Voter registration deadline is Oct. 7

Election day is just around the corner. In order to vote in the upcoming Nov. 5 elections, you must be registered. The deadline to register is Oct. 7. Students who will turn 18 on or before Nov. 5 may vote, but must register by the deadline. Register at your local county clerk’s office or go online at GoVoteKY.com. Exercise your right!

KBE to meet in Laurel County

The Kentucky Board of Education will convene next week for a two-day meeting in Laurel County. The agendas for Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, include the boards' approval of its legislative agenda for the upcoming session of the General Assembly and its requests for the 2020-22 state budget.

The department’s eight priorities for the new state budget include school improvement, new teacher induction, the Kentucky School for the Blind and Kentucky School for the Deaf, career and technical education, school technology, defined calculations for retirement, health insurance, etc. and full-day kindergarten. The board will also hear the results of the state’s new 5-star rating accountability system which are scheduled to be released Oct. 1, the day before the meeting. 

The board will also hear a Kentucky Department of Education proposal to require schools to either hold a public meeting to discuss accountability results or to post its data and star ratings in a prominent location in the school. The plan also requires schools to notify parents in writing of the school’s data and star rating within 30 days of the release.

The changes to the regulation governing the accountability system also propose changing how per-pupil spending in schools is reported on the school report card. Spending is now reported based on a school’s average daily attendance; the department wants to use a school’s membership number to calculate and display per-pupil spending.

The board will also hold first reading on a changes to bus driver qualifications and training requirements which would, among other things, allow drivers with controlled diabetes to drive a school bus with a valid federal medical certificate. 

Robin Cochran, Washington County superintendent, Patricia Sheffer, Union County superintendent. Robbie Fletcher, Lawrence County superintendent, Barry Lee, Casey County director of special education, and Jim Flynn, executive director of KASS, testify before the Interim Joint Education Committee.

Legislators hear about teacher shortages

At the September Interim Joint Committee on Education, legislators heard from superintendents about problems with teacher recruitment, retainment and quality.

The superintendents, led by Jim Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, told lawmakers that they are seeing fewer applicants for open teaching positions.

The meeting also included a presentation from Boyle County students about child abuse and neglect awareness and prevention. The interim joint education committee will meet Oct. 2 to hear about construction management, arts education and the Datastream program.

Free ‘Learn and Earn’ webinar on district revenue

Pack yourself a lunch and join us for the first installment of our “Learn and Earn” webinar series. KSBA will offer a free, live online training from noon-1 p.m. Oct. 9 entitled, “Revenue calendars part 1: Local revenue.”

Session participants will receive one hour of financial training credit as well as one hour of charter authorizer training credit for the webinar led by Amy Peabody, KSBA legal trainer. Registration is required, so act now!

Your opinion wanted

KSBA is committed to keeping you informed about your association and the important issues facing Kentucky public education. To help us better serve you, we are asking Kentucky School Advocate readers to provide us valuable feedback through a short survey .

The submissions will directly impact how the Kentucky School Advocate magazine communicates with its readers. You could even win a KSBA prize pack for participating. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey.

Federal funds can be used for dual enrollment

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said earlier this month that vocational rehabilitation (VR) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds can be used to support dual enrollment, comprehensive transition and other postsecondary education programs for students and youth with disabilities. The department produced a question-and-answer guide after the secretary heard there was confusion about whether and when these funds could be used for students and youth with disabilities.

"All students deserve the freedom to pursue an education that is challenging and allows them to reach their full potential," DeVos said in a release . "I hope this information will make clear what the law says and serve as a resource to families, Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams and State VR agencies as they continue to collaborate and find ways to increase postsecondary opportunities – and success – for students and youth with disabilities."

KSBA Board of Directors holds September meeting

The KSBA Board of Directors met Sept. 20-21 in Danville. Friday’s work session and dinner welcomed some very special guests. Mike Pratte, president of the Missouri School Boards' Association and member of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) board of directors, who discussed resources available through NSBA. Speakers at dinner included Danville Mayor Pro Tem James Atkins and Kathy Miles, coordinator for the Boyle County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy. 

We are grateful to the men and women who serve on KSBA’s board of directors. Beyond their local board service, these locally elected public servants generously give of their time and talents to lead our association.

