OCTOBER 2025
A PUBLICATION OF THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION
….And the
survey says
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES . . . . . . . . . 4
TAKE NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PEOPLE ARE TALKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
BEYOND THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
EDUCATION BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
IN CONVERSATION WITH . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
KSBA ANSWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
VOLUME 32 | NUMBER 3
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
Follow KSBA for education news, association updates, upcoming events and more
/company/ksba
ksba.org
9
Awaiting charter school ruling
The Kentucky Supreme Court heard
arguments recently about whether a 2022
law allowing state and local tax dollars to
fund charter schools is constitutional.
12 Legislative survey results
Every two years before the General
Assembly convenes to craft a new state
budget, KSBA asks its members about
the legislative issues impacting school
districts. See what superintendents and
school board members said heading into
the legislative session.
16 Final destination
The final stop on KSBA’s 12-stop Regional
Meetings tour of the state was held at
Barbourville Independent Schools on Sept.
25. Check out photos from the second half
of the 2025 Regional Meetings journey.
/KSBAnews
PG 9
@KSBAnews
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 3
PG 16
PG 12
Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Pamela Morehead,
President
Eminence Ind.
Jeremy Luckett,
President-elect
Owensboro Ind.
Karen Byrd,
Immediate Past President
Boone Co.
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE
Hannah Barnes,
Anchorage Ind.
Chris Cook,
Crittenden Co.
Susan Duncan,
Scott Co.
Carmela Fletcher-Green,
Montgomery Co.
John Matt Fourshee,
Carlisle Co.
Joanna Freels,
Shelby Co.
Tom Haggard,
Covington Ind.
Debbie Hammers,
Butler Co.
Venita Murphy,
Webster Co.
Angela Parsons-Woods,
Rockcastle Co.
Brandon Rutherford,
Madison Co.
David Turner,
Walton-Verona Ind.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Tom Bell,
Christian Co.
Jerry Browning,
Garrard Co.
Becky Burgett,
Gallatin Co.
Joy Colligan,
Owen Co.
Pat Hall,
Campbellsville Ind.
Jimmy Hinkle,
Barbourville Ind.
Donna Isfort,
Estill Co.
Vanessa Lucas,
Breckinridge Co.
Keith Mason,
Elliott Co.
Kathleen Price,
Martin Co.
Shawn Smee,
Murray Ind.
Nancy Uhls,
Simpson Co.
4 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
KSBA saved a seat for you:
Opportunities for leadership at the next level
KSBA invites members to consider
serving at the state level through
selection and/or appointment to one
of its governing bodies. The association
relies on its members to provide
sound governance, strategic visioning
and valuable insights on behalf of all
Kentucky school boards. Opportunities
exist on three boards, summarized
below. More information, including
online applications, is available at the
links. Questions can be directed to KSBA
Executive Director Kerri Schelling at
Kerri.Schelling@ksba.org.
KSBA Board of Directors
The association is governed by
a 27-member board of directors
comprised of local school board
members. KSBA is seeking candidates to
fill four director-at-large vacancies each
for a three-year term beginning Feb. 21.
The deadline to apply is Nov. 12.
KSBA Board of Directors members focus
on the shared interests of all Kentucky’s
public school districts as well as the
health and relevancy of the association.
Responsibilities include (but are not
limited to) approval/monitoring of the
association’s annual budget, setting
strategic goals, oversight of executive
director, representing concerns of school
boards and approval of KSBA’s legislative
priorities and positions. Members are
expected to attend quarterly in-person
board meetings and periodic committee
meetings via Zoom.
All eligible applicants will be invited
to in-person interviews during KSBA’s
2025 Winter Symposium, Dec. 5-6 in
Louisville. Interviews are conducted
by KSBA’s Selection Committee, the
members of which are appointed by
KSBA’s president and facilitated by
KSBA’s immediate-past president.
More information:
ksba.org/BoardofDirectors.aspx
KSBA Educational Foundation
The KSBA Educational Foundation is
seeking applicants to fill an unexpired
term on its board of directors through
July 11, 2026. The selected applicant
would be eligible to serve a full two-year
term through July 2028. The deadline to
apply is Nov. 3.
The KSBA Educational Foundation is
a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit associated with
KSBA. Its mission is “to advance the
strategic position of school boards
through the funding of association
support, services and professional
training.” Perhaps best known for its
First Degree College Scholarship and
CTE Student Grant programs to benefit
Kentucky high school students, the
foundation works through partnerships
with Kentucky’s public school districts,
friends of education and other
organizations to fulfill its current
priorities of research, school safety
programming, student support services,
technology and training opportunities
for school board teams.
The foundation is governed by a nine-
member board comprised of current
and former school board members.
Responsibilities include (but are not
limited to) approval of expenditures
and financial reports, ratification of
service contracts and oversight of
student scholarship/grant programs.
Vacancies are filled by presidential
appointment after a review of applicants.
More information: ksbaef.org/about
KSBA Unemployment Program
Board of Trustees
KSBA is seeking two school board
members to fill immediate vacancies
on the association’s Unemployment
Program Board of Trustees, with
eligibility to serve additional full two-
year terms. The deadline to apply is
Nov. 12.
Did you know that a single overlooked
or mishandled unemployment
claim can cost a district more than
$10,000? KSBA’s Unemployment
Program serves 168 school districts
and three educational cooperatives
in providing quarterly payroll
reporting as well as processing and
analyzing unemployment claims. The
association’s knowledgeable team
ensures claims are handled efficiently
and in line with complex regulations.
