KSBA Aware - News from the Kentucky School Boards Association

May 8, 2020

In this issue:

Planning for a return in 2020-21
Board members concerned about students' academic, emotional well-being
Commissioner search continues, some graduation requirements waived
KSBA offers election resources, checklist
Metcalfe County wins KSBA PEAK Award
Finance training webinar to be held May 13
Join us for June 2 Law Update Virtual Conference
Districts should brace for budget cuts for fiscal year 2020-21
KSBA calls on school boards to "Tip their Caps" to 2020 grads
ConGRADulations from school boards
May Kentucky School Advocate available online
AT&T commits $1.2 million to small businesses focused on distance learning
Poll results
Upcoming dates, deadlines and events

Planning for a return 2020-21

School boards should begin planning for multiple scenarios for the start of the 2020-21 school year, Interim Commissioner Kevin Brown said this week.

During a superintendents’ webcast on Tuesday and at a Kentucky Board of Education meeting Thursday, Brown explained that Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman asked him to ensure that districts were making plans for how and when students will return to school.

“The good news is we have some time to plan; the bad news is we don’t know exactly what we’re planning for,” he said in the webcast. “We need every district to be nimble and to be able to adjust to what could be a changing public health landscape in the fall.”

Beshear and Coleman asked districts to consider three possibilities for the next school year:

An early start, perhaps as early as late July;
A traditional start; and
A late start, perhaps after Labor Day.

An early start might allow districts to provide some period of in-person instruction, with the possibility of a suspension if coronavirus cases spike, Brown said, noting that boards should consider approving multiple calendars to allow for the different scenarios.

“We’re not going to dictate from the department what your calendar looks like,” he said. “We’re just telling you about things you’re going to have to be prepared for if the public health landscape changes.”

And no matter when students return, it’s likely to come with a number of changes to ensure social distancing, both in buildings and on buses, he said.

Returning to school and how districts will handle summer learning was also discussed by the Education Continuation Task Force which met on Monday.

A superintendents’ webcast at 2 p.m. May 12 will focus on calendars and the 2020-21 school year.

Board members concerned about students’ academic, emotional well-being

When students return to school this fall, they will need additional academic and emotional supports, local board members told Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) officials during this week’s Local School Board Member Advisory Committee meeting.

“As local school board members, you all have to make tough decisions and will continue to have to make tough decisions over the coming months we really want to hear from you what challenges your districts are facing,” KDE Associate Commissioner Kelly Foster told the members who met virtually for the first time.

Nelson County Schools chairwoman Diane Berry said she worried that students would be behind academically because of prolonged remote instruction.

“I’m really concerned about it because NTI doesn’t take the place of being in school,” Berry said. “I know Nelson County is doing some amazing things, but that’s my concern.”

Foster said KDE is working on a re-entry plan that will list things districts will need to consider before students return to school, that will likely include assessing students to determine whether remediation is needed, she said.

The eight board members attending the meeting also noted that there will be mental health concerns. A lot could have happened in students’ lives since they were last in a classroom, including the death of a parent or grandparent or a parent losing a job, noted Woodford County board member Ambrose Wilson.

Damien Sweeney, KDE’s program coordinator for comprehensive school counseling, agreed that schools will have to address students’ emotional needs.

“Our content classes can’t just be about content. Those classes have to start with being psychologically supportive. They should infuse social and emotional learning,” he said. “We know that those kids aren’t going to come ready to learn. Those kids are going to come wanting to feel safe, wanting that sense of community.”

KDE Associate Commissioner Robin Kinney also updated members on the CARES Act funding that will be coming to districts, including $193 million from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and $30 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund.

Wilson asked KDE to include board members on discussions about the money and how it can be spent.

“I think it’s very, very important for board members to have somewhat of a working knowledge of everything so that when we make our decisions, we have all of that information,” he said.

Photo: Interim Commissioner Kevin Brown meets with Local School Board Member Advisory Council members, Joanna Freels, Shelby County (upper right), Larry Dodson, Oldham County (lower left), and Carl Wicklund, Kenton County (lower left).

