KSBA launches rebrand

No, there is nothing wrong with your eyes. KSBA has just undergone a rebrand of its logos, colors, mission statement and tagline. Attendees of our 2020 Annual Conference this past weekend in Louisville were privy to its roll out. While we have a new look, you can expect the same superior member services and support administered by an experienced, talented staff.

The graduation cap in our new logo is a nod to the top reason our members commit themselves to board service: student outcomes and success.

A rebrand can serve to inspire energy and excitement for an organization. We also hope that the new branding will better reflect the quality of our members and staff. This is not the final destination, however. This is just the starting point! Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for the different ways KSBA will be integrating our rebrand into every aspect of association operations.



2020 Annual Conference recap

More than 1,200 school board members, superintendents and education industry leaders descended upon the Galt House Louisville Feb. 21-23 for KSBA’s 2020 Annual Conference. The theme was “Education in Focus: Vision 2020.” Attendees gained valuable insights through training, networked with colleagues and were inspired by moving keynote presentations and student performances.

Perhaps the most talked about moments of the conference centered around a panel discussion during Saturday’s lunch session. KET’s Renee Shaw hosted an intriguing discussion with elder statesmen former Senate President David Williams and former Senate Majority Leader David Karem. Panelists discussed the transformative Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) of 1990, giving firsthand accounts of their respective roles in the passing of the legislation.

Other highlights included one of the largest exhibitor tradeshows in annual conference history, doubling the number of First Degree Scholarships awarded to Kentucky students and launching KSBA’s much-anticipated rebrand. And, as always, the conference was packed with incredible student performances and banner artwork.

Saturday’s Annual Conference Business Session included the ratification of four directors-at-large (pictured above from left to right):



Visit the Annual Conference page of KSBA’s website to view photos from this year’s event and see the conference program. Stay tuned for additional photos and videos recapping our time together in Louisville. Thank you to all who joined us for a historic three days. 

The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) voted unanimously on Feb. 25 to uphold the Newport Independent Board of Education’s decision to deny a charter school application.

River Cities Academy had applied to Newport to open a K-8 charter school that would draw students from Covington, Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow, Fort Thomas and Newport independent school districts.

After the Newport school board voted to deny the application based on the recommendation of a panel of more than 30 educators, River Cities appealed the decision to the KBE.

In its final order upholding the denial, the KBE said the charter school did not have an adequate financial plan because it projected a more than $529,000 deficit in its first year. The school also based its viability on public funding that is not available under state law and on grants that have yet to be obtained.

The school “has not demonstrated the ability to operate in a fiscally sound manner,” which is required under state law, said Kentucky Department of Education attorney Todd Allen while reading the order.

The application was the first since the Kentucky General Assembly passed the 2017 law that allowed public charter schools in Kentucky. River Cities Academy has 30 days to appeal the KBE ruling in circuit court. 

Governor signs SB 8, the school safety update

Gov. Andy Beshear has signed the school safety measure, Senate Bill 8, into law.

“I am taking the steps to protect our children in schools – to ensure that the next time an armed individual enters a Kentucky school, there is a sworn law enforcement officer there, armed and well-trained,” Beshear said on Feb. 21 while announcing the signing. “We’re going to give them the tools they need to stop the worst of the worst.”

The bill, which passed the Senate 34-1 and the House 78-8, requires school resource officers be armed and mandates standards for security and training.

While believing that school resource officers should be armed, Beshear said he understands “that there are some children in our schools that don’t feel safe because of the presence of an armed officer. And that is something we must address.”

In addition to requiring armed SROs, the bill also allows SROs to receive death-in-the-line-of-duty benefits, allows one officer for a school campus, allows flexibility in locking classroom doors, allows social workers, psychologists and other professionals to count in meeting the ratio goal of one mental health professional per 250 students.

The bill is an update of last year’s Senate Bill 1 which mandated school resource officers in schools and safety upgrades to school buildings. Last month, Beshear proposed $18.2 million to fund the safety improvements, the amount the Kentucky School Boards Association estimated was needed for the upgrades. 

Kentucky School Advocate adds feedback features

As part of KSBA’s rebrand, the Kentucky School Advocate is also getting a face lift. In addition to a new look, we are adding several features designed to be more interactive with Advocate readers.

For our next issue, we want to know what qualities and characteristics you hope to see in the next Kentucky education commissioner and why. Submit your response using this form .

Now that we’ve asked you a question, we want you to ask KSBA a question. Is there something you want to know about school board service, board training, state education policy, school finance, open meetings laws or other education topic? Ask your question on this form where questions can be submitted anonymously or signed. We will select a question to answer in the next Kentucky School Advocate.

Feedback can also be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line: Feedback. 

Kentucky Youth Advocates seeks input on oral health resources

The Kentucky Youth Advocates, a partner agency of KSBA, is seeking information to help build awareness about the importance of oral health resources in the state.

This year, Kentucky Youth Advocates plans to build awareness, educate and equip Kentucky parents, health professionals and school professionals with the resources to recognize the importance of oral health and how it can impact the overall health of our youngest citizens. This exciting project will begin with a survey to gauge knowledge, beliefs and what oral health resources are needed.

These surveys are for health and school professionals – each play a critical role in helping children understand, improve and maintain good oral health for a lifetime. The results of this survey will help create oral health literacy resources to be disseminated across the state.

Poll Question

Other upcoming dates

Feb. 22-29: National FFA week

March 2-6: National School Breakfast Week

March 2: Read Across America Day

April: National School Library Month

April: Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 3-6: NSBA Annual Conference, Chicago

April 5: Kentucky Breakfast at NSBA Annual Conference

April 9: Kentucky Board of Education, Frankfort

This edition of KSBA Aware is made possible in part

by the following KSBA Affiliate Members.