Kentucky School Advocate

June 2024

Staff report

Like the name implies, KSBA’s Summer Leadership Institute held each July focuses on leadership best practices for board teams. This year’s theme, “Unlocking Next Level Leadership,” aims to continue in that vein, but participants will also notice some big changes at the institute which will be held July 19-20.

For the first time, KSBA is hosting the institute in Bowling Green. Traditionally, locations of KSBA training events have been restricted to Louisville and Lexington due to the hotel and meeting space capacity. With summer leadership being the smallest of the association’s three conferences, KSBA explored alternative sites. 

After careful consideration, KSBA settled on Bowling Green’s Sloan Convention Center and the adjacent Holiday Inn University Plaza, just minutes from Western Kentucky University. The move was made, in part, to increase access to in-person training opportunities for KSBA members from far west Kentucky who have to drive as many as five hours to attend the summer conference in Lexington.  

The location isn’t the only change to this year’s event. Several session topics offered at the 2024 institute will differ from previous years due to changes in board training requirements made during the 2024 legislative session. House Bill 449 eliminates annual requirements in the topics of finance and superintendent evaluation for board members with more than two consecutive years of service. That will give experienced members greater flexibility in selecting elective topics to satisfy their state-mandated training hours. 

Effective July 15, House Bill 449 also adds one hour of required Open Meetings Act/Open Records Act training “within the first twelve (12) months of initial service and at least once every four (4) years thereafter,” essentially one hour every term in office. To help board members get a head start, KSBA is devoting a session to the topic on Saturday morning of the institute. Staff will review key provisions of Kentucky’s open meetings and open records laws, best practices to help board members avoid common pitfalls and proper processes for responding to an increasing number of open records requests.

KSBA welcomes incoming Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher as the Friday evening Opening Session keynote speaker. Fletcher is set to begin his tenure on July 1 after being confirmed by the Senate in April. 

This year’s institute will provide attendees with nearly 20 sessions from which to choose along with a trade show of education industry representatives. Attendees can participate in three hours of preconference bonus sessions on July 19 at no additional cost. Between the welcome reception on the evening of July 19 and the continental breakfast, beverage break and luncheon on July 20, KSBA members will stay fully charged for a weekend of learning and networking. 

Registration for the 2024 Summer Leadership Institute is now open. Visit our SLI website for more information and online registration. Take advantage of early bird savings by registering and reserving your hotel room by July 3. Participants will receive access to special conference rate hotel accommodations ($131 per night) in their confirmation email, so register now!