for KSBA member services only. By updating the information in our database, we can most effectively serve the needs of association members. Demographic information collected in the survey is for statistical tracking only. We will share a summary report of member demographics in upcoming member communications.

If you have any questions, please contact Brenna Kelly. Thank you for your assistance.

Nominations for KSBA's 2022 First Degree Scholarships must be submitted no later than Monday, Nov. 29. Once again, the association will provide four college-bound high school seniors each with $2,500 scholarships toward the pursuit of postsecondary degrees. As the name suggests, scholarship recipients will be the first in their immediate families to complete a postsecondary degree.

New this year, KSBA is excited to announce we will also be awarding at least 24 career and technical education (CTE) scholarships to Kentucky public high school students (one male and one female student in each of KSBA’s 12 regions). CTE scholarships will fund Industry Certification assessments for students still in high school. Eligible nominees come from immediate families whose members (parents, guardians, siblings) have not previously earned a postsecondary degree.

In total, KSBA will award approximately $22,000 in scholarships for students this year.

Questions about KSBA's scholarship opportunities? Contact Josh Shoulta.

The important work of the KSBA Educational Foundation, including our First Degree Scholarship program for students, would not be possible without the generous support of members, friends and partners like you. As we close the books on 2021, please consider making a meaningful year-end gift to the KSBA Educational Foundation. Your gift will allow KSBA to continue to expand our student scholarship opportunities. Whether a gift of $25 or $500, your contribution will support Kentucky public high school students achieve CTE certification or the pursuit of a postsecondary degree.

You may make your gift in one of two ways:

Visit KSBAEF.org to learn more about the KSBA Educational Foundation. Thank you for your support!

Nominations for KSBA’s inaugural School Board Member of the Year (BMOY) Award are now being accepted. The new award honors exemplary service of association members and celebrates the critical roles school boards play in the advancement of public education in Kentucky. Serving as the association’s highest individual honor, winners will be selected based on their contributions in areas such as advocacy, leadership and student achievement. The winner will be honored on stage at KSBA’s 2022 Annual Conference in February.

Online nominations must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. (ET) on Friday, Dec. 10. View/download BMOY Award criteria and instructions.

While KSBA’s 2022 Annual Conference (Feb. 25-27) is still months away, association staff members are hard at work planning another meaningful weekend of training, networking and collegiality. Visit KSBA’s 2022 Annual Conference page for regular updates and important event information.

District involvement is at the heart of what makes KSBA events successful. We invite school districts and education leaders to participate in one or more of the following ways:

KSBA is now accepting breakout session proposals for the 2022 Annual Conference. Topics should relate to the roles and responsibilities of public school board teams. View/download our session proposal form. All submissions must be received by Nov. 29.

Student performances throughout KSBA’s Annual Conference provide districts a unique opportunity to showcase the talents of students in front of hundreds of our Commonwealth’s board members, administrators and public education advocates. View/download a 2022 student involvement form. Submissions must be received by Nov. 29.

Arguably our most popular annual conference tradition, KSBA will once again display banner artwork depicting the conference theme. We invite each district to submit a student-designed banner for display in conference materials and in the banner gallery area. The banners serve as a powerful reminder of schools’ primary focus – learning and learners.

View/download banner instructions and artwork specifications. Following the success of the 2021 banners and overwhelming positive feedback, we are once again requesting all banners be submitted digitally for the 2022 conference. Rather than mailing in a physical banner, we are asking districts to send us a digital version that can be used in communications, displayed around the convention center, included in the app and so much more.

The Kentucky Interlocal School Transportation Association (KISTA) has been helping Kentucky school districts buy, sell and upgrade their school bus fleets for three decades.

The program, which offers financing options to help districts invest in newer and safer buses, began after the 1988 Carrollton bush crash and has financed more than 3,600 school buses, totaling more than $210 million.

"It's rewarding to see districts that otherwise may be unable to improve their fleet use the KISTA Bus Financing Program to modernize more quickly," said Lincoln Theinert, vice president of RSA Advisors, LLC, and administrator of the KISTA Bus Financing Program.

Read more about the formation and impact of KISTA.

Nov. 15-19 is Kentucky Family Engagement in Education Week, and the November issue of the Kentucky School Advocate features a look at a pilot program to help districts with family engagement.

Also in the November Advocate:

This edition of KSBA Aware is made possible in part