KSBA’s Unemployment Program is
governed by a nine-member board of
trustees comprised of school board
members, superintendents and school
business officers – all appointed by
KSBA’s board of directors. Trustees are
responsible for the supervision and
management of the program including
(but not limited to) review of financial
performance, appointment of an outside
auditor and review of audit reports,
oversight of investments and review
of annual participant refunds and
deficit billings. Trustees are expected
to participate in quarterly meetings,
traditionally conducted via Zoom.
More information:
ksba.org/insurance.aspx
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
In Memoriam
Harrison County vice chair dies
Ruth Hatterick, vice chair of the
Harrison County school board, died
Sept. 4 at her home in Cynthiana.
She was 78. Hatterick served on the
board for nine years after spending
25 years as a teacher, four years as an
administrator and two years as a highly
skilled educator with the Kentucky
Department of Education.
She was very focused on curriculum
and served as the board representative
on the district’s Comprehensive District
Improvement Plan Committee. She was
also instrumental in approving and
overseeing the development of the new
Harrison County High School.
“Ruth’s lifelong dedication to the
children of Harrison County was
heartfelt and constant. She believed
in every student, and her service
reflected that belief,” the district said
in a statement. “Ruth will be deeply
Fraley
Hatterick
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 5
TAKE NOTE
missed by all who had the privilege of
knowing her. Our thoughts and prayers
are with her family and friends during
this difficult time.”
The district said Hatterick was
also known for her strong sense of
family and devotion as a wife, mother
and grandmother. She served her
community in many ways, including
as an active member of Cynthiana
Christian Church.
Memorial donations may be made to
Harrison County Board of Education,
Ruth Hatterick Memorial Scholarship,
308 Webster Ave., Cynthiana, KY 41031.
KSBA now hiring: Member
advocacy manager
The KSBA Board of Directors
recently approved a new full-time
position responsible for planning
and implementing member-centered
grassroots advocacy work for the
association. The member advocacy
manager will build and maintain
productive relationships with
Kentucky’s 171 school board teams,
fostering strong legislative advocacy
in line with KSBA’s priorities and
guiding principles. The Frankfort-based
position will also coordinate advocacy
events and trainings while contributing
to KSBA publications on related topics.
This is not a lobbyist position.
Learn more about these positions at
ksba.org/Employment.aspx.
Carter County superintendent
The Carter County school board has
hired Jennifer Fraley as the district’s
superintendent. Fraley had been
serving as the interim superintendent
since July 16. She was previously the
director of Math Education for the
Kentucky Department of Education
where she
was working
to implement
House Bill 162,
the Numeracy
Counts Act. She
also worked at
KDE for eight
years as a
branch manager
in the Office of
Teaching and
Learning. Before
rejoining KDE in 2024, she served as
Carter County Schools’ chief academic
officer. Carter County’s search for a
new leader was facilitated by KSBA’s
Superintendent Search Service.
Newly appointed board
members
Several local boards of education have
appointed new members since Aug. 21.
They are:
• Dawson Springs Independent: Kent
Dillingham
• Erlanger-Elsmere Independent:
Jamie Apgar
• Harlan Independent: Joseph Bur
khart
• Lyon County: Michelle Austin
• Letcher County: Ray Collins
• Raceland-Worthington Independent:
Patrick Bloss
• Trigg County: James Mullen
• Trigg County: Jamie Gapp
• Union County: Susan Duncan
Kentucky School Boards Association
260 Democrat Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601
800-372-2962 | ksba.org
The Kentucky School Advocate is published 10 times a year by the
Kentucky School Boards Association. Copies are mailed to KSBA
members as part of their association membership.
Executive Director: Kerri Schelling
Associate Executive Director: Josh Shoulta
Publications Manager: Brenna Kelly
Association Engagement Manager: Matt McCarty
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“Enjoyed visiting @BreckSchools
earlier this week with School Board
Member, Mark Biggs! Great things
taking place in Tiger Nation!”
Nick Carter (BC_nickcarter), Breckinridge County Schools superintendent, on
visiting schools in his district with board member Mark Biggs.
From X, formerly Twitter
Reggie Taylor
“Today’s
classroom visits
reminded me of
the heart of our
mission which
is engaging
students in meaningful learning
every single day. When we create
opportunities that spark curiosity,
challenge thinking, and empower
ownership, learning comes alive!
#WEareOC #MeaningfulLearning”
Reggie Taylor (@OCSupt), Owen County
Schools superintendent, on visiting one of his
classrooms at the beginning of the school year.
From X, formerly Twitter
Barry Lee
“I took a few
pies to the face
(thanks to some
very enthusiastic
students).
It was worth it
to celebrate the success
@CaseyCoSchools High
Attendance Day! Three schools
top 96% attendance today!
Congratulations to Jones Park
Elementary for leading the way with
an incredible 99.28%”
Barry Lee (@barrydlee1), Casey County Schools
superintendent, on students throwing pies at
him as a reward for having very high attendance
on the state’s designated high attendance day.
From X, formerly Twitter
Janice Marcum
“I had a great
morning
collaborating
with the high
school’s Student
Advisory Council.
These students were thoughtful,
respectful and reflective. They
have amazing potential to make
a difference and be the example.