Join the KSBA Board of Directors

The Kentucky School Boards Association has four openings for directors-at-large to serve on the association’s board, with some exceptions. Nomination forms are due by Oct. 28.

The nominees will be chosen by a committee of the board of directors that will report its selections in January with ratification on Feb. 22 at KSBA’s annual conference.

The seats are currently held by four members who are all eligible to serve a new three-year term. They are Steve Becker, Danville Independent; Diane Berry, Nelson County; Jason Reeves, Barbourville Independent; and Bill Robertson, Fulton Independent.



The KSBA Board of Directors, which meets quarterly, sets association policy, legislative positions and annual budgets and also works closely with KSBA’s professional staff on issues important to Kentucky’s public school system.

Barga, Smith selected as regional chairs

The First and Upper Kentucky River regions selected new regional chairs to serve a three-year term on KSBA's Board of Directors beginning in January. The two new members are:

Diane Barga (right) has served three years on the Marshall County board and was selected as the First Region chairwoman. Barga retired after working as a teacher and administrator at Marshall County. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree, both from Murray State University. Barga is an elder at First Christian Church in Benton and has served on her district’s safety committee during her time on the school board.

Dennis Smith (left), a 14-year member on the Hazard Independent board who previously served on KSBA’s Board of Directors, will be the chairman for the Upper Kentucky River Region. Smith attended Lindsey Wilson College and received an associate degree from Hazard Community College. He is retired after working 33 years at AEP KY Power. Smith has presented electrical safety demonstrations at schools in the AEP service area and was a member of the Kentucky River Community Care Board of Directors.

KSBA’s Central Kentucky and Third regions will also elect new regional chairpersons this fall.

KSBA’s 2nd Annual Golf Scramble raises money for scholarship fund

Sunny skies and low humidity provided the perfect setting for the 2nd Annual KSBA Golf Scramble on Sept. 20. Sixteen teams teed off at Old Bridge Golf Club in Danville. School board members, administrators and community partners enjoyed 18 holes, lunch, prizes and a day of networking and fun.

By the time the final putt had been sunk, more than $5,500 had been raised for the First Degree Scholarship program, awarding aid to Kentucky public high school seniors who will be the first in their immediate families to complete a postsecondary degree. KSBA is grateful to players, sponsors, volunteers and staff who helped to make this year’s outing so successful.

KSBA Poll Results

Graduation requirements town halls

The Kentucky Department of Education is holding four town halls across the state to get feedback on the state’s new minimum high school graduation requirements. The first town hall was held Sept. 23 in Shelbyville. The remaining town halls are: 

• Oct. 10: 6-7 p.m. EST, Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative, Hazard

• Oct. 15: 6-7 p.m. CST, Green River Regional Educational Cooperative, Bowling Green

• Oct. 30: 5-6 p.m. CST, Hopkinsville Community College, Hopkinsville

The town halls were required by Senate Bill 175 which passed the legislature this past spring. The bill also requires KDE to report a summary of the meetings and feedback to the legislature. In addition, KDE must report how the new requirements will impact current students and options for students not meeting the requirements. 

KSPMA to host annual conference Oct. 23–24

The Kentucky School Plant Management Association hosts its Annual Conference on Oct. 23 and 24 in Lexington. KSPMA’s conference is educational facility-focused. More than 300 attendees are expected to participate in this year’s event, featuring 21 breakout sessions, general sessions and forums, exhibitors and opportunities for networking. For more information, view the KSPMA Annual Conference flyer.

Other upcoming dates

October: National Bullying Prevention Month

October: National School Principal Month

Oct. 2: National Custodial Worker’s Recognition Day

Oct. 2-3: Kentucky Board of Education meeting Laurel County

Oct. 14-18: National School Lunch Week

Oct. 20-26: Kentucky Safe Schools Week

Oct. 21-25: National School Bus Safety Week

Oct. 22: KSBA Fall Regional Meetings continue

Oct. 23-31: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 28: First Degree Scholarship entry deadline

Nov. 22-23: KSBA Winter Symposium

This edition of KSBA Aware is made possible in part

by the following KSBA Affiliate Members.