Six Kentucky school board members are walking the halls of the U.S. Capitol today (Tuesday), making the case about how federal laws and regulations are helping – or negatively affecting – public education in the Commonwealth.
The team is representing KSBA for the National School Boards Association’s annual Advocacy Institute, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2 in Washington, D.C.
Local board members from Kentucky who are attending this year’s session are KSBA President Allen Kennedy of Hancock County; Linda Duncan of Jefferson County, Diane Mackey of Daviess County and Davonna Page of Russellville Independent, who all also serve on the KSBA board of directors; John Lackey of Madison County; and Ed Massey of Boone County.
Accompanying the team is KSBA’s new contract lobbyist, Debbie Wesslund of Louisville, a former Jefferson County board member and Congressional aide.
Sunday and Monday were spent in training sessions and workshops set up by NSBA. Tuesday is devoted to face-to-face meetings with members of Congress (or staff if House or Senate business conflicts with the scheduled sessions). Meetings were set up with U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and U.S. Reps. Brett Guthrie, Hal Rogers, Ed Whitfield and John Yarmuth. Other sessions may be scheduled if opportunities permit.
Photo above: Hancock County Board of Education member Allen Kennedy studies materials following a presentation about the federal budget proposal's potential impact on schools. Kennedy, who became KSBA president last month, is part of a group of local board members attending the NSBA Advocacy Institute.