The October edition of KSBA’s magazine, Kentucky School Advocate, will include one of the most anticipated regular reports in the publication: an in-depth look at the makeup of candidates in this year’s local school board elections.
Editor Madelynn Coldiron has collected the candidate filing data for ballot placements in all 174 districts, and turned up several interesting stories about who is running, who isn’t seeking re-election and some of the oddities that occur every election season.
Some tidbits to whet your appetite:
· Despite the pressures involved in board service, the percentage of incumbents seeking re-election hasn’t varied more than 4 percent in the past dozen years.
· Fewer open seats failed to draw a single candidate this year, requiring an appointment by Commissioner Terry Holliday, than in any election since 2000.
· More school boards will see no change than four years ago when the same group of three county and two independent seats were on the ballot.
Also on included in a packed edition of the magazine are:
· An “In Conversation With” featuring the Department of Education’s top official responsible for working with struggling schools, talking about the new accountability system
· One district’s approach to reaching out to students who are homeless and linking them with services vital to maintaining their education
· A chance meeting between a corporate executive and a Kentucky school leader that is opening new technological opportunities for a community’s students
· Insights into how a district dealt with tight finances that forced budget cuts yet also led to an enhanced full-day kindergarten program
· Loss of U.S. stimulus money hasn’t crippled Kentucky schools’ efforts to become more energy efficient
And be sure and look for the second installment of a new Kentucky School Advocate feature – Board View – in one story in every edition. The feature gives a more detailed look at an issue covered in the main article from a school board member’s point of view.
All this and much more in the October Kentucky School Advocate, coming in the mail to board members and superintendents next week and live online on KSBA’s website Oct. 1.