Don’t let ANYONE tell you the
future isn’t bright!”
Janice Marcum (@Janice_Marcun), Boyd
County Schools chief academic officer, on
working with Boyd County High School’s
Student Advisory Council.
From X, formerly Twitter
Sarah Foster
“A lot of school
board work is
not particularly
glamorous or
exciting, and
most especially
not policy creation. Last night,
though, was an exception. Our Fort
Thomas Independent Schools board
officially approved paid maternity
leave for our staff. This is an issue
near and dear to my heart and I
couldn’t be more proud to be a small
part of moving this across the finish
line sooner than later.”
Sarah Foster, Ft. Thomas Independent Schools
board member, on the board voting to approve
paid maternity leave. SB 9, passed earlier this
year, mandates districts provide 30 days of paid
maternity leave by 2030.
From Facebook
6 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
“They’re talking; they’re
engaged with each other.
Those personal skills are coming
back, whereas I think if you had
walked in here maybe five years ago, it
would have been quiet. You know, kids
just staring at their phones without much
face-to-face.”
Denise O’Bryan, Oldham County High School librarian, on how the new
cellphone ban prompted by HB 208 has changed student behavior,
noting that students have checked out three times the number of
books they normally would so far this school year.
From Spectrum News1, Louisville
Dalla Emerson
“Sofrito Chicken
has become a
regular on the
menu because it
is fire. Add the
love and energy
that our team puts into the fresh
preparation and you have success.”
Dalla Emerson (@DallaEmerson), Bowling
Green Independent Schools Child Nutrition
director, on a new popular lunch menu item.
From X, formerly Twitter
Landon Smith
“It was important
for me to
run and win
student board
representative
because I wanted
to make sure
students had a real voice in the
decisions that affect us. I know
what it feels like to have opinions
that don’t always get heard, and I
wanted to step into a role where
I could bridge the gap between
students and the school board.”
Landon Smith, Graves County Schools student
board representative, on why he wanted to
serve on the school board as a non-voting
representative.
From Facebook
Denise Yonts
“I enjoyed joining
the WMS student
body for today’s
agricultural panel.
Our students
asked great
questions and learned so much
about the role agriculture plays in
our community. “
Denise Yonts, Letcher County Schools
superintendent, on one of the activities the
district held during All in For Agriculture
Education Week.
From Facebook
Bill Jones
“With open
enrollment now
in place, we are
competing with
Bell County and
Pineville for kids.
Our tax rate hasn’t been raised
in years other than maybe a
compensating rate every now and
then. We’ve got 12 to 15 years of
being behind in taxes.”
Bill Jones, Middlesboro Independent Schools
superintendent, on the school board’s
unanimous vote to set the tax rate at the rate
that generates a 4% increase in revenue, plus
one extra cent that would allow the district to
qualify for state equalization.
From the Middlesboro News
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 7
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improve comfort.
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 9
Kentucky school districts may soon
learn whether a 2022 law allowing state
and local tax dollars to fund charter
schools is constitutional.
After hearing arguments in
September about the law, which is being
challenged by two school boards and
the Council for Better Education, the
Kentucky Supreme Court could issue a
decision at any time.
Though charter schools have been
legal in the state since 2017, there was
no way to fund them with public money
until the legislature passed House Bill 9,
which allowed both state and local taxes
to go to the newly created schools.
In 2023, a Franklin Circuit Judge
ruled that the law violated the state’s
constitution because charter schools
do not meet the state’s definition of
“common schools.”
In his opinion, Judge Phillip Shepherd
said that enacting the law would create
a “separate and unequal” system
of “publicly funded but privately
controlled schools.”
But Kentucky Solicitor General
Matthew Kuhn, arguing for the
Republican Attorney General Russell
Coleman, told the justices that the
charter law “fits neatly in our tradition
of common schools.”
Arguing for Dayton Independent
Schools, Jefferson County Schools
and CBE, attorney Byron Leet told
the justices that the lower court
was correct and that for more than
150 years the state’s courts “have
consistently reiterated that the test for
common schools is whether they are
controlled by elected officials within a
school district.”
Leet explained that in addition to not
being governed by an elected board,
charter schools cannot be considered
common schools because the 1989
Supreme Court decision in Rose v.
Council for Better Education requires
schools to be adequately funded,
substantially uniform and subject to
continuous monitoring.
Kuhn argued that the lower court
misinterpreted the 1989 Supreme
Court decision in Rose v. Council
for Better Education as a “straight
jacket” that prevents the legislature
from making changes to the system of
common schools.
“Rose in no way prohibits the
general assembly from adopting
innovative educational methods to
ensure that all of Kentucky students,
every one of them, live up to their
potential,” Kuhn said.
Justice Michelle M. Keller said she was
worried about the harm of diverting
money from existing schools into
charter schools that “parents or the
public at large who are actually paying
the taxes have no control over.”
She noted that the schools would
not be controlled by locally elected
school boards who are charged with
taxing authority.
“We’re going to be paying the taxes
through our property assessment tax
we pay now,” she said, “but we will have
zero control over who administers the
charter schools.”
Justice Pamela Goodwine pointed out
that this past November voters rejected
a constitutional amendment that would
allow state tax money to go to schools
outside the common school system.
“A majority of voters in every county
voted against the amendment,” she
said. “Should that impact our decision,
or should we just ignore the nearly
two thirds of the voters who do not
wish to have taxpayer funds used in
this manner?”
