Last chance for current board members, first chance for newly elected
Kentucky School Advocate
November 2024
KSBA’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held Dec. 6-7 in Louisville, serves as the association’s last in-person training opportunity before the end of the calendar year – the deadline for all school board members to complete their annual state-mandated board training hours.
It also serves as a valuable opportunity for those just elected to office. Districts can register their newly elected school board members for the symposium – earning them training hours towards their 2025 requirements – even before they take their oaths of office in January. At this year’s conference, KSBA will once again offer the “New Board Member Express” training track that is tailor-made for members in their first year of board service and newly elected members with sessions that cover the board’s policy-making role, meeting protocols, and other important introductory topics.
This year’s opening session keynote speech will explore student mental health while the Friday luncheon will offer a timely panel discussion on the upcoming 2025 legislative session. District leaders will have their pick of more than 20 clinic sessions on a wide variety of engaging topics. In between sessions, attendees can interact with education industry leaders in the expanded trade show.
While attendees of this year’s event can still expect KSBA’s trademark quality learning and networking opportunities, there are some notable differences for 2024.
The event is moving a few blocks away to the Galt House. Many KSBA members are familiar with the Galt House, as it serves as the location for the association’s Annual Conference. This year’s new locale offers closer proximity to many popular downtown restaurants and Louisville’s famous “museum row.” All symposium activities will be conveniently located on the second and third floors of the hotel’s West Tower.
Following statutory changes to state-mandated board training requirements made during the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly, attendees will have new flexibility to explore elective topics that may be of interest. Below there is a summary of recent changes to board training topics now in effect.
Opening Session Keynote
“Thriving Under Pressure” -- Charle Peck, school mental health consultant
School districts and the people who lead them are under relentless pressure to do more and be more, and we’re feeling overloaded! Charle Peck energizes audiences with practical tools to manage personal wellness and effectively respond to student needs. By learning about the uniquely developing brain and the human stress response system, school board members can adjust their lens and adapt their strategic approaches to student mental health, ultimately helping students thrive.