KSBA is always listening to our members and we are here to help. In addressing some of your most frequently asked questions, we hope to improve your association experience. Do you have questions you would like to see addressed in KSBA publications? Email them to
[email protected].
How can I make sure that I am meeting all training credit/hour requirements of board service? I am a little unclear as to what I still must take.Don’t worry, KSBA will tell you. By mid-April, all members will receive a report in the mail that includes a summary of credits/hours earned. Keep this report handy and use it as a score card moving forward.
Every November, KSBA will alert members who still lack certain credits/hours that need to be obtained before the Dec. 31 deadline. Those who attend KSBA’s Winter Symposium in November will receive a report upon arrival to help ensure members attend the sessions they need to complete their credits/hours.
School board members are also encouraged to contact KSBA’s Board Team Development unit at any time to confirm training progress. Simply call (800) 372-2962, ext. 1122, or email
Laura Cole or
Tammie Conatser.
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Click here for a summary of annual state-mandated training requirements.
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Click here for a summary of requirements for state-mandated charter authorization training.
When the math doesn’t add upHere are two real scenarios board members may face if they are not aware of training requirements.
Scenario 1: Too much of a good thingSuzie Schoolboard attended Annual Conference but did not review the schedule ahead of time and did not check which credits she needed. Throughout the conference, Suzie mainly just attended sessions with people she knew, paying little attention to topics posted on the outside of conference rooms and in her program. She attended four different sessions on Finance over the course of the conference, earning herself five hours of Finance credit. Months later, Suzie participated in the (November) Winter Symposium where she attended two different Finance sessions (earning 2.5 hours of Finance credit).
In total, Suzie earned 7.5 total hours of Finance credit, more than twice what was required. As the year expired, Suzie lacked required credit hours in other topics, such as Ethics, and had to appeal to the Kentucky Board of Education for an extension on remaining credits. Because she did not obtain the proper board training, the state board will now consider whether to grant Suzie an extension or possibly remove her from office.
Lesson learned: Pay careful attention to the courses you are taking at each conference. Keep notes of the courses you need prior to, during and following each event. Your conference program clearly lists the credits available for each session, many of which are dual credit – meaning that they satisfy the requirement for both board training and charter authorization. The conference mobile app can also help keep attendees on track, as well as the helpful staff at the registration tables.
Scenario 2: Keep your eyes on the prizeBobby Boardchair is extremely busy and relies heavily on other board members and district office staff to keep him informed on all matters pertaining to board service. He asks his superintendent’s administrative assistant to register him for the necessary board trainings and conferences to ensure he meets his requirements.
The assistant, Trisha, is smart, incredibly organized and always eager to help. Trisha, however, is new to her role and is still learning about her duties relating to the school board. She registers Bobby for two of KSBA’s conferences, and even selects his sessions. She isn’t, however, an expert on school board training requirements and is focused on her more pressing district responsibilities. As a result, Trisha selects some, but not all, of what Bobby needs to complete his annual requirements.
Bobby receives a letter from KSBA in November but is too busy to read it. It comes as a surprise to him when he is later contacted by the Kentucky Department of Education regarding his failure to obtain state mandated training by Dec. 31.
Lesson learned: As a locally elected board member, please take the time to understand the training required of you. Play an active role in the selection of your trainings and courses. Districts can be helpful in arranging your training, but it is board members who are held responsible for non-compliance.