During Tuesday’s Superintendent Webcast, Kentucky school leaders heard about updated guidance that clarifies transportation for extracurricular activities and had several questions about the guidance that now requires students to wear masks inside schools even when spaced 6-feet apart.

The updated pupil transportation guidance distinguishes between transporting students to school and trips for extracurricular activities. Because extracurricular trips involve fewer students, take place when more buses are available and aren’t constrained on time, they require greater consideration of social distancing, Associate Commissioner Robin Kinney said.

Superintendents also questioned whether students can remove their masks at any time while inside school. Officials initially said students could remove their masks if spaced 6-feet apart, but the guidance was recently changed to require masks while indoors.

“While you’re in a building, in a classroom setting, you need to be wearing your mask at all times,” said Dr. Connie White, deputy commissioner of public health. “The further apart the students are the less the chance of infection spread, wearing masks the less the chance of infection spread, so yes, you are going to be wearing the mask while socially distanced.”

KDE officials also explained an update to the Orientation and Targeted Services guidance for allowing small groups into school buildings. Schools can now have 14 students and one teacher, an increase from nine students and one teacher.

The webcast also covered new guidance on truancy and compulsory attendance which directs districts to generally handle truancy issues as they have previously but with some flexibility due to COVID-19.

After being told that some districts are asking parents to sign waivers for in-person classes, Interim Commissioner Kevin Brown said KDE does not support waivers for access to public education.

The Kentucky Constitution includes a right to public education and the law requires districts to “act reasonably” in providing that, said KDE General Counsel Todd Allen, who asked districts to refer to his previous discussion on district liability.

As of Thursday, 47 Kentucky school boards have voted to return to in-person instruction before Gov. Andy Beshear’s recommended date of Sept. 28.

Many of those districts are using rotations that will limit the number of students in classrooms, some are only bringing certain grades into class and some are having instruction four days a week or less.

Green County, which was the first district in the state to start in-person on Aug. 17, has switched to virtual instruction because of the virus’s presence in the community.

Most districts are waiting until Beshear’s recommended date to resume classes. During Beshear’s 4 p.m. Monday coronavirus news conference, Dr. Steven Stack is expected to explain a new data tool districts will be able to use determine whether they should return to in-person instruction or stay with virtual instruction.

The state is also planning to unveil a dashboard that will allow parents to check the number of positive cases of staff and students at their children’s school. Both of those topics are expected to be discussed at 2 p.m. Tuesday on the Superintendents Webcast.

Local school board members expressed frustration at trying to balance the benefits of in-person classes with the safety of their students and staff as they decide when to reopen schools.

Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Local School Board Member Advisory Council met Sept. 3 with KDE and public health officials to discuss those issues and hear updates to the state’s Healthy at School guidance.

Nelson County board member Diane Berry (middle) said she understands that it’s important for students to return to classes, but questioned the trade-off of potentially spreading the coronavirus.

“To me, it's the health that is more important right now, their mental health and their physical health,” Berry said, adding that many students live with their grandparents.

Hardin County board member Charlie Wise (top right) said his district started in-person classes two days a week on Aug. 24. He noted that the district has seen more cases in students who are learning virtually than students who have been in the buildings.

“I feel like in our staff, teachers, everyone’s gone the extra mile to do everything possible to keep our students safe,” he said. “And I know that our students are happier, parents are happier. Things are going well.”

Other members who attended the meeting include Joanna Freels, Shelby Co. (middle top), Ambrose Wilson, Woodford County (bottom middle), Linda Duncan, Jefferson County (bottom right), Carl Wicklund, Kenton County and Larry Dodson, Oldham County.

Kentucky’s newly hired education commissioner, Jason Glass (pictured), will step into the role on Sept. 14. Read KSBA’s article on the Commonwealth’s new chief education official from the latest issue of the Kentucky School Advocate.

