Kentucky School Advocate
May 2020
By Brenna R. Kelly
Staff writer
Former Jessamine County superintendent Lu Settles Young will serve as chairwoman of the Kentucky Board of Education after the state Senate failed to confirm David Karem’s appointment to the board.
Young, who was named Superintendent of the Year in 2012, is currently an associate professor at the University of Kentucky College of Education. She had been serving as KBE vice chairwoman.
On the final day of the 2020 legislative session, the Senate voted to confirm 10 of the 11 voting members of the KBE. Senators did not vote on the confirmations of ex officio members, Rowan County teacher Allison Slone and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman.
The 11 voting members and two ex-officio members had been appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear on his first day in office.
The Senate confirmed the seven voting members representing Kentucky’s Supreme Court districts whose terms will expire April 14, 2024:
• Holly Bloodworth, Murray, Supreme Court District 1
• Patrice McCrary, Bowling Green, Supreme Court District 2
• Mike Bowling, Middlesboro, Supreme Court District 3
• Sharon Porter Robinson, Louisville, Supreme Court District 4
• Lu Young, Nicholasville, Supreme Court District 5
• JoAnn Adams, Pleasureville, Supreme Court District 6
• Cody Pauley Johnson, Pikeville, Supreme Court
District 7
The Senate also confirmed three of the at-large voting members whose terms will expire April 14, 2022:
• Claire Batt, Lexington
• Alvis Johnson, Harrodsburg
• Lee Todd, Lexington
The resolution confirming Karem received 17 votes for and 17 against. Because it was a tie, the resolution failed. Beshear will appoint someone to fill Karem’s seat.
As the session waned, Beshear pleaded with the Senate to confirm the KBE members, saying the board needed consistency while responding to the coronavirus pandemic and while searching for a new education commissioner.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, who had introduced a bill which would have remade the KBE, ultimately voted to confirm all 11 voting members.
“Because the governor says we need consistency at this point in time, that this is not the time and the place to take these individuals out, I’m going to support that so there can be consistency at this time,” said Stivers before the vote, adding that because of the need for consistency, the governor should not change any other boards during the crisis.
Interim Education Commissioner Kevin Brown said he was pleased with the confirmations because they will allow for continuity and consistency in education during the pandemic.
“We look forward to continuing our work with them as we focus on educating, feeding and supporting Kentucky’s students during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the important work of searching for the next commissioner of education,” he said.
Because the Senate did not take up the appointments of the two ex officio seats, those members are no longer part of the board. One ex officio member, Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, remains on the board.