NSBA lineup
Several Kentucky school districts will be sharing their expertise with school board members from across the nation at the National School Boards Association’s annual conference April 13-15 in San Diego.
Kentucky presenters include:
• Boone County Schools, with a session on professional learning communities and a “response to individuals” approach to meeting student needs.
• Eminence Independent Schools, whose leaders will present on best practices in district leadership.
• Newport Independent Schools, presenting a clinic on customer service.
• Montgomery County Schools, with a session on workplace civility issues in public schools.
• Taylor County Schools, which will highlight its performance-based education and zero-dropout programs.
KSBA staff members also are contributing at the event. Board Team Development Director Kerri Schelling will be part of a group leading the New Board Member Boot Camp at a preconference session. Member Support/Communications Services Director Brad Hughes will provide a mini-clinic on using the social media outlets Facebook and Twitter and will be part of a regular clinic on community and media relations.
The conference also will be the last one presided over by Boone County’s Ed Massey, who is completing his yearlong term as NSBA president.
Star savers
Scott and Kenton county school districts are two of the four school districts in the nation to receive the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award. The honor recognizes the districts for strategically managing and improving the energy efficiency of their building portfolio and for using energy-efficient products, practices and services.
Good sports
Logan and Magoffin county high schools have won a national sportsmanship award for the way they supported each other following the March 2012 tornado that devastated Magoffin County, including two of its school buildings.
The two districts are co-recipients of the 2013 National High School Spirit of Sport Award from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
A few days after the tornado, Magoffin County’s girls basketball team was playing in the state tournament in Bowling Green. Logan County’s coach offered the high school’s facilities for the Magoffin team to practice and later a group of Logan County students came to cheer on the Magoffin girls, who ultimately lost that game.
Nine months later, Magoffin students returned the favor by attending the first home game of the Logan County girls basketball team, making a five-hour drive to do so.
Techno-honor
Kenton County Schools’ technology integration specialist Ed Bonhaus, right, has been named one of 20 to Watch for 2012-13 by NSBA’s Technology Leadership Network.
Bonhaus and other honorees from across the country were recognized for their ability to inspire colleagues to incorporate innovative technology solutions that contribute to high-quality learning environments and more efficient school district operations. Bonhaus assisted with Kentucky’s Race to the Top grant process, provides online professional development and is working to improve technology at a low-performing elementary school.