KSBA Policy Connection for July 2023

The Policy Connection is a free quarterly publication provided by the KSBA Policy Service that is sent to all board members, superintendents, KOSAA members and others who request to receive it. View publication as Webpage.

July 2023

Katrina Kinman, Editor

Welcome to our new subscribers

eMeeting – Perry County Board of Education, Morgan County Fiscal Court, East Valley Elementary School, Morgan Central Elementary School, Wrigley Elementary School, Ezel Elementary School, Morgan County High School, Morgan County Middle School (Morgan County Board of Education)

Online Manual (Procedures) – Covington Independent Board of Education

Employee Handbook – Floyd County and Calloway County Boards of Education

Coaches’ Handbook – Floyd County Board of Education

Substitute Teacher Handbook – Floyd County Board of Education

Policy Audit Service – Calloway County Board of Education

Did you know?

SBDM councils can use KSBA’s eMeeting service.
KSBA’s procedure service can save you time with required forms.
Online manual is a valuable resource for your employees.

For questions about the special resources and services provided by KSBA's Policy team, contact Katrina Kinman at 502-783-0082 or via email.

Effective date of legislation

The effective date for legislation enacted during the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly was the first moment of Thursday, June 29 except for measures containing emergency provision or specifying a different effective date.

Exit survey

House Bill 319 created KRS 160.382 to require the board to adopt a policy to ensure that district employees complete an exit survey when they voluntarily leave the district. This information shall be reported to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) by the district in a system developed by KDE without providing personally identifiable information.

From the Commissioner’s Monday Message – June 26, an exit survey link will be sent by July 15 to HR administrators:

As required by KRS 160.382, the Kentucky Department of Education has developed “a system for school districts to report exit survey information without providing personally identifiable information for use in evaluating factors impacting teacher retainment.”

Human resource (HR) administrators in each district will receive a link to the approved survey instrument no later than July 15. That link should be shared with school district employees who voluntarily leave the district in accordance with the policy that the local board has adopted.

Policy references: 03.17/03.272

Outstanding policy/procedure updates and handbooks

With the start of the new school year just around the corner, it is important to have updated policies/procedures and handbooks in place for the board, students, staff and the community’s information. Additionally, KRS 160.340 requires that board policies be kept up to date by filing annual amendments thereto by Aug. 15. Please send the update checklists to us as soon as possible so that we may process your local board’s policies and procedures for use by your district.

Policy reference 01.5

Dissemination of policy

Each site administrator shall notify employees and/or students under his/her supervision, either orally or in writing, when the board makes a policy change that applies to them. In addition, the superintendent shall designate an employee or committee to review related documents such as, but not limited to, the student code of conduct and employee/student handbooks to assure consistency with new or revised board policies.

Procedure reference 01.5 AP.1

Treasurer’s fidelity bond

Each year on advice of the commissioner of education, the board shall determine the amount of the fidelity bond of the treasurer of the board and other school employees responsible for district funds. No later than July 31 of each year, the board shall submit the fidelity bonds to the commissioner of education for approval.

Policy reference 04.4

Data security breach

Districts are required to review the Data Security and Breach Notification Best Practice Guide and acknowledge such in a public board meeting prior to Aug. 31 of each year per 702 KAR 1:170. The guide may be found at http://education.ky.gov/districts/tech/Pages/Best-Practice.aspx.

The district shall acknowledge to the Board in a public meeting prior to Aug. 31 of each year, that the district has reviewed the Data Security and Breach Notification Best Practice Guide and implemented best practices that meet the needs of personal information reasonable security in the district.

Policy reference 01.61

School security risk assessment

No later than July 15 each year, the superintendent shall send verification to the state school security marshal and KDE that all schools within the district have completed the school security risk assessment for the previous year.

Policy reference 05.5

Written notice of the provision of KRS 508.078

KRS 158.1559 requires the principal to provide written notice to all students, parents and guardians of students within 10 days of the first instructional day of each school year of the provision of KRS 508.078 and potential penalties under KRS 532.060 and KRS 534.030 upon conviction (making it a crime to make the described threats of terroristic threatening against school-affiliated persons and persons lawfully on school property or against school operations).

