KSBA Aware - News from the Kentucky School Boards Association

July 23, 2019

In this issue:

School safety funding survey: response needed
Boards can now fill vacancies
KSBA Fall Regional Meetings will include six regional chairperson elections
Golf Scramble to benefit First Degree Scholarship program
KSBA Board of Directors hold June meeting
Members appointed to school safety center board
Summer Leadership Institute recap
Federal school safety grant opportunity
Upcoming dates, deadlines and events

Survey on SB1 building upgrades due Oct. 1

KSBA is asking each district to respond to KSBA’s survey regarding the building upgrades required by SB 1, the school safety bill, no later than Oct. 1. This information on cost estimates is critical for us to request adequate funding from the General Assembly in January. Take the survey.

Email Eric Kennedy for more information.

Boards can now fill vacancies

Thanks to a new state law , school boards can now fill their own vacancies. House Bill 22, which passed in the 2019 legislative session, changed the responsibility of filling a school board vacancy from the commissioner of education to the remaining members of the board.

Boards now have 60 days to appoint a new member. If the board does not appoint a new member in that time, the commissioner would appoint someone to the seat. KSBA has created resources to help districts through the process. The resources, including a board appointment checklist and frequently asked questions, are posted on our website .

WFPL's story on Jefferson County's vacant seat lays out the process.

Fall Regional Meetings will include six regional chairperson elections

KSBA's annual Fall Regional Meetings will begin Sept. 3 with the Fifth Region's meeting and continue throughout the fall, concluding with the Upper Cumberland Region meeting on Nov. 4.

During the 2019 fall meetings, members will discuss legislative issues and the state budget process. A one-hour training session will be offered prior to the start of each regional meeting.

Six regional chair seats on KSBA’s board of directors will be up for election this fall. Regional chairs serve as liaisons for fall regional meetings and as members of the association’s board of directors. KSBA has distributed nomination information to districts. Visit our website for more regional meeting information, including regional chair nomination forms and deadlines. The Fifth, Eastern Kentucky North and First regions all have August nomination deadlines.

Golf scramble to benefit First Degree Scholarship Fund

KSBA will host a golf scramble Sept. 20 at Old Bridge Golf Club in Danville. KSBA members and superintendents may play at a special rate of $50. Registration includes 18 holes, cart fee, snacks, refreshments, lunch, gift bags and prizes.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds support the First Degree Scholarship program, awarding aid to Kentucky public high school seniors who will be the first in their immediate families to receive a postsecondary degree.

To reserve your space as a player or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact Kristin Campbell at 502-783-0069 or via email .

KSBA Board of Directors gathers for June meeting

The association’s board of directors met at KSBA headquarters on June 21-22. At Friday’s work session the board discussed KSBA’s brand identity and mission statement. Saturday’s quarterly board meeting included the approval of KSBA dues, staff salary schedule and the budget for fiscal year 2020.

Members were updated on strategic planning, regional meeting dates, data security efforts, KSBA golf scramble, summer book study and the association’s 50th PEAK Award.

Board member, superintendent appointed to KCSS board

A school board member and superintendent were among eight people Gov. Matt Bevin has appointed to the board of the Kentucky Center for School Safety.

Jessamine County school board Vice- Chairwoman Denise Bailey Adams, who was elected last November, was selected as the KSBA representative.

Marion County Superintendent Taylora Schlosser was selected as the representative for the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents.

They will serve for terms expiring March 11, 2023.

Summer Leadership Institute recap

More than 300 school board members and superintendents attended KSBA's 2019 Summer Leadership Institute July 12-13.

Knowledgeable trainers and captivating keynote speakers equipped attendees with tools and insights to take Kentucky public education to new heights.

At the beginning of Friday night's Opening Session, attendees heard from Jacqueline Coleman, who is the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin and his running mate, state Sen. Ralph Alvarado.

See the July/August Kentucky School Advocate to read what the candidates had to say.

More photos of SLI, are featured on our Facebook page.

School safety grant opportunity

A mental health service professional demonstration grant program is available through the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

This $15 million grant competition promotes partnerships between colleges or universities and high-need school districts in order to expand the pipeline of trained school-based mental health services providers. The deadline to apply is Aug. 5.

"Ensuring that our nation's schools are safe and nurturing places to learn is critical to the well-being, safety and long-term success of all students," said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. "These grants will support state and local leaders as they develop and implement the school safety solutions that will work best for them."

The program is funded through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

For more information about the grant including pre-application technical assistance webinar opportunities, or if you would like to be a peer reviewer, email Project.Prevent@ed.gov , LEA.SCTG19@ed.gov or Mental.Health@ed.gov .