Attorney Paul Salamanca,
representing Gus Lafontaine who is
seeking to open a charter school in
Madison County, said he believes money
can go to the schools because they fit
within the concept of a common school.
“I don’t think the legislature was
trying to make the world safe for HB
9, at least not specifically,” he said. “I
will not deny that if the amendment
had passed, then we wouldn’t be here
today in the same sense, because it
wouldn’t matter.”
Both Salamanca and Kuhn said
charter schools would allow more
options for students, options 45 other
states including all of Kentucky’s
contiguous states have.
“So Kentucky kids are really on
the outside looking in on what has
been a resounding success, especially
in urban areas,” Kuhn said. “And so
I really ask the court not to leave
Kentucky kids on the outside looking
in for this important education.”
But Leet argued that there’s no
consensus that students in those states
are benefiting from charters and, most
importantly, those states do not have
Kentucky’s constitution.
“Make no mistake about it these
charter schools, if they went into
effect, they are not controlled by
elected officials who stood before the
voters and were voted in to represent
that school district,” he said. “They’re
governed by independent boards of
directors, which might even outsource
the management of the school to a
private education service provider.”
The justices did not indicate when
they might issue a ruling in the case.
Court to rule on charter schools
By Brenna R. Kelly | Staff writer
The Kentucky Supreme Court holds oral arguments in September at Centre College in Danville. One of the cases
involved funding for charter schools. Provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
KSBA board discusses commitment to
strong governance
STAFF REPORT
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 11
KSBA’s quarterly board of directors
weekend kicked off Sept. 19 with a
work session on board “commitment
clarity.” Dean Langdon, member
services director for the Consortium
of State School Boards Associations
(COSSBA), facilitated an interactive
group discussion on the important
roles that strong principles, people and
processes play in effective governance.
During the Sept. 20 board meeting,
KSBA’s directors approved quarterly
financial reports, reviewed progress
of the association’s strategic plan
and heard updates from the board’s
various committees.
The next meeting of KSBA’s
board will be held Dec. 6 during the
association’s Winter Symposium in
Louisville. Learn more about
KSBA’s board of directors at
ksba.org/BoardofDirectors.aspx.
(From left) Campbellsville Independent board
member Pat Hall and Eminence Independent
board member Pamela Morehead, KSBA
president, take part in the work session.
Carlisle County school board member John
Matt Fourshee participates in KSBA board of
directors work session.
COSSBA Member Services Director Dean
Langdon leads KSBA’s September board of
directors work session.
12 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
Legislative learnings:
Insights from school board members and superintendents
“How closely did you follow the 2025 legislative
session?”
Takeaway: School board members and
superintendents followed the action in
Frankfort. An overwhelming majority of
respondents at least followed major education
legislation and nearly half say KSBA is their
source of news about the legislature.
Board members’ and superintendents’ responses were aligned on
most questions. However, sometimes they diverged. More than half
of board members were most enthusiastic about the restriction on
cellphones, while only 25% of superintendents selected that.
Superintendents (39%) were more excited about HB 411,
which allows districts to hire more retired teachers. And 25% of
superintendents said HB 48, the Red Tape Reduction Act.
Takeaway: Davonna Page, former Russellville Independent Schools
board member and KSBA Policy & eMeeting Services manager, said it’s
understandable why board member and superintendent perceptions of
these bills would differ.
“As a board member, I saw things in a slightly different lens from my
superintendent. The lens of a parent, a community member, an elected
official. Conversely, my superintendent saw things differently than I did
– through the lens of an educator, a district leader, an administrator, an
employee of the board.”
"...closely...and stayed current on
proposed education legislation..."
"...only know about some of the bills passed because of
how they are now impacting my district
"...informed, enough to have a general sense of
major education legislation..."
Every two years, as the General Assembly crafts a new state
budget, KSBA surveys board members and superintendents
on legislative issues and how they impact school districts.
This year’s survey, which closed Aug. 20, offers a snapshot
of how board members and superintendents perceive the
legislature and its actions. The results are not hard science,
but provide valuable clues about priorities, concerns and
trust levels. Several questions from previous surveys were
posed again to track how perceptions may have changed
over time. KSBA shared results with board members,
superintendents and legislators this fall in a series of 12
regional meetings held across the state.
Important issues
“Select the answer that best describes how effectively you felt
2025 education bills addressed the issues important to your
district.”
80% of respondents said bills passed in the 2025 session addressed
at least some education issues important to their districts.
“Of the following bills passed during this recent session, which one
are you most enthusiastic about and/or believe will benefit your
schools and students.”
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 13
“Select three of the following school funding
issues in your district that you feel are most
important for the legislature to address?”
Board members and superintendents both say teacher/
staff raises are the highest priority. Similarly, two years ago
increasing the SEEK base in order to provide employee raises
also topped the chart. However, this year the answers were
more evenly dispersed. Responses in the “other” category
included school resource officer funding, dual credit and base
SEEK.
For the first time, KSBA included pre-K in the funding
options with 12% of respondents choosing funding
universal pre-K. Currently under state law, only at-risk
and disabled children are eligible for state-funded pre-k.
Because there has been statewide conversation about
expanding pre-K access, KSBA asked: “Do you support
expanding pre-k access to all Kentucky 4-year-olds?”
