Bellevue Ind. Superintendent Robb Smith, Kentucky Medical Association President Dr. Bruce Scott, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky President and CEO Ben Chandler, KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling and Graves County students Abbi Stratton and Kendall Tubbs announcing the signs at a press conference at KSBA.

Get tobacco-free signs for free

Schools and districts that have adopted 100 percent tobacco-free policies are eligible to get free signs thanks to a partnership of Kentucky health advocates.

The free signs, which include building and car signage, will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to districts that adopt a new tobacco-free schools policy after April 2019, when House Bill 11 , the tobacco-free schools law, was signed. The program will be expanded in January 2020 to include school districts that previously passed tobacco-free schools policies but want to refresh their campus and vehicle signage. 

The partnership providing the signs includes the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, the Kentucky Medical Association and the Kentucky Foundation for Medical Care.

“At a time when state funding for education is extremely limited, these types of partnerships are critical in easing the burden on local communities,” KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling said at a press conference announcing the program.

More than 130 Kentucky school districts have now adopted 100 percent tobacco-free policies, up from 72 districts prior to the law’s passage. Apply for the free signs at www.tobaccofreestudents.org . 

Districts share foster care concerns

Students in foster care already face many barriers to education. To help them, Kentucky’s social service agencies could do a better job of supporting students, KSBA’s Eric Kennedy and school officials told the legislature’s Interim Joint Committee on Education.

Kennedy, KSBA director of advocacy, Lewis County Superintendent Jamie Weddington and Clay County Instructional Supervisor Deann Allen explained multiple problems affecting the education of students in foster care during the Aug. 21 presentation.

Nearly 10,000 foster children are in Kentucky public schools, and those students often arrive with little or no information, have learning time interrupted by contacts from social workers and many receive little educational support in their foster homes.

In addition, schools’ efforts to provide services to foster students are often hampered by a lack of coordination of care, Kennedy said during the meeting aired on KET.

Allen recalled one eighth-grade student who was in his 60th foster home, a deaf student who was placed in a home where no one can use sign language and a student who’s foster parent charged mileage to take him to after-school activities.

“Education is the key to our economic opportunity. Every single child, whether they are with their biological parent or foster parent, deserves the best education,” Allen said.

To help remedy some of the problems, Kennedy said schools should be allowed to provide mental health services, social workers should accompany the child when enrolling them in school, learning time should be prioritized, foster parents should receive more training on educational support and more funding to ensure high-quality foster homes. 

Survey results, bonus sessions at fall meetings

In the largest response ever to KSBA’s Legislative Issues Survey, more than 300 school board members and superintendents shared their thoughts on the upcoming budget session of the General Assembly.

One issue that most respondents agreed on was the need for heightened reporting and review requirements for students who are withdrawn to be home schooled during the school year. More than 90 percent said they agreed or strongly agreed on the need for more requirements. (graphic above)

The complete results of the annual survey, which had a 10 percent increase in responses over last year, will be shared at KSBA’s Fall Regional Meetings which begin Sept. 3.

This year’s training entitled, “What Will the Session Bring? Legislative Issues, the State Budget and your District Management,” will include school safety implementation, charter school funding and authorization, tax reforms, district mergers and more. Members who attend will receive 1.25 hours of finance training credit.

There will also be one-hour bonus sessions prior to each meeting. Registration for the bonus sessions is separate from regional meeting registration, which is done through the host district. For questions, email Laura Cole or call 502-783-2717. 

NSBA issues call to action, talking points during August ’ s federal legislative recess

The National School Boards Association has compiled a list of key policy issues and talking points for use by local school boards in communicating with senators and representatives and/or their staffs over the August recess. Federal legislators may take immediate action on some of these issues when they reconvene in the fall. Policy priorities range from teacher preparation and recruitment to full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).