Policy reference 09.425

Procedure reference 09.425 AP.22

Homeless children and unaccompanied youth and children in foster care

The district shall provide educational and related services to homeless children and youth, including preschool-aged homeless children, and homeless children or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian (unaccompanied youth) in a manner that does not segregate or stigmatize students on the basis of their homeless status.

Students in foster care shall have equal access to all educational programs and services, including transportation, which all other students enjoy.

If your district has a monitoring visit by KDE, the policy and procedures to be shared are 09.12/Admissions and Attendance, 09.12 AP.1/Student Enrollment and Homeless/Immigration Status, and 09.12 AP.25/ Homeless Children and Unaccompanied Youth.

Policy reference 09.12

Procedure references 09.12 AP.1,09.12 AP.25

Adding/deleting eMeeting users

With the new fiscal year, there are often retirements, resignations, and/or new employees who need eMeeting access removed or added to the agency. If you need assistance with such, please contact your assigned policy consultant.

Mileage rate update

If your district reimburses for mileage at the state rate, be advised that the rate per mile effective July 1-Sept. 30 is $0.46 cents per mile. This information can be reviewed quarterly via this link:

http://finance.KY.gov/services/statewideacct/Pages/travel.aspx

Policy references 03.125/03.225

July webinar discusses Read to Succeed Act

Senate Bill 9 (2022) has the potential to be transformative in the goal of all children being able to read well before exiting grade three. Called the Read to Succeed Act, this bill is designed to employ evidence-based reading methods proven successful for struggling readers. Christie Biggerstaff, director of Early Literacy at the Kentucky Department of Education will discuss the Kentucky Reading Academies, SB9 implementation guidance and information about required assessments.

Date: July 12

Time: Noon – 1 p.m. (ET)

Title: Senate Bill 9 (2022): The Read to Succeed Act’s implementation and initiatives

Presenter: Christie Biggerstaff, director of Early Literacy, Office of Teaching and Learning, Kentucky Department of Education

KSBA's “Learn and Earn” webinars are scheduled for noon – 1 p.m. (ET) on the second Wednesday of each month at a cost of $50 per session (payment required when registering). All Learn and Earn webinars count for 1 hour of state-mandated board training credit. Visit KSBA’s website for more details on KSBA’s 2023 Learn and Earn webinar series.

Upcoming Events

KSBA Summer Leadership Institute

July 14-15 (Marriott Griffin Gate, Lexington, KY)

KOSAA Summer Meeting

July 14 (Marriott Griffin Gate, Lexington, KY)

State-mandated training topic opportunities

See a new list of upcoming webinars, offered from August until December, that satisfy state-mandated training requirements for school board members on the specific topics of Ethics, Finance and Superintendent Evaluation.

Visit KSBA's website for other valuable resources and training information. See below for upcoming events.

Save the date for KSBA's 2023 Regional Meetings

See below for the dates of this year’s Regional Meetings, along with the name and district of each region's chairperson. Specific times, locations and registration instructions will be provided to members through their respective regional chairs. Invitations will be sent approximately 5-6 weeks ahead of each meeting.

Unsure as to which region your district belongs? Find your district's assigned region.

8/29

Fifth Regional Meeting

Chair: Larry Dodson, Oldham Co.

9/5

Northern Ky. Regional Meeting*

Chair: Megan Jones, Walton-Verona Ind.

9/11

Upper Ky. River Regional Meeting

Chair: Donna Isfort, Estill Co.

9/12

Central Ky. Regional Meeting

Chair: Jerry Browning, Garrard Co.

9/18

Middle Cumberland Regional Meeting*

Chair: Cindy Price, Pulaski Co.

9/25

First Regional Meeting

Chair: Shawn Smee, Murray Ind.

9/26

Second Regional Meeting*

Chair: Jeremy Luckett, Owensboro Ind.

10/17

Eastern Ky. South Regional Meeting*

Chair: Bob Hutchison, Johnson Co.

10/23

Third Regional Meeting

Chair: Nancy Uhls, Simpson Co.

10/26

Fourth Regional Meeting*

Chair: Diane Berry, Nelson Co.

10/30

Upper Cumberland Regional Meeting*

Chair: Brenda Rose, Whitley Co.

11/2

Eastern Ky. North

Chair: Keith Mason, Elliott Co.

* Denotes regions that will will hold regional chair elections this year. Members who reside in these regions will receive election information in the weeks preceding the meeting.

Policy reference 01.83

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