Of the respondents, 89% of school board members and
93% of superintendents said yes. KSBA then asked those
who wanted pre-K expanded whether they supported
2025
2021
Local control
Funding
Four years ago, KSBA asked a very similar question,
specifically about curriculum mandates; in that survey, 61%
of respondents supported keeping curriculum decisions
at the local level, 23% said it would depend on the topic
“Do you support more curriculum decisions
being made at the state level or being left at the
local district level?”
a 2026 state budget appropriation from the General
Assembly – 99% of school board members and 98% of
superintendents said yes.
Even though board members and superintendents
seemingly support pre-K expansion, the survey data suggests
other funding issues are more pressing. When asked to rank
the funding priorities, pre-K ranked fifth.
Takeaway: “Board members and superintendents may be
considering more immediate needs of the district, including
retaining teachers and securing permanent funding for
kindergarten,” said KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling.
and 15% said they would support statewide curriculum
mandates. This year’s question shows even stronger support
for keeping curricular decisions local. It’s also worth noting
that in 2021 the state was coming out of an unprecedented
pandemic.
Takeaway: “School board members and superintendents
feel even stronger now about keeping curriculum decisions
local,” said KSBA Associate Executive Director Josh Shoulta.
“They really value that local control in responding to the
unique needs of students in their communities.”
“In your opinion, has legislation passed over the past five
years in Frankfort ultimately strengthened or weakened
local control and local decision making of school boards/
districts?”
On this issue, board members and superintendents
diverged with 48% of superintendents believing that local
control has stayed the same, compared to only 30% of board
members. And 23% of superintendents said local control has
weakened compared to 39% of board members.
How well does your legislator support your
local district?
Rate the Kentucky General Assembly’s
OVERALL SUPPORT for public education over
the past two years?
The ratings show that many board members and
superintendents perceive their legislators to be supportive
of their school districts. Though there’s a slight dip for the
General Assembly overall, the survey shows that a vast
majority of respondents believe the legislature is addressing
at least some of the issues important to school districts.
Takeway: When KSBA presented the survey results
during Regional Meetings, board members and
superintendents were asked to rate their own efforts
in communicating their district’s needs to legislators.
The results showed that there is room to strengthen
relationships on both sides.
14 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
“Would you support making local school board
seats partisan offices?”
Previously, there have been
attempts to make school
board elections partisan.
KBSA has long been opposed
to such legislation – based
on the association’s guiding
principles, formal opposition
from KSBA’s board of
directors and consensus
among members.
Respondents overwhelming
oppose making board
offices partisan, and 70% of
respondents also believe
there is too much partisan
politics in public education
today.
Takeaway: KSBA
attorney John Powell said
keeping politics out of
public education has been
a long-standing tradition in
Kentucky, reinforced by the state’s Supreme Court in the
1989 Rose v. Council for Better Education decision.
“Common schools shall be monitored by the General
Assembly to assure that they are operated with no waste,
no duplication, no mismanagement, and with no political
influence,” Chief Justice Robert Stephens wrote in the
landmark decision.
Four ways board members and superintendents can
engage with legislators:
• Invite your legislators to board meetings, district events
and school celebrations throughout the year. Include
a school year calendar highlighting events in your
invitation.
• When your legislator attends an event, use district
social media for photos and video. Also send the photos
to your legislator when you thank them for attending.
• Send your legislator periodic updates about the good
things happening in your school district.
• Schedule a visit with your lawmaker before the
session begins.
Four ways legislators can engage with education
stakeholders
• Tell school district leaders the best way to reach you,
such as texts vs. email or phone calls.
• When crafting legislation, and ideally before filing
it, ask district leaders how the bill might impact the
district.
• Post or re-post the positive things your school districts
and its students are doing on your social media.
• Invite board teams to attend a committee meeting in
Frankfort, hold one-on-one meetings in your district
and/or attend a school board meeting or district event.
Partisan school board offices
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LEADERS IN
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Pikeville, KY
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FUTURE FOCUSED
DESIGN
KSBA’s Regional Meetings
reached the final stop on Sept. 25 at
Barbourville Independent Schools
for the Upper Cumberland Region’s
meeting.
In just one month, KSBA staff
visited all 12 KSBA regions as part
of the association’s most time-
honored tradition – bringing learning,
fellowship and networking to board
members and superintendents across
the state. KSBA’s regional meetings
have existed in some form since the
organization was founded in 1936.
In the final leg of meetings, KSBA
continued to share the results of its
2026 Legislative Survey (see pages
12-14), welcomed members of the
General Assembly and held elections
for six new regional directors on the
KSBA Board of Directors.
Thank you to all 12 regional
directors, superintendents, district
staff, students and affiliates who
helped make this year’s Regional
Meetings a success.
Regional meetings reach final destination
16 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 17
could have moved all that and run the
hotel at the same time. We also took in as
many people as we could at the hotel. It
killed me to tell some people that we had
to turn them away because we had no
more room.
Q. At your board meetings, your
board always asks, ‘What have we
done tonight to improve the academic
achievement of every child?’ What was
the impetus to reflect on that question
every meeting?
A. I don’t know because that tradition
was in place before I was elected. But it
makes me think about my experience in
school here. My father died when I was
young, and the educators and teachers
made sure that I wasn’t alone in my
education and in life. And the impact
that several of those teachers had on
me is something I can never forget. And
that’s why in my mind, it’s all about
every child and how we can impact that
child in every way. It
absolutely makes
you reflect, and it
goes beyond the
board meeting.
