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Ask your legislators to oppose HB 50, the partisan school board elections bill

House Bill 50, would require local school board members (and city government officials) to run in partisan elections. Since its initial filing in January, KSBA and groups representing city governments have voiced strong opposition to this legislation with state lawmakers.

The bill was recently assigned to the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and is the only bill scheduled to be heard during the committee's next meeting tomorrow (Thursday, March 9) at 10 a.m. (ET). Watch the meeting live on KET's legislative coverage page.

There are several reasons why KSBA is strongly opposed to this legislation, many of which are summarized in this series of Tweets.

KSBA asks boards members, district leaders and education advocates everywhere to reach out to your House representatives now and ask them to oppose HB 50. We need less politics in education, not more.

Call the free LRC Message Line at 1-800-372-7181, which is staffed by operators Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (ET), and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET). You can also find your House rep and his/her contact information. 

KSBA Annual Conference recap

KSBA held its 2023 Annual Conference Feb. 24-26 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville. More than 1,000 education leaders attended the conference, which included two informative keynotes, more than 60 breakout sessions, more than 80 trade show exhibitors and several awards.

To view photos from the 2023 conference, go to KSBA's Facebook page. There you can also view photos of KSBA's 2023 class of student scholarship and grant recipients.

During this year’s event, Boone County’s Karen Byrd was installed as KSBA’s 48th president. Floyd County’s Dr. Chandra Varia was named the 2023 Kentucky School Board Member of the Year, while Franklin County Schools took home the 2023 PEAK Award for its William Cofield High School. Look for additional highlights and photos in the upcoming April issue of the Kentucky School Advocate magazine.

We are already looking forward to our 2024 Annual Conference. We hope you will make plans to join us March 1-3, 2024, at the Galt House Hotel!

Are you interested in serving on KSBA’s Annual Conference planning committee? Email us at [email protected] today. 

Religious rights bill passes House committee 

A bill aimed at protecting the rights of teachers and staff in public schools passed the House Education Committee on Tuesday.

House Bill, 547, sponsored by Rep. Chris Fugate, R-Chavies, would prohibit districts from punishing employees who engage in religious expression.

Fugate explained that the bill was necessary to show public school employees that the legislature is “on their side” about being able to speak of their faith.

Several legislators pointed out that teachers already have First Amendment rights at schools. Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, a Jefferson County Schools teacher, noted that she’s discussed religion with her colleagues and her school has a Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter.

Fugate said he believes the U.S. Constitution is being “attacked by outside groups.”

“This is a piece of legislation that, hopefully, will embolden those Christian teachers who are not ashamed of their faith, but sometimes out of fear do not say anything about their faith,” he said.

The bill passed the committee and will now go to the full House. 

Superintendent search alert

KSBA's Superintendent Search Service is currently facilitating a search in the following district. Click the district name to be directed to the position posting.

McCracken County Schools

Application deadline: March 16, 2023 

KSBA's experienced Superintendent Search consultants have worked with local school boards across Kentucky to facilitate more than 315 successful searches.

Teacher shortage bill changed

A bill to address the teacher shortage became weaker this week after it was recommitted to a House committee.

HB 319, sponsored by Rep. James Tipton, had passed the House Education Committee earlier in the session but was then sent to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

There the bill was amended to remove a provision calling for the Council on Postsecondary Education to develop a marketing program to promote the teaching profession. Also cut from the bill was the expansion of the Kentucky Department of Education’s GoTeachKy, a teacher recruitment program.

The bill would create a statewide job posting system if funds are available and require exit surveys when teachers leave school districts. It would also allow the state to enter into a multi-state compact to allow the transfer of teacher certifications if and when the compact is approved by 10 states.

The bill passed the A&R Committee and will now go the full House. 

KSBA in the news

Because of the unique roles school boards play in matters of policy and education trends, KSBA is often called on by media outlets to weigh in on important school-related issues and provide background.

• (March 6) In Kentucky, we need less politics in education, not more. – Lexington Herald-Leader

• (March 3) A Kentucky school district is not offering 3 books. What to know about banning efforts – The Louisville Courier Journal

• (March 3) WesBanco Student of the Week: Frankfort's Pires receives KSBA First Degree College Scholarship – The State Journal (Frankfort)

• (March 1) Bill addressing student discipline advances from KY House Education Committee – The Owensboro Times

• (Feb. 24) Ky. has 6 Black superintendents, 171 school districts. What’s blocking more progress? – Lexington Herald-Leader

• (Feb. 23) Sports betting, gray games and bourbon: Here are the key tax bills filed late in Frankfort – The Louisville Courier Journal

• (Feb. 16) 28-year member of Boone County School Board to serve as president of state-wide association – LinkNKY (Northern Kentucky)

• (Feb. 15) McCracken school superintendent search begins – The Paducah Sun

Still time to register for 2023 COSSBA Annual Conference

Join KSBA and board teams from across the nation March 30 – April 2 in Tampa for a long weekend of training and networking at the Consortium of State School Boards Associations’ (COSSBA) inaugural Annual Conference. Visit cossba.org for a conference schedule, keynote speaker information, access to hotel accommodations, easy online registration and more.

Review a schedule of breakout sessions. Approximately a half dozen breakout sessions at this year's event will be presented by KSBA staff and/or members!

Like with some past national events, KSBA members who participate in this year's COSSBA conference are eligible to earn board training credit. Information on how attendees can earn credit will be communicated in the weeks ahead to registered KSBA members.

March 9: Senate Education Committee

March 9: House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee

March 14: KDE's Superintendents Webcast

March 30-April 2: COSSBA Annual Conference

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