One issue that we are monitoring is broadband access for schools. KSBA has joined 47 other state school board associations and NSBA to advocate for congressional and administration support for programs vital to school infrastructure, such as full funding for the schools and libraries universal service support program, commonly known as E-Rate, which is managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). E-rate is a crucial program aiding schools and libraries. KSBA and its peer state associations have urged the FCC to reject a proposal to place a cap on the Universal Service Fund USF and a sub-cap on the Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) and Rural Health Care Programs. 

See NSBA's document entitled, “2019 Recess: Key Federal Policy Issues and Communication Messaging.” To learn more about NSBA’s advocacy work and how the association is leading the conversation on public education, visit nsba.org/advocacy.

Superintendent service snapshot

Sixteen Kentucky school districts started the 2019-20 school year with a new superintendent at the helm, according to the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. Three districts had interim superintendents as of July 1, KASA said. Of the new superintendents, four had previously been superintendent in another district. 

As of July 1, the average length of service for Kentucky superintendents was 4.05 years, up from last year’s 3.86 average years of service, KASA said. There are two superintendents who have served in the same district for more than 15 years (Jerry Green, Pikeville Ind., and Patrick Waddell, Edmonson Co.) and 101 superintendents who have served in their current district for less than five years. 

New KSBA legal publication available for purchase

The Kentucky School Boards Association’s Legal Services team provides resources to help board members understand their responsibilities in an increasingly complex legal environment. Among these resources available to districts, KSBA has just released "School Districts and the Open Meetings Act" (6th edition).

Updated by KSBA Staff Attorney John Fogle, this comprehensive text offers guidance to school board members, board attorneys, superintendents and central office staff on various topics ranging from a general open meetings overview to applicable case law. It is imperative that that those who serve in committee capacities for school districts understand the procedures of the Open Meetings Act.

For more information on this and other KSBA legal publications, including order forms, visit KSBA’s website. 

KSBA Golf Scramble will benefit First Degree Scholarship program

KSBA will host a golf scramble Sept. 20 at Old Bridge Golf Club in Danville. KSBA members, superintendents and district office staff may play at a special rate of $50. Registration includes 18 holes, cart fee, snacks, refreshments, lunch, gift bags and prizes. First place team prize is $400 and the second place team prize is $200.

 

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds support the First Degree Scholarship program, awarding aid to Kentucky public high school seniors who will be the first in their immediate families to receive a postsecondary degree.

 

To reserve your space as a player or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact Kristin Campbell at 502-783-0069 or via email .

KSBA in the news

Because of the unique roles school boards play in matters of policy and education trends, KSBA is often called on by media outlets to discuss important school-related issues. Here are some of the stories to which your association contributed in recent weeks.

New program announced to help enforce Kentucky's tobacco-free schools law

WKYT-TV Lexington, Aug. 22, 2019

Everybody, all the time, everywhere: no tobacco at school

Ashland Daily Independent, Aug. 14, 2019

KSBA Poll Results

KSBA is accepting nominations for its Fall 2019 PEAK (Public Education Achieves in Kentucky) Award. The award has been shining a spotlight on outstanding programs in the state since its inception in 1997. This fall will mark the 50th time that KSBA will honor a program with a PEAK Award.

 

The deadline for the Fall 2019 PEAK Award is three weeks away. Please submit your entry by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, to Matt McCarty .

 

The prestigious award recognizes outstanding public school efforts aimed at enhancing student learning skills and, in doing so, promotes the positive impact of public elementary and secondary education in the Commonwealth.

More information on the PEAK Award, including the entry guidelines and links to stories on some of the recent winners, is on our website . If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to email or call Matt McCarty at 800-372-2962 ext. 1209.

Other upcoming dates

Sept. 3: KSBA Fall Regional Meetings begin

Sept. 8-14: Celebrate Arts in Education Week

Sept. 11: Interim Joint Committee on Education 

Sept. 11: Career and Technical Education Task Force

Sept. 17: PEAK Award nomination deadline

Sept. 17: High Attendance Day

Sept. 20: KSBA Golf Scramble

Nov. 22-23: KSBA Winter Symposium

This edition of KSBA Aware is made possible in part

by the following KSBA Affiliate Members.