We give a lot
of thought to
schools and
kids beyond the
time we are in
our meetings.
BEYOND THE BOARD
Q. You were elected to the board
three years ago, and recently elected as
board chairman. Why did you want to
serve on the board?
A. I’m just a normal guy who’s not
in education. I think it’s important to
have typical working people involved
at high levels and to be part of
important conversations. My son is a
student here, and that’s another reason
I wanted to serve. Being a parent gives
me a better understanding of what’s
going on in school.
Q. What has surprised you about
being on the school board?
A. The public’s perception of what the
board can do versus what the board can't
do. So many folks out there think that the
board hires everyone, that we get into
the personnel stuff.
Q. You own a business in Hazard.
Can you tell us a little bit about what
you do?
A. My wife and I bought the Hampton
Inn here in April 2021 when the owners
decided to sell. The hotel has been here
since 2004. We bought right in the
middle of Covid and man, it was so scary.
We had to follow the standards for safety
and cleanliness Hilton had put in place.
On top of that, we had to get to know the
hospitality business. Previously I worked
for a construction equipment supplier
for 23 years.
Q. Your community, and more
broadly eastern Kentucky, has
suffered from floods over the past
several years. How have the floods
impacted your district?
A. We didn’t get hit as severely as
others, but seeing it firsthand, it was
pretty much impossible not to be
changed by the impact. We have kids
who go to our city schools but live in the
county, so they were more impacted. It
was unimaginable, the devastation that
the floods caused. But a disaster like
this also brings out the best in people. I
think our kids learned what it means to
show up and help others in their time
of need. They got a real taste of what
really matters in life even if they weren’t
directly impacted.
Q. After the floods, your hotel gave
away its old furniture for flood victims.
Why was helping the community in
that way important to you?
A. I don’t know if the Lord just
worked things out, but we were already
preparing for an interior remodel so
when that project started in October, the
local hospital supplied the manpower
and vehicles and we moved all that old
furniture from hotel rooms – mattresses,
beds, TVS, etc. – to a staging area and
people could come there and pick out
what they needed to get started back.
Instead of throwing these things away,
we made a positive impact. We have
a great working relationship with the
hospital and other businesses in the
community – there was no way our staff
Michael Sims
HAZARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Hometown: Hazard
Family: Wife, Lindsay, and son, John, age 7
Favorite subject: History
Hobbies: Spending time with my family.
Traveling. Going to UK football games.
Book recommendation: “The 21 Indispensable
Qualities of a Leader” by John C. Maxwell. When
we purchased the hotel, it put me in a different
role. I wanted to learn how to be a better leader
for those who were going to be working for us.
Interesting fact: I am obsessed with World
War II history, and now John is getting into
it. We traveled to London and Paris over the
summer and went to Normandy. Now John
and I watch the History Channel and videos,
and he’s bringing home books about World
War II and the Revolutionary War that
we’re reading together.
Getting to know
18 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
Tier 1 Affiliates
Alliance Corporation
American Fidelity Educational Services
ClotfelterSamokar Architects
Comfort & Process Solutions
Houchens Insurance Group – Education
Performance Services
RossTarrant Architects
Schmidt Associates
Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects
Summit Architects + Engineers
Trace Creek Construction
Trane Kentucky & Southern Indiana
Tier 2 Affiliates
Ascendant Facility Partners
BFW/Marcum Engineering
BHP/Thermal Equipment Sales
CMTA, Inc.
Compass Municipal Advisors
Deco Architects, Inc.
Elevate Academy KY Rank Change
RBS Design Group Architecture
RSA Advisors
R.W. Baird
Tier 3 Affiliates
Brown + Kubican, PSC
G. Scott & Associates, Architects
MBI Education
Visit ksba.org/Affiliates.aspx if you would like to
learn more about our affiliates.
Affiliate Members
Wolfe (right)
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 19
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Kentucky students to take
SAT instead of ACT
The Kentucky Department of
Education (KDE) announced that a
contract has been awarded to the College
Board to administer the SAT Junior
State Administration as the state-funded
college admissions exam beginning in
spring 2026. This four-year contract,
with a cost of $30 per student, has the
potential to save the Commonwealth up
to $350,000 a year.
KDE had awarded the contract to the
College Board in July but received a
protest. KDE worked with the Finance
and Administration Cabinet to ensure
compliance with all procurement laws
and determine the next steps.
On Sept. 23, the Finance and
Administration Cabinet denied the
protest.
Kentucky high school juniors will take
the SAT during the school day as part of
the state’s required college admissions
exam testing. KDE had previously
worked with ACT as the exam provider;
that contract ended on June 30.
The SAT is widely accepted by four-
year colleges and universities across the
United States and in Kentucky.
“The move to the SAT gives Kentucky
students access to powerful tools
that support their success, like free,
personalized practice through Khan
Academy and a new digital format that’s
shorter, adaptive and designed to be
more student-friendly with fast score
reporting,” said Education Commissioner
Robbie Fletcher.
Henderson County’s Wolfe
named DPP of the Year
Kasey Farmer Wolfe, director
of Pupil Personnel for Henderson
County Schools, has been named the
2025 Director of Pupil Personnel of
the Year by the Kentucky Directors of
Pupil Personnel.
Wolfe received the award, which
recognizes an outstanding educational
leader who exhibits exemplary
professionalism, leadership and
commitment while enhancing the
effectiveness of KDPP, during the
organization’s conference in September.
