KSBA regional meetings will once again feature roundtable discussion

Kentucky School Advocate
September 2022

By Kerri Schelling
KSBA Executive Director

KSBA’s 2022 slate of regional meetings kicked off Aug. 30 and runs through early November. For many years, regional meetings have allowed members to gather closer to the local communities they serve. The short programs offer an evening of networking and board training in an intimate setting. Dinner is provided to registered attendees (billed by the host district) and members in attendance earn 1.25 hours of elective school board training credit.  

For those who may have not attended a regional meeting in a couple years, what can they expect?  

While members can still expect an informative training (following a delicious meal, of course), KSBA’s regional meetings operate a little differently than in years past. Based on feedback we received from districts, we introduced a new format in 2021 to include substantial time for roundtable discussion. Following a brief presentation, school board members, superintendents, KSBA staff – even legislators in some cases – were given the opportunity to engage with one another on topics important to them. The format was so well received that we brought it back again this year!

As for the program itself, members can expect timely conversation about school safety and security. Following the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, leaders at the local and state levels are assessing every aspect of school safety. KSBA welcomes our colleagues from the Office of the State School Security Marshal to explain their role in supporting districts working hard to maintain compliance with regulations and best practices – including 2019’s landmark school safety legislation. This won’t be just school security experts talking at our members, but rather an interactive discussion.

What if board members have scheduling conflicts on the date of their assigned region’s meeting? Can they attend another meeting?

Our members are more than welcome to attend a meeting in another region. In some cases, members are in close driving distance to more than one region, so they potentially have multiple options from which to choose. If a member does wish to attend a meeting outside of his/her “home” region, he/she will need to reach out directly to that other region’s chairperson to make arrangements. We recommend doing so no less than two weeks before the scheduled meeting so that the host region can make accommodations.

Six of KSBA’s 12 regions elect new regional chairs this fall. What do regional chairs do?

Regional chairpersons serve as members of KSBA’s 27-member board of directors and act as liaisons for our fall regional meetings. While serving as host for KSBA regional meetings is the most visible aspect of the chair’s role, their service to KSBA and its members is year-round. The association’s board of directors make decisions that shape the future of the association and its member resources. Regional chairpersons, who serve three-year terms, also take part in committees that monitor and report on specific aspects of the association, from program development and finance to external/member relations and governance.

I encourage anyone who wants to consider state-level leadership as a member of KSBA’s board of directors to contact me. Whether as a regional chair (elected by members in their home region) or an at-large member of our board (selected by committee), we are always looking for candidates to move our organization forward. KSBA strives to represent all school board members in Kentucky, and that starts with identifying those who wish to contribute as members of our leadership.

More information on KSBA’s 2022 Regional Meetings – including schedules, locations, contact information and regional chair nomination instructions – can be found at ksba.org/RegionalMeetings.aspx.