Superintendents advocate for more funding, control 
Days before the General Election, Kentucky superintendents held a series of seven press conferences to urge the legislature to provide more overall education funding and support for teachers.
The press conferences, organized by the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, highlighted the need for adequate and equitable funding for Kentucky’s public schools.
Among the priorities superintendents highlighted were funding professional development to help address a growing teacher shortage, restoring funding to the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program, which was eliminated in the last budget, funding the state’s pension system and funding the new school safety law.
The superintendents also expressed support for reforming school-based decision making councils (SBDMs) to allow superintendents to hire principals in consultation with SBDMs and for more administrative authority over curriculum.
New faces at KSBA In 2019, KSBA increased its capacity to serve school boards by adding several new faces to the staff.
In October, Petra Gonzalez (right) joined KSBA as a staff accountant. Gonzalez came to KSBA from True Guarnieri Ayer, LLP, after three years as a business administrative assistant. She holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business administration and psychology all from Spalding University.
KSBA added three staff members in July:
Kim Knochelmann (left) joined KSBA’s Medicaid billing team as a school-based health services support specialist. She has a bachelor’s degree in public administration and came to KSBA with over 25 years of experience in medical billing.
Prindle Hinton (right) came to KSBA as a policy consultant/eMeeting trainer. Hinton came to KSBA from Campbellsville Independent Schools after seven years as superintendent’s administrative assistant, board clerk and accounts payable clerk. Hinton also has 15 years’ experience as a paralegal.
Hinton holds a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in business and a master’s in organizational leadership from Western Kentucky University.
Quin Sutton (left) joined KSBA as a field consultant to aid school boards with superintendent searches. Sutton retired after 29 years in education with his last nine years serving as superintendent in Lyon and McCracken counties.
Rural education advocacy group formed Several rural Kentucky school districts have formed the Kentucky Rural Education Association, a state chapter of the National Rural Education Association (NREA). The organization helps rural districts work together to meet common challenges.
“The Association offers Kentucky educators, and other interested organizations, the opportunity to discuss and advocate for our rural schools and communities,” said Owen County Superintendent Rob Stafford (right), the chapter’s chairman. “There is statewide interest in addressing issues that impact our rural schools and finding ways to provide opportunities for all our students.”
The chapter was formed during 2019 National Forum to Advance Rural Education and 111th NREA Convention and Research Symposium held in Louisville. At the conference Kentucky students showcased their innovative work with displays and participated in panels.