Wolfe has served as Henderson
County’s DPP for the past seven years,
where she has demonstrated a student-
centered mindset and an unwavering
commitment to ensuring every student
has access to a quality education, the
district said in a release.
“She has consistently demonstrated
professionalism, passion, knowledge,
and dedication in her role as DPP. She
strives for effective communication
between Henderson County Schools,
students, their families, and community
partners,” said Superintendent Bob
Lawson.
Wolfe said it is an honor to receive
the recognition.
“This award reflects the hard work of
our entire Henderson County Schools
team and our strong partnerships
with families and the community.
I am grateful to serve in a role that
helps ensure every student has the
opportunity to succeed,” she said.
KBE amends regulations
The Kentucky Board of Education
made several amendments to state
education regulations during its October
meeting, including the regulation
on nontraditional instruction (NTI)
programs.
The changes were recommended
by a work group made up of parents,
teachers, school administrators and
lawmakers, Kentucky Department of
Education staff told the board
Under the changes, each district would
have an NTI contact and districts would
have to clarify how they collect evidence
of student learning.
The changes include broadening the
list of acceptable items that count as
evidence of learning, including reports
from online learning management
systems, examples of teacher-student
communication or other documentation
KDE and the district deem appropriate.
The other regulation changes included:
• Amendments to 704 KAR 8:020,
academic standards for reading and
writing, as part of the typical six-year
review process for standards.
• Amendments to 704 KAR 3:410,
preschool education programs for
4-year-old children, to clarify and
modernize language.
• Amendments to 704 KAR 3:406,
superintendent training program and
assessment process, to reflect current
practices.
20 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
Q. In July, you became the second
executive director of COSSBA. What are
your goals for leading the still relatively
young organization?
A. We are a nonpartisan national alliance
that supports state school board associations
and their executive directors. Our job is to
provide information, resources and services
in the areas they feel they need so they can
serve their local districts. We make sure that
our state associations are abreast of what’s
going on at the federal level, because a lot that
happens there impacts local districts.
My background is in public education, so I’m
always focused on making sure the adults
who serve our students have the resources,
services and knowledge to do what they need
to do and do it well. What I’m always looking
for is how can I make the adults in leadership
positions at the state level better at what they
do? Anytime adults get better at what they do,
students benefit.
Q. You’ve been in education for
more than 30 years. How did your
career evolve?
A. I was a high school English teacher, middle
school teacher and then a high school principal.
Then I went to the Ohio School Boards
Association as deputy and later became the
chief executive.
Q. So, your educational background
is broad.
A. Yes, and my experience helps, especially
when theory meets practice. People like to say,
‘This is a good idea, and this is what we should
be doing.’ Because of my 30 years, working in a
school building, I can tell you what it will look
like in practice. I can say, ‘Hey, that’s a great
idea. But have you thought about this piece?’
Q. COSSBA’s fourth annual conference
will be held in Louisville in March. For
many Kentucky school board members,
this may be their first chance to attend
a national conference. Why should they
attend COSSBA?
A. The majority of our attendees will be
board members. There will be sessions on
topics like school funding, attendance, trauma,
transportation. One of the biggest things is
meeting people who do the same job as you,
and saying, ‘Here’s one of our challenges. Have
you seen this? And how have you addressed
it in your district?’ The conference brings
people from all over the country together with
one goal in mind, which is public education
– making sure that public education is
supported and that they have the resources
and an opportunity to connect, share ideas and
experiences and learn from one another.
Q. In your time at COSSBA, have you
identified some common challenges
that school boards across the country
are facing?
A. Safety, not only the physical safety of
students and staff, but the wellness, that mental
health piece. Student achievement is big. At
the conference, there will be presentations
around practices that positively impact student
achievement. Also, the board’s role in fiscal
responsibility. And AI. How schools are using
it, what does it look like, what guardrails are
being put in place? Community engagement.
How do you get your community to be engaged
in your schools, collaborating and fostering
partnerships. At the conference we are also
having a track called Empowering School Board
Secretaries and Board Clerks. That is an area
where we were told there was a need.
Q. Now in its fourth year, COSSBA
has grown to include 25 school board
associations. Why do you think it has
been so successful?
A. I would say quality of the product. As a
team, we are always listening. Often when
associations or companies fail, it’s because they
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Kathy McFarland
In Conversation With
features an interview
between a leader
or figure involved in
public education and
a representative of
the Kentucky School
Advocate.
Kathy McFarland became
the executive director of
the Consortium of State
School Board Associations
(COSSBA) in July. She was
previously the executive
director of the Ohio
School Boards Association.
McFarland has also served
as a teacher and school
administrator.
For more information
or to register for COSSBA’s
Annual Conference
March 13-15 in Louisville,
scan this code or go to
cossba.org/
cossba-national-conference.
October 2025 | Kentucky School Advocate 21
stopped listening to their members and
started to say, ‘Well, this is what you
need.’ We’re very good about continually
asking, ‘What do you need? What can
we provide for you so you can do the
work you need to do to make sure your
students are successful?’
Q. Is it difficult to find
consensus among so many
state associations?
