Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order Tuesday recommending that all Kentucky school districts begin offering some form of in-person instruction by March 1 or seven days after school personnel have received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This is still a local decision, school boards are elected all over the Commonwealth and it’s important that it’s a local decision,” Beshear said Wednesday.

The order comes as all but five of the state’s 171 districts have already returned to in-person instruction. Of those five districts only one, Jefferson County, does not have a scheduled date for students to return to the classroom. The Jefferson County board will vote Thursday on a return.

Both Morgan and Owsley county schools plan to begin holding in-person instruction on March 1. Berea Ind. will return March 8 and Elliot County will return March 15.

The executive order also calls for districts to expand in-person offerings, something many districts are already planning. As of Thursday, at least 78 districts plan to have all students in the classroom four or five days a week by March 22 and at least 16 will have elementary students in the classroom four or five days a week and middle and high school students two to four days a week.

The executive order also includes both mandates and recommendations for keeping staff and students safe, Beshear said.

“There can be real concern on behalf of those that walk into a building where there’s going to be a lot of people,” he said.

Masks will continue to be required for all students and staff with “virtually no exceptions,” he said. Districts must also follow the expectations in the state’s Healthy at School guidance and offer “meaningful virtual options” for students through the end of the school year.

The recommendations include:

As of March 1, districts will not have to follow the color-coded mode of instruction metric that had been in place since this past fall. However, Beshear encouraged districts to review the incidence maps to plan appropriately.

The executive order also asks districts to prioritize in-person instruction over extracurricular activities. Now that school personnel have been offered the vaccine, any accommodations for high-risk employees will expire on March 15, the order states.

House Bill 331, which would change how locally elected board members can be removed from office, passed a House committee this week.

Currently, local board members can be removed by the commissioner of education, the Kentucky Board of Education or through the attorney general office.

The bill, sponsored by former Ohio County superintendent Rep. Scott Lewis, R-Hartford, would remove the provisions that allow KBE or the commissioner to remove board members.

During the House Education Committee meeting on Tuesday, KSBA Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy said that the bill isn't about protecting bad board members, but about giving board members parity with elected officials by not allowing them to be removed by an appointed board.

"For us it's really about protecting the fact they are elected by the local community and should first and foremost be accountable to them." he said. "It would treat board members more similarly to other elected officials."

The process of the attorney general's office going through the court system is a much more objective process than allowing appointed KBE members to use subjective reasons to remove a member, he said.

Board members could still be removed for conflict of interests, moving out of their district, missing three meetings in a row, attempting to influence personnel decisions and failing to complete state-required annual training, nepotism, bribery, forgery and other crimes.

The bill will now go to the full House for a vote.

Five superintendents explained Tuesday during the Kentucky Department of Education’s Superintendents Webcast how they plan to use their portion of $928 million federal coronavirus relief funds.

The ESSER II funding can be used for personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, emergency leave days, addressing learning loss and for repairs and improvements to buildings related to health and indoor air quality. See the full guidance. Districts can use the money for expenses from March 13, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2023.

During the webcast, Warren County Schools Chief Academic Officer Melissa Stephanski said the district will use the new money to continue efforts such as transportation, weekend academic help, winter and spring-break terms and dropout prevention. The district has done a lot of research to gain ideas and offer schools a choice on how they want to operate during COVID-19, she said.

Superintendent Rob Clayton said the district is also focusing on retaining skilled personnel to best help students.

Pikeville Independent Superintendent David Trimble said his district is focusing on intervention, enrichment, mental health and technology. Pikeville is also working with community partners to provide intensive, creative summer academies, including parent sessions.

Fayette County Schools plan to offer a Summer Ignite program, said Acting Superintendent Marlene Helm. The intention is for every Fayette County school to participate in all three of the planned summer sessions, said Mendy Mills, the district’s associate director of Title I.

For additional student support, the district envisions putting “partner hubs” on the street – retrofitted vehicles to bring students needed materials instead of requiring them to go to a school building, Helm said.

Rockcastle County Superintendent Carrie Ballinger said the district will offer CampROCK summer school, which will be two days a week for elementary students and week-long learning labs for high school students.

Wireless internet hot spots have been vital for instruction in rural areas and the school district will continue providing those in the fall, she said. The district is also partnering with other agencies to offer students social and emotional help.

Fort Thomas Independent Schools Superintendent Karen Cheser said the board set a goal of offering in-person classes for all students every day. The district bought trailers to use next to its schools in order to get students 6 feet apart, she said.

