Kentucky School Advocate
October 2019
By Oct. 1, KSBA staff had traveled to eight Fall Regional Meetings. Board members receive 1.25 hours of finance training and charter authorization credit for attending the dinner program, a preview of the 2020 legislative session from KSBA’s Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy. A one-hour bonus session is available before the meetings.
So far, several legislators have attended the dinners including Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (pictured in bottom photo), Rep. Rick Rand, Rep. Ed Massey and Chairman of the Senate Education Committee Max Wise. At each site, board members are also treated to music from student entertainers, including Daviess County elementary students (pictured bottom right) who performed at the Second Region.
New KSBA region chairs elected
Six KSBA regions will have new chairpersons beginning in January following elections during the 2019 Fall Regional Meetings. Four of those regions – Fifth, Eastern Kentucky North, First and Upper Kentucky River – have already held elections.
The new regional chairpersons, who will serve three-year terms on KSBA’s Board of Directors, are:
- Anchorage Independent school board member Hannah Barnes was chosen as Fifth Region chairwoman. Barnes, who began her term on the Anchorage board in January, is the director of a family foundation. She has a Bachelor of Science in food science and human nutrition from the University of Maine and a Ph.D. in food science and technology from the University of Georgia. She is also a founding board member of the First Light Early Education Center, a nationally accredited education center in Sheridan, Wyo.
- Tammy Pruitt, a 10-year member and current vice chairwoman of the Boyd County school board, will represent the Eastern Kentucky North Region on KSBA’s board. Pruitt has an associate degree in nursing and is a registered nurse.
- Diane Barga has served three years on the Marshall County board and was selected as the First Region chairwoman. Barga retired after working as a teacher and administrator at Marshall County. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree, both from Murray State University. Barga is an elder at First Christian Church in Benton and has served on her district’s safety committee during her time on the school board.
- Dennis Smith, a 14-year member on the Hazard Independent board who previously served on KSBA’s Board of Directors, will be the chairman for the Upper Kentucky River Region. Smith attended Lindsey Wilson College and received an associate degree from Hazard Community College. He is retired after working 33 years at AEP KY Power. Smith has presented electrical safety demonstrations at schools in the AEP service area and was a member of the Kentucky River Community Care Board of Directors.
KSBA’s Central Kentucky and Third regions will also elect new regional chairpersons this fall.
Remaining Fall Regional Meeting dates
Tuesday, Oct. 22: Eastern Kentucky South Region -- J.D. Adams M.S. (Prestonsburg) Media Center, Floyd Co. host
Thursday, Oct. 24: FourthRegion -- Elizabethtown High School Commons Area
Monday, Oct. 28: Third Region -- Bristow Elem. (Bowling Green) Dining Hall, Warren Co. host
Monday, Nov. 4: Upper Cumberland Region -- McCreary County Middle School Library