The General Assembly will reconvene for business on Tuesday, Feb. 5. We expect the Senate Education Committee to meet on Thursday, to discuss and possibly act on SB 1 , the School Safety and Resiliency Act, which KSBA supports. We expect some amendments to improve the bill will be adopted at that time. 

The General Assembly will reconvene for business on Tuesday, Feb. 5. We expect the Senate Education Committee to meet on Thursday to discuss and possibly act on SB 1 , the School Safety and Resiliency Act, which KSBA supports. We expect some amendments to improve the bill will be adopted at that time. 

Another KSBA supported bill will be voted upon Thursday in the House Health and Family Services Committee. HB 11 , the Tobacco-Free for Students bill, will update current state laws restricting tobacco use on school property to address the sudden surge in vape and e-cigarette products plaguing our youth.

As things begin to move in Frankfort, it will be fast and furious. Be sure to watch your email and KSBA’s Facebook and Twitter feeds to follow developments and respond to any “Action Alerts” we may send when urgent contact with legislators is necessary.

 A few other items of note are discussed below.

LEAD Day at the Capitol is Feb. 21!  

Make your plans to come to Frankfort.

As usual in the odd-year sessions, our LEAD advocacy day at the Capitol is a smaller event this year with no reception or formal program. We will focus on getting as many local board members and superintendents to meet directly with their legislators at the Capitol as we can.  Please contact your legislator ASAP to make your own appointments to meet with them in Frankfort on Thursday, Feb. 21 before we all meet up in Louisville for KSBA’s Annual Conference on Feb. 22. Each legislator’s staff in Frankfort may be reached at 502-564-8100.

Bills to discuss with your legislators

SB 3 Principal selection reform (KSBA supports)

SB 3, our bill to make some reasonable reforms to SBDMs primarily regarding the principal selection process, will be considered by the House soon. We continue to meet with House members to discuss what the bill does and does not do, and to explain the importance of a stronger, direct chain of accountability from the school, to the superintendent, to the school board and to the community which would be enhanced if the superintendent made the final selection of principal after consultation with the council. This issue has been a priority for KSBA for many years. Please call your House member and ask them to support SB 3.

HB 22 (KSBA supports)

This bill will allow local school boards to fill their own vacancies. If for any reason a board does not or cannot do so within 60 days, the Commissioner of Education would do so. This bill, filed by Rep. Mark Hart (R-Falmouth), is a KSBA priority that would enhance your local decision-making and alleviate this work from KDE which is experiencing its own budget and staff reduction woes. Please call your House member and ask them to support HB 22.

 

HB 95  (KSBA supports)

Increase the allowed per diem for board members from $75 to $150; similarly increase the total annual maximum of per diem and reimbursed expenses from $3,000 to $6,000. Any individual board member or board could still chose to not accept the per diem in this bill filed by Rep. Daniel Elliot (R-Danville). Many believe the current per diem hurts recruitment of candidates, especially those with children or grandchildren needing childcare during meetings. Based on the history of increases, we are overdue for an adjustment for inflation. Please call your House member and them to support HB 95.

Let legislators know how bills will impact your students by calling the free LRC Message Line , which is staffed by actual human operators and is open Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time). Call to convey your thoughts to your legislators or any group of legislators (such as to "all members of the education committees"). Always be sure to let them know you are a locally elected school board member, or superintendent, who depends on their support to educate all our kids!

Call the LRC message line, or reach your legislator’s individual office in Frankfort by calling 1-502-564-8100 and asking for them by name.

Have you reviewed KSBA’s legislative priorities for improving education and strengthening districts in 2019? Check them out.