Commissioner search continues, some graduation requirements waived

The Kentucky Board of Education, meeting Thursday for the first time with Lu Young as chairwoman, heard an update on the commissioner search and the education community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ann Bailey, of Greenwood/Asher & Associates, explained that the firm is using a 10-page document to market the position and is seeking nominations. Bailey said it’s too early to know whether they will get a good pool of applicants, but that they expect to talk to both every education commissioner in the country and every second in command.

Interim Commissioner Kevin Brown told the board that his employer, Jefferson County Schools, and KDE are working on an extension of the contract that allows Brown to serve as interim commissioner.

“It looks that will be necessary,” he said. “And I have had conversations with the board chair and superintendent (Marty) Pollio to make sure they know that that is coming.”

The KBE hopes to have a new commissioner in place by the early fall, Brown said.

In addition to the search update, the KBE also approved two waivers that will help districts respond to the pandemic. The board agreed to waive the graduation requirement of seven electives for students in alternative programs in Fayette and Jessamine counties. The board also agreed to allow Brown to approve any additional district requests for the waiver.

The KBE also approved a waiver of the face-to-face portion of the annual restraint and seclusion training requirement.

KSBA offers board election resources, checklist

If you are seeking (re)election to your school board this fall, the deadline to file is Tuesday, June 2 at 4 p.m. (local time).

The COVID-19 pandemic may make it more difficult to obtain and complete the necessary filing documents. Prepare accordingly! Consult your county clerk immediately for information on how to obtain school board election filing forms and how filings will be accepted. Due to the current health emergency, in-person office operations of Kentucky’s county clerks' offices may vary and/or otherwise be limited. DO NOT assume that the filing deadline will be extended.

Review KSBA's school board election resources online , including answers to frequently asked questions , job description and guidance on campaigning, candidate privacy and transcripts. Those filing for election should also download KSBA’s handy school board election filing checklist .

Metcalfe County wins KSBA Spring 2020 PEAK Award

Metcalfe County opened the Old School Café in the spring of 2016 to empower students with work-ready skills while giving them an opportunity to apply math and soft skills in a real-world setting. The success of the program was immediate, and it also preserved the school's old cafeteria while providing a need for the community -- a place to get a good doughnut or a fresh salad.

The Old School Café program was selected as KSBA's Spring 2020 PEAK Award winner. The PEAK Award was established in 1997 to focus statewide attention on outstanding public school programs that enhance student learning skills and, in doing so, promote the positive impact of public elementary and secondary education in our Commonwealth.

"We want to give our students options and opportunities," said Metcalfe County Superintendent Benny Lile. "That's what we're about in anything we do. And obviously I think innovation goes hand in hand with that to bring realistic options and opportunities to work."

Finance training webinar to be held May 13

Join KSBA the second Wednesday of each month for an hour of meaningful board member training. Our “Learn and Earn” webinar series offers helpful topics while providing school board members with required training credits.

Sessions will run from noon until approximately 1 p.m. (ET) at a cost of $50 per session. Pre-registration is required and space is limited to 100 viewers each session. Visit the Learn and Earn web page for a detailed schedule of upcoming Learn and Earn trainings along with easy online registration. Download a complete schedule (PDF) of all upcoming Learn and Earn opportunities through November.

KSBA's next Learn and Earn opportunity is May 13 - Nickel Equalization and Budget Shortfalls . This session counts toward mandated finance training requirements. Chay Ritter of the Division of District Support at the Kentucky Department of Education will provide an update on the 2021 state budget and explain how budget shortfalls happen. Participants will also receive 15 bonus minutes with a legislative update from KSBA’s Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy.

For questions regarding the Learn and Earn webinars, contact Laura Cole, KSBA director of Board Team Development, via email or at 800-372-2962.

Join us for June 2 Law Update Virtual Conference

KSBA’s 14th Annual Federal & State Law Update will be held from 9 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, June 2. This year’s event will be the first of its kind to be held as a live virtual conference, allowing participants to join from the convenience of their homes or offices.

This year’s agenda includes:

2020 legislative session recap
Board policy and procedure updates
Open Meetings Act and federal law updates
CARES Act federal funding overview

The cost is $150 per person for this three-hour virtual conference. Board members can earn three hours of training credit. Approval for CLE and EILA credit has been requested. See the full age nda .