Bill Bradford, the district’s assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said Fort Thomas is trying to personalize learning while supporting students and monitoring their progress. Jamee Flaherty, assistant superintendent for student services, outlined the district’s emphasis on mental health, social and emotional support including working with a local nonprofit to promote mental health and wellness among teachers and staff.

KSBA Staff Attorney John Fogle has announced plans to retire on May 17, following KSBA’s 2021 Annual Conference. Read the full announcement.

Having served as KSBA’s attorney for 15 years, Fogle is considered one the Commonwealth’s most knowledgeable school law experts. That wisdom, combined with his trademark wit, has won him the admiration and respect of districts throughout Kentucky.

Asked to reflect on his time at KSBA, Fogle held up two annual editions of Kentucky’s annotated school law book, one from the year he passed the bar and the other from 2019.

“The latter is more than twice as large, and I would like to think that I have played some role in helping KSBA, school leaders, colleagues and school law practitioners keep up with the ever-changing landscape,” he said.

“I’ve had the great pleasure of working with a skilled and very supportive leadership team here at KSBA throughout the years. It would be impossible to thank all those who have lent a hand along the way, so I’ll just say thanks to all for a great ride.”

The Kentucky School Boards Association will immediately begin an extensive search for a new staff attorney. The employment posting and job description can be found on KSBA’s website.

KSBA is excited to unveil its impressive lineup of keynote speakers for the 2021 Annual Conference (May 14-16 in Louisville).

Why do some people just play notes they are handed while others write new music in the world? Kai Kight tackles this question, performs original music and shares the inspiring story of how he became an innovative composer in a field of conformity. His session will leave you feeling inspired to take your future into your own hands and bring your unique ideas forward.

Imagine a school district with a diverse student body where every student feels safe and valued, and all students – regardless of race, culture, home language, sexual orientation, gender identity, academic history or individual challenges – have the opportunity to succeed. Dominique Smith, Ed.D., will focus on the School Equity Taxonomy, a model to clarify the structural and interpersonal components of an equitable and excellent school experience.

Ever wonder what it’s like to hurdle down a mountain on skis at speeds up to 70 mph virtually blind, relying on verbal cues from your guide a few feet in front of you? This is what three-time Paralympic bronze medalist Danelle Umstead does every day. At age 13, Danelle was diagnosed with a genetic eye condition that eventually causes blindness. She was in a horrible place in her life – having just lost her mom, her sight and essentially her will to live – when Danelle’s father introduced her to adaptive skiing in 2001. Today, she has a new vision for her life, overcoming her disability and focusing on all her abilities.

Attendee registration for KSBA’s 2021 Annual Conference will open next week. Easy online registration and a complete conference schedule will be available via the annual conference page of KSBA’s website. Board members and districts will also receive more information by email and direct mail.

KSBA kicks off its 2021 Learn and Earn webinar series with “Combatting COVID-19 Learning Loss Through Expanded Learning,” noon – 1 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, March 10. Tom Haggard, director of the Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance and a Covington Ind. board member, will discuss recent federal funding that is available to local school districts through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and how district leaders can collaborate with community partners to increase expanded learning opportunities for students. Registration is required and space is limited.

(Counts toward mandated finance training requirements. Cost: $50)

Click here to register for the March webinar and to view the entire 2021 Learn and Earn schedule.

Outgoing members of the board of directors, having just completed terms of service, will be recognized at the 2021 Annual Conference. See KSBA's board of directors.

KSBA joins schools and education advocates nationwide in celebrating Public Schools Week 2021 this week (Feb. 22-26). Kentucky public schools educate 90% of our Commonwealth’s students. As locally elected school board members and district leaders, you recognize the power of public education. KSBA is #PublicSchoolProud!

Learn more at publicschoolproud.org. Check out Kentucky public education facts courtesy of the Kentucky Department of Education.

In 2020-21, KSBA is 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.

This week's spotlight is Thermal Equipment. Chris Tyler of Thermal Equipment joined KSBA's Matt McCarty for a Zoom conversation.

Check out all KSBA Affiliate members on our website.

Messenger-Inquirer, Feb. 24: Bill to stop state education department from removing local school board members advances

Courier-Journal, Feb. 24: Following Beshear school order, JCPS school board schedules vote on school reopening

WKYT-TV, Feb. 22: Most Kentucky public school districts return to in-person learning

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