(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- At its regular meeting Wednesday and Thursday, the Kentucky Board of Education heard presentations, had in-depth discussions and made decisions on a number of items.
The board elected new officers for the next year, including Keith Travis of Benton as chair and Hilma Prather of Somerset as vice-chair.
The board heard discussion on the internal audit charter and agreed to revise it to authorize the Auditor of Public Accounts to perform specific internal audit functions, including ensuring that proper controls and procedures are being followed.
The board presented the annual Joseph Kelly Award to Ann Yager Hamlin, director at Stith Funeral Home in Danville, for her support of local education efforts.
The board agreed to approve a five-year plan of comprehensive services for students who are deaf/hearing-impaired, blind/visually-impaired or a combination of the two. The plan is designed to expand the educational and related services available to these students across the state and continue to provide services at the Kentucky School for the Deaf and Kentucky School for the Blind.
The board also took the following actions:
- approved recommendations for certification of nonpublic schools
- approved appointments to the State Textbook Commission
- approved appointment of the Writing Advisory Committee
- gave final approval to 704 KAR 7:140, a regulation to provide World War II and Korean Conflict veterans with high school diplomas
- approved 2004-05 local tax rates levied
- approved the District Facility Plan for Fairview Independent
- asked staff to provide more input on 702 KAR 1:001, the Implementation Guidelines - Kentucky School Facilities Planning Manual
- approved FY 2005 Kentucky Education Technology System (KETS) funds identified for shared services and offers of assistance
The board went into closed session to evaluate the performance of Kentucky Education Commissioner Gene Wilhoit. No action was taken during the session.
The board heard presentations on and had discussions about the following:
- a Request for Proposals for the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS)
- improving student achievement through technologically-administered assessments
- the 2005 Legislative Agenda
- education of homeless students
- the secondary GED program
- the Refocusing Secondary Education project
- Title IX compliance
- school district finances
- the state's writing assessment
The next meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education will be September 7 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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