Members of Kentucky’s 174 local boards of education took in almost 11,500 hours of professional development in 2011, according to a report by KSBA to the Kentucky Board of Education.
At the KBE’s June 5 meeting in Frankfort, KSBA Executive Director Bill Scott and Board Team Development Director Kerri Schelling detailed the in-service training report for school board members. KSBA is designated by the state as the agency of record to keep track of how local board members meet their statutory obligations for annual training hours.
The 2011 report showed the state’s 872 board members earned a total of 11,492.5 hours of approved training, or more than 5,000 hours above the minimum total that was required statewide. Nearly 800 local board members (92 percent) exceeded their minimum training hours in 2011.
“This represents at 10 percent increase over training hours earned last year,” Schelling told the state board. “Of course, that’s not surprising due to all of the changes in education that are taking place. They certainly are rising to the challenge.”
First term board members – who have the most required hours (12 per year) – also spent the most time in training: more than 4,800 hours. Board members with between four and seven years service earned almost 2,900 hours, while board members into their third terms in office spent more than 900 hours in professional development opportunities.
A total of 12 board members appointed at various times in 2011 to fill vacancies didn’t get their required hours of training. At KSBA’s request, all were granted additional time to complete the requirements.
However, another nine board members will get a letter from the state board with added encouragement. These board members – all who have more than a year’s service – missed their training requirements by as little as 15 minutes up to as much as almost three hours. The KBE directed Education Commissioner Terry Holliday to send each a letter with a deadline for completing the training required by state law. Those who fail to meet the deadline face possible removal from office by the Office of the Attorney General.