Kentucky School Advocate
February 2022
Annual Conference
Register now for KSBA’s 2022 Annual Conference (Feb. 25-27 in Louisville). School board members will have their pick of more than 50 breakout sessions during the weekend in addition to pre-conference session opportunities Friday morning, Feb. 25.
On Friday, Denise Ryan presents “Motivation by Chocolate,” in which she will share nine key concepts to help individuals get more out of their professional and personal lives. Saturday’s lunch session includes a thought-provoking presentation on risks children face in an ever-expanding online environment from U.S. Department of Homeland Security special agents.
During Sunday’s brunch session, resilience researcher Courtney Clark will share proven techniques board teams can use to adapt to change and crisis when the stakes are high.KSBA will present its inaugural Kentucky School Board Member of the Year award during the Saturday luncheon. Attendees can also look forward to their favorite conference traditions, from student performances and banner artwork to the awarding of the 2022 First Degree scholarships.
Visit ksba.org to begin online registration, review a complete conference schedule and to access limited-time conference hotel rates. You can also view or print a schedule or registration form.
Legislature approves flexibility for COVID-19 Districts now have more flexibility to respond to COVID-19 after the General Assembly passed, and Gov. Andy Beshear signed, Senate Bill 25. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, allows 10 temporary remote learning days until the end of this school year. The days can be used for a school, grade, classroom or student group level.
During temporary remote instruction (TRI), students must receive the minimum daily instruction provided in KRS 158.060. Remote instruction days are separate from the 10 non-traditional instruction (NTI) days annually granted to districts under KRS 158.070(9).
The TRI days were needed after the Omicron variant of COVID-19 left many schools and districts unable to continue in-person instruction due to a high number of student and staff absences. As of Jan. 25, more than 41 Kentucky districts had paused in-person instruction for at least one day in January due to the virus.
SB 25 did not change the requirements the legislature imposed during the fall special session that require teachers and designated classified staff to work on site during an NTI day used for COVID-19.
Also included in SB 25 was the flexibility for school districts to re-employ retirees, both certified and classified, in order to help with the substitute teacher and bus driver shortage. The special provisions are in effect through June 30.
Gift to relief fund
The KSBA Educational Foundation announced a $5,000 gift to the West Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund for Our Schools established by the Western Kentucky Educational Cooperative (WKEC). The announcement was made at the January meeting of the WKEC board of directors, hosted at KSBA headquarters.
The contribution, made in the names of Kentucky’s 857 local school board members, coincided with KSBA’s observance of January’s School Board Recognition Month. Monies raised by the West Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund for Our Schools will be allocated directly to districts in the impacted communities, much of it administered through local Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRYSCs) for services to families displaced or otherwise impacted by the December tornadoes.