Districts should brace for budget cuts in fiscal year 2020-21

The Office of the State Budget Director last week released its scheduled Quarterly Economic and Revenue Report. This is the first OSBD quarterly report published since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials forecast a potential general fund revenue shortfall of $318.7 to $495.7 million for the current fiscal year 2019-2020.

This anticipated loss in revenue will have significant impacts on public education going into the next fiscal year beginning July 1. It is paramount for school boards to begin planning immediately to save money and avoid all non-essential costs to weather these expected funding blows in the months ahead.

Interim Education Commissioner Kevin Brown said this week that KDE has been asked to reduce this year’s spending by $3.1 million (approximately one percent), and that while the department should be able to absorb these initial cuts internally without impacting district operations, it will likely be the last time it can do so.

One national think-tank has estimated that of all 50 states, Kentucky has the highest risk of an immediate state budget crisis given the current economy and the relatively low balance in the state’s “rainy day fund.”

KSBA calls on board members to “tip their caps” for 2020 grads

KSBA salutes all 172 districts for finding creative ways to celebrate our Commonwealth’s high school seniors. While the current health emergency may prevent school board members from congratulating graduates in person, that doesn’t mean we can’t do something special for them. We challenge you to help us put together a special message to the Class of 2020.

Join KSBA for what we are calling our “Tip of the Cap” campaign. We challenge school board members to submit videos of themselves offering helpful tips and well-wishes to this year’s graduates. Maybe it’s an important life lesson. Maybe it’s a “life hack” for staying organized or saving money. Maybe it’s a memorable quote or song lyric. Maybe it’s reflecting on something you were told when you graduated.

How to participate: Using your smartphone, shoot a horizontal selfie video of you sharing your tip (or ask someone in your household to shoot the video of you). Videos should be no longer than 20 seconds in length and should be delivered as follows: “This is [name] from the [district] school board. My tip of the cap for the class of 2020 is …”

Don’t worry about editing the video. We can do it for you! Submit your video via email to [email protected] or iPhone users can text it to 502-396-9391. Contact us if you have questions.

Videos should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Monday, May 25. Submissions may be used in special videos to be featured on KSBA social media. Those not used in videos will be featured on our website and/or in association publications.

ConGRADulations from school boards

Giving out diplomas and congratulating graduates is perhaps the most anticipated tradition for school board members. The absence of in-person commencement ceremonies is difficult for everyone, but especially the Class of 2020. Districts are in this together, even if they can’t be there together for normal ceremonies and festivities.

How did your board team celebrate the Class of 2020? Are you finding creative ways to sign and distribute diplomas? Are you hosting “drive-through” ceremonies? Has your district been honoring seniors with yard signs and social media posts? Share photos and stories with us at [email protected] to show us how you are sending off this year’s graduates. KSBA will include some of these submissions in upcoming publications.

May Kentucky School Advocate online

Pomp and (Unusual) Circumstance

With traditional graduation ceremonies off the table for the spring, districts are getting creative in how they honor the Class of 2020. Options include drive-through or virtual ceremonies, with some districts hoping for an in-person ceremony later in the year.

Read more about the Diploma Dilemna for districts in the May issue of the Kentucky School Advocate. the issue also looks at how the end to the school year was like no other and how districts are using 3D printers to make supplies for medical workers .

Also in the May Advocate:

2020 legislative session comes to a close

It's official: No charter authorizer training until an application

In Conversation With ... Interim Education Commissioner Kevin Brown

Online training opportunities to keep board members on track

President's Perspective: Coronavirus pandemic teaches us lessons

AT&T commits $1.2 million to small businesses focused on distance learning solutions

As millions of students shift to distance learning because of COVID-19, small businesses focused on education are critical to ensuring that transition is successful. But small businesses are facing growing economic uncertainty. Nationwide, about 25 percent of them – those with fewer than 250 employees – are in “immediate risk”1 of closing. That’s 2 million small businesses, employing about 27.5 million Americans.

To support the critical work these companies do every day, AT&T is providing $1.2 million in contributions from its Distance Learning and Family Connections fund. More information is available on AT&T's website .