KSBA Aware - News from the Kentucky School Boards Association

Feb. 21, 2022

In this issue:

Bill would allow students to opt-out of mask requirements
Annual Conference to be held this weekend
Bill governing social studies instruction passes Senate committee
Two Kentucky elementary schools named 2021 National ESEA Distinguished Schools
KSBA facilitating four superintendent searches
Upcoming dates, deadlines and events

Bill would allow students to opt-out of mask requirements

After giving school boards control of mask requirements in schools and other coronavirus mitigation measures in a special session this past fall, the legislature is advancing a bill that would effectively ban mask mandates in Kentucky schools.

House Bill 51, filed by Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion, would allow local boards to continue requiring masks, but allow any student to opt out for any reason. The opt-out provisions would also apply to school-sponsored events and transportation. A federal mandate currently requires masks be worn on school buses.

The House Education Committee passed the bill on Feb. 15 and it has been posted for a vote on the House floor.

During the Feb. 15 committee meeting, Bechler said the bill was needed because of what he described as problems with masks, including not being able to see facial expressions and acne.

Rep. Jeffery Donohue, D-Louisville, questioned why the legislature decided to allow local control over masks and other COVID-19 mitigation during the special session but is now considering a mandate.

Rep. Ed Massey, R-Hebron, also questioned deviating from local decision making, but said the issue needed to be debated because of complaints about masks from his constituents.

“I’d just like us to consider that factor about, are we sending mixed messages or not with respect to that local control option,” said Massey, who voted for the bill.

Rep. Attica Scott, D-Louisville, pointed out that the bill says that COVD-19 has multiple strains and continues to mutate.

“Why would we not want to protect ourselves and especially our most vulnerable, our children, from this global virus?” she said.

“Because masks don’t work,” Bechler replied.

“That’s not true,” Scott said.

As the surge of the Omicron variant of the virus wanes across the state, more than half of the 171 Kentucky school districts have decided to make masks optional, according to one anti-mask mandate group.

KSBA, in a statement last week, called for the legislature to maintain local decision-making as passed during the special session.

"HB 51 strikes at the heart of local control, the long-held ideal that governance of our public schools should be entrusted as much as possible to those elected to serve their communities," the statement said. "We urge legislators to recommit to that principle of local control, even on controversial issues, as they did in the special session just five months ago. "

See the full statement.

KSBA's 2022 Annual Conference to be held this weekend

KSBA’s 2022 Annual Conference convenes this weekend, Feb. 25-27 in Louisville. More than 1,000 board members, administrators, district staff and education industry leaders will gather for a weekend of training and networking at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

There is still time to register! Visit the conference page of KSBA’s website to begin online registration, review a complete conference schedule and to access limited-time conference hotel rates. Districts also have the option of viewing/printing a hard-copy schedule and registration form.

Registered attendees will receive detailed information early this week, ranging from session handouts to special tips and instructions for making the most of the conference weekend.

KSBA22 Keynote spotlight: Sunday, Feb. 27

Hard work usually pays off. But sometimes, no matter how hard you work, your plans just… DON’T work. Resilience researcher Courtney Clark helps teams adapt to change and crisis when the stakes are high, and she has proven techniques to help you deal with life’s detours with humor, resilience and tenacity. In this inspiring and interactive presentation, you’ll learn a multi-step framework for creating optimal outcomes in uncontrollable situations. At the end of this session, participants will be able to discover how to let go of “the plan,” identify ways to maintain personal power during transition and upheaval and develop measures to increase perspective and adaptability.

Bill governing social studies instruction passes Senate Committee

Senate Bill 138, which would detail how history is taught in Kentucky public schools, passed the Senate Education Committee last week.

Sen. Max Wise, the committee’s chairman and bill’s sponsor, said the bill is needed to “preserve alignment of middle and high school standards with American principles, the quality freedom and personal agency.”

During the pandemic, parents have had a chance to learn more about their children’s assignments and many did not like what they saw, he said. Constituents have shared school assignments that “they perceive are increasingly about indoctrination into a particular worldview, rather than education that equips students to think critically,” Wise said.

Those opposed to the bill say it would limit how teachers can teach and overlook the impact of slavery in the country.

Renee Sartin, a professor at Campbellsville University, who testified against the bill, told the committee that students should be able to learn the facts about America’s history.

“Ignoring the past, or only telling partial truth does a disservice to everyone and is an injustice to those whose story is being forgotten or falsified, and it does intellectual harm to those who are not exposed to the truth,” she said.

The new draft of SB 128 eliminates unclear language and changes the requirements to fall under the state academic standards instead of curriculum decided at the school level.

SB 138 would require schools to align instruction with the concepts of equality, equal protection under the law, personal agency and teach that slavery and discriminatory laws passed after the Civil War contradicted fundamental U.S. ideals. Attributing racial disparities solely to the impact of slavery “is destructive to the unification of our nation,” the bill states.

The revised bill that schools may teach about the historical oppression of groups of people and about controversial aspects of history. It uses some of KSBA’s model policy on “controversial issues” which says instruction on such issues shall be “relevant, objective, nondiscriminatory, and respectful…”

“Amid national and statewide tensions that seem to be further dividing us, I’ve drafted a bill with the intent to unify,” Wise, R-Campbellsville, told the committee which passed the bill 9-4.

Two Kentucky elementary schools named 2021 National ESEA Distinguished Schools

The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) has named two Kentucky schools as National ESEA Distinguished Schools during its national conference on Feb. 16-19. The two are among 49 schools nationwide to receive the honor.

Flaherty Elementary School (Meade County) was recognized for closing the achievement gap between student groups. Kenwood Elementary School (Jefferson County) was recognized for excellence in serving special populations of students, such as homeless, migrant and English learners.

Formerly the National Title I Association, NAESPA is dedicated to building the capacity of education professionals to provide disadvantaged children with a high-quality education. NAESPA implemented the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program to highlight schools that have effectively used their federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds to improve education outcomes for students.

More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the NAESPA website. The list of 2021 schools can be downloaded. States not listed did not participate in 2021.

KSBA facilitating four superintendent searches

KSBA's Superintendent Search Service is currently facilitating searches in the following districts:

Campbell Co. Schools
Crittenden Co. Schools
Marion Co. Schools
McCreary Co. Schools

Click here for a complete listing of the active searches with which KSBA is involved, including job postings, descriptions and access to online applications.

KSBA's experienced Superintendent Search consultants have worked with local school boards across Kentucky to facilitate more than 300 successful searches.