A. What’s challenging is that states
have different views of how much
governmental advocacy they want their
national association to do. Some want
it out in the forefront; some say, please
don’t do that at the state level. We focus
on the seven tenets of our legislative
platform, which were brought to us by
members and voted on at a delegate
assembly. We won’t step outside of
those, unless 75% of our members vote
to either add, change or take away from
those seven. They are mental health
support for K-12; prioritizing K-12
public education; increased funding for
K-12; teacher and principal training and
recruitment; broadband, connectivity,
cybersecurity and E-rate; child nutrition
programs; and Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act. Those areas
are our focus because that’s what our
membership has told us they want us to
focus on.
Q. This year, more than most,
there have been numerous
changes to federal education
policy. How is COSSBA helping
its member associations keep up
with changes?
A. Julie Feasel is the government
relations liaison on our staff. We
also work with Bose, a nonpartisan
public affairs group in Washington
that tracks everything at the federal
level. Sometimes we’re sending out
information to members every day,
depending on if a bill is moving through
or if funds are being frozen. Julie does a
tremendous amount of communication,
updating on bills, updating on laws.
Anytime anything changes, we are
making sure that our state associations
are aware of it.
Q. What are some issues that
COSSBA will advocate for in
Washington this year?
A. Anything that has to do with the
seven areas of our platform. Broadband
is an interesting topic because people
are really pushing AI, but if our kids
don’t have access to broadband, it’s hard
to utilize AI. Child nutrition programs.
When they started cutting back or
saying they were freezing those grants,
it was a big concern. At some schools,
100% of students take advantage of the
breakfast program.
Q. Do you see further growth in
COSSBA membership?
A. That is our goal because we believe
we do good work, and that the more
educational leaders we have at the
table, the stronger we will be. We
have extended an invitation to states
that are not members to join us at our
national conference. Some have said,
‘Sure, we’ll come.’
Q. Like Ohio, KSBA is a founding
member of COSSBA, and our
executive director, Kerri Schelling,
just completed a term on the
board of directors. Founding
members took a leap of faith
that the federation would be a
success. How does it feel now that
COSSBA is firmly established and
is a nationally recognized voice
for school boards?”
A. I think anytime you put good people
together who are working on good
things, good things happen. A lot of
great executives and state associations
came together. Now my job with this
team is to continue to do the great
work. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s
a passion of mine to make sure that
the adults sitting in these important
seats have what they need to make
sure that they are doing right by their
students. Our states are different and
have different needs, just as it was
when I was with the Ohio School Boards
Association and had 700 plus districts.
It is about taking the time to listen
and understand and say, ‘How can we
support you? We are your support
team.’ The majority of students in the
U.S. attend public schools, but not all
of our schools are funded where they
should be. Our job is to make sure that
our students have a safe school and all
the supports and the resources in place
so they can get across that stage, get
that degree in their hands, and go on
and do great things.
IN CONVERSATION WITH
COSSBA Executive Director Kathy McFarland interviews journalist Bob Woodward, the keynote
speaker at COSSBA’s Federal Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. in September.
Provided by COSSBA
22 Kentucky School Advocate | October 2025
KSBA ANSWERS
How to implement moral instruction law
John Powell
KSBA staff attorney
In 2025, the General Assembly passed Senate
Bill 19 which permits local school boards
to allow students to be released to attend
moral instruction during the school day.
After an organization sought to implement a
moral instruction program at Oldham County
Schools, the school board attorney and Sen.
Lindsey Tichenor asked Kentucky Attorney
General Russell Coleman for an opinion on
how to implement the law, now KRS 158.200.
The opinion, issued Sept. 24, includes 10
questions and answers about the new law,
some of which are summarized here:
Is a local board of education required
to approve a request to provide a
moral instruction program submitted
by a provider that meets the law’s
requirements and, if a board approves
a program, is the school required to
release students to attend the program?
The opinion states that a local board of
education is not required to approve a
request submitted by a qualified provider to
provide moral instruction to students, as long
as that the board’s decision to deny a request
is not arbitrary or motivated by “animosity
to religion.” However, if the board approves a
program, the law says the school “shall allow”
a student to be excused for one hour, one day
a week to attend the program.
To what extent is a local
board of education
required to explain its
rationale for denying
a request to provide
moral instruction?
A local board of education
must disclose to the
applicant the “substantial
evidence” it relied on when
denying a request to provide
moral instruction, but the board must
disclose to KDE all its reasons for denying the
request, the opinion states.
After submitting the information
required for initial approval by a local
board of education under the law,
what ongoing documentation must the
provider of moral instruction provide to
the local board of education, and for how
long?
A local board of education may condition
its approval of a request to provide moral
instruction on the provider’s agreement
to provide ongoing documentation to the
board, but absent such provisions in the
agreement, the statute itself does not include
such a requirement.
May a local board obtain for itself the
required background checks on an
individual involved in a moral instruction
program, and then require the third-party
provider of the moral instruction program
to reimburse the board for the cost to do
so?
A local board may obtain the necessary
background and CA/N checks itself, and it
may either require the provider of a moral
instruction program to reimburse it for its costs
to do so or require the provider to prepay those
costs to the board.
Are individuals who are involved in a
moral instruction program required to
communicate with students only through
traceable communications under 2025
Senate Bill 181?
It cannot be said that a moral instruction
program is “connected with” any school. It
therefore does not qualify as an extracurricular
program or activity. For this reason, any person
transporting students to a moral instruction
program or providing moral instruction to
students is not a “school district employee
or volunteer” required to use the board’s
designated traceable communication system to
communicate with students.
To read the full opinion,
scan the QR code.