we can’t build them in anticipation; we
have to wait until we can demonstrate
the need. I think we’re starting to see
the initial effects of growth, with the
new Ford plant (BlueOval SK Battery
Park). Our student population this year is
projecting up.
Q. In addition to serving on the
school board, you also serve on
the board of trustees for the KSBA
Unemployment Program. Why is
service important to you?
A. I saw there was an opening on the
board and felt I could offer something.
My undergraduate degree from Duke is
in economics. In law school, I took every
corporate finance course I could take. I
actually enjoy looking at numbers and
reading financial reports.
Q. What have you discovered in
serving in this capacity so far?
A. I feel the unemployment fund is well
managed and in good shape. The people
who serve as trustees take it seriously. It
is a great service for our school systems
and their school boards to have this
unemployment trust fund in place. I
think it’s an
economical way
for them to cover
those needs.
BEYOND THE BOARD
Q. You had a long career as a lawyer
and a judge before you ran for and
became a school board member in
2019. Why did you decide to run?
A. My dad had served almost 12 years
on the board. When he passed away, my
mom was selected to fill his seat, and she
served 12 years. So, I had exposure to the
school board. In my work here as county
attorney, then as a district and circuit
judge, I had contact with the schools and
knew what was going on.
One of the issues that made me decide
to run was when talk began about
taking a brand-new elementary school
built to replace an old one in Cecilia,
where we live, and converting it to a
middle school to replace West Hardin
Middle. Some people in Cecilia didn’t
like that idea and started talking to me
about it. I decided to run so I could see if
we could find a resolution.
Q. After you graduated from law
school, you became an FBI agent. Tell
us a little about that?
A. When I was an undergraduate at
Duke, I had a friend whose dad was
an FBI agent, and that got me thinking
about working for the FBI. Later, after
I graduated from law school I decided
to apply. I had just passed the bar when
the FBI offered me a spot at Quantico. I
was in three years, and it was a great life
experience. I worked in Washington and
Chicago and got to see part of the world
I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Because
I’d been an economics major, I worked
on white-collar crime, but I did a bit of
everything.
Q. Was there anything that surprised
you about being on the school board?
A. What I didn’t realize was the
differing role the school board plays
today as compared to when my
parents served years ago. Today, we’re
essentially stewards of the system
with respect to the resources that we
get and how those resources are used,
but we don’t have a role in the day-to-
day operation of the schools. The only
control we have over that is that we hire
and fire the superintendent.
Q. Hardin County is one of the fastest
growing counties in the state. What
kind of challenges does that bring to
your district?
A. We are probably in the middle of the
greatest building program our district
has seen. Part of that is from growth.
We also have been building new schools
to replace old, worn-out schools. We’re
fortunate to have the financial resources
to do that.
At the same time, we’re keeping a close
eye on student population growth and
are making new schools a little bigger
than the old ones they replace so there’s
more capacity. We’re concerned that
down the road we’re going to need to
build some new schools as well. However,
Steve Bland
HARDIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
Hometown: Sonora but have lived 40-plus years in
nearby Cecilia.
Family: Wife, Judy; son, Kelly, Hardin County and
Western Kentucky University grad, IT professional
serving active duty in the Navy
Favorite subjects in school: English and economics
Hobbies: Fishing, sports, running, yoga, moderate
weight training
Book recommendation: Jimmy Buffett’s “A Pirate
Looks at 50.” A wonderful book about people,
relationships, social differences and common
interests shared by people across a range
of life situations. I’ve read it multiple times.
Interesting fact: When I came back here
to practice law, I became an assistant
county attorney and prosecuted cases in
the local court, which is where I met my
wife. She was a police officer for the City
of Radcliffe, appearing as a witness in a
case. We got married several months later
and have been married 46 years. She was
the first female patrol officer in Hardin
County.
Getting to know
18 Kentucky School Advocate | November 2025