Kevin Brown concludes his tenure as interim commissioner this week, having served in the position since December. This was Brown’s second stint serving in an interim capacity, having also been appointed to the position following the retirement of former education commissioner Terry Holliday in 2015.

Brown’s legacy will include navigating Kentucky’s public schools through the first six months of a pandemic that shuttered schools and continues to limit in-person instruction for most districts. For his tireless efforts and leadership, KSBA is grateful, and we wish him the best as he returns to his role within Jefferson County Schools.

During a Sept. 9 webinar, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet released an application for local school districts to receive reimbursements of up to 50 percent of the cost to replace up to five school buses. As part of the 2016 Volkswagen Settlement, the Kentucky General Assembly authorized $8,521,700 in such reimbursements to be awarded to school districts. Buses to be replaced are those in daily operation with a chassis year of 2001 or earlier.

See the application instructions for VW Settlement school bus funding. Applications must be returned to ky.vwsettlement@ky.gov by close of business Oct. 9. Act now!

New analysis from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy: While Kentucky schools struggle with costs and reduced revenues due to COVID-19, the funding gap between the poorest and wealthiest districts approaches the level the state Supreme Court declared unconstitutional in 1989.

The new KCEP research shows that wealthy districts had $2,840 more in state and local revenue per student than poor districts in the 2018-19 school year (the most recent for which data is available). The gap increased $122 in 2019 compared to the prior year, and is now just $208 shy of the pre-KERA gap in inflation-adjusted terms. 

KSBA kicked off fall regional meeting season on Sept. 1 with a virtual gathering of its Fifth Region districts. Regional Chair Hannah Barnes (pictured) of Anchorage Independent hosted an evening of training that featured moving student entertainment and a special guest appearance by Interim Commissioner of Education Kevin Brown.

This year’s regional meeting training topic is entitled “Coronavirus Current Events: Top considerations for school boards.” Knowledgeable KSBA staff explore the legislative, legal and policy implications of pandemic response. Visit KSBA’s regional meeting page for more information on KSBA’s 11 remaining virtual meeting dates.

This fall, six regional chair seats on KSBA’s board of directors will be up for election. Regional chairs are in a unique position to serve as liaisons for our fall regional meetings while also contributing as members of the association’s board of directors. KSBA will distribute nomination information to board members and superintendents within regions where elections are to be held. Election forms, instructions and submission deadlines can also be downloaded from the Regional Meeting page of KSBA’s website.

If you have questions about these elections, or about regional chairperson service, please contact KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling at 859-492-1497 or via email.

The Oct. 14 "Learn and Earn" webinar will be an ethics session titled Legal and Ethical Considerations for School Board Members. This webinar meets mandated ethics training requirements for school board members. Register now!

For questions, contact Laura Cole, KSBA director of Board Team Development, via email or at 800-372-2962.

The deadline for districts to nominate one male and/or one female student for the First Degree Scholarship is Oct. 26. Visit our website for more information, including eligibility requirements and the application.

Over the next several months, KSBA will be spotlighting our Tier 1 and Tier 2 Affiliate Members in Q&A videos. The videos will provide information on the services the companies provide to school districts and why they choose to support public education.

Our first spotlight, is Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects. Kenny Stanfield, AIA, LEED AP for Sherman Carter Barnhart, joined KSBA's Matt McCarty for a Zoom conversation.

Check out all of our Affiliate members on our website.

KSBA is often called on by media outlets to discuss important school-related issues. Here is a story to which your association contributed in recent weeks.

Sept. 4, WHAS-Louisville: What are schools required to disclose about COVID-19?

Sept. 4, Hoptown Chronicle, Hopkinsville: Christian County Public Schools bringing students back to classrooms

KSBA is accepting nominations for its PEAK Award. The deadline is Sept. 22 and more information is available on our website.

The entry guidelines and links to stories on some of the recent winners, are available on our website. If you have questions, please email or call Matt McCarty at 800-372-2962 ext. 1209.

This edition of KSBA Aware is made possible in part