Take Note
School board election filing deadline approaching
School board members seeking reelection this fall must file the required paperwork with their county clerk's office by June 2. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and state social distancing efforts, county clerks’ offices may not be able to accept in-person filings.
Candidates should review their clerk's website or call for specific information on candidate filings. Candidates should be aware of all instructions well in advance of the June 2 deadline to allow enough time to obtain proper documentation and to learn how clerks will accept filings, including possibly by mail.
Candidates should not assume that the June 2 filing deadline will be extended.
As a service to our members and the communities they represent, KSBA has compiled helpful resources at KSBA.org for those seeking reelection, including answers to frequently asked questions, guidance on acquiring required transcripts, “do's and don’ts” of campaigning, board member job description and more.
Kentucky among states most likely to face budget problems
Kentucky and Pennsylvania are the states most likely to face immediate budget problems. MultiState, a national governmental relations firm, came to that determination after reviewing fundamental data points to see which states are in the biggest jeopardy and which have more time to work out longer-term budget solutions.
The Washington, D.C.-based firm looked at three factors: each state’s rainy day fund reserves, unemployment rate (as of April 9) and whether the state has finalized a budget for the current period.
The analysis showed Kentucky and Pennsylvania lack a sufficient rainy day fund, have higher unemployment rates, and at the time of the analysis had not yet finalized a budget for FY 2020-21. Kentucky has faced a significant fiscal imbalance in the recent past, making it difficult for the state to build up its rainy day fund (it is currently 2.6 percent of general fund operating costs), and had an unemployment rate of 11.9 percent.
Six states fell in the next highest risk tier: Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York.
NSBA names new executive director
The National School Boards Association (NSBA), representing 49 state school board associations (including Kentucky), has appointed Anna Maria Chávez as its executive director and chief executive officer.
In her new role, Chávez will lead efforts to expand on NSBA’s strong federal, legal and public advocacy, reputation and credible voice. She brings 25 years of extensive experience in government and non-profit organizational leadership and management, including strategic planning, advocating for children and under-served populations with federal and state legislators, building new partnerships and growing revenues.
Chávez will succeed Thomas J. Gentzel who has led NSBA for the past seven and a half years.