(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 approved amendments to 703 KAR 5:020, the formula for determining school accountability (emergency and ordinary versions), to affect 2006 NCLB reporting. The implementation of these changes will assure that Kentucky complies with the Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
The board also approved a plan to divest surplus property at the Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD) in Danville to provide better operating efficiency, reduced costs, better accommodation of instructional needs, increased income, reduced liabilities and improved security. House Bill 380 provides that the proceeds from surplus property sales at KSD be used for the benefit of programs and services at the school.
The board also took the following actions:
- agreed to refer an annexation appeal from the Calloway County school district to a hearing officer
- agreed to accept language changes to clarify flexibility in 704 KAR 3:305, the regulation governing high school graduation requirements
- approved district facility plans for Cumberland, Hart and Scott Counties
- approved the FY 2007 KETS funds identified in the FY 2007 budget for KETS shared services and KETS offers of assistance
- approved the unmet technology need for school districts
- approved 702 KAR 5:010, Pupil Transportation: Technical Assistance and Monitoring
- approved 702 KAR 6:100, Appeal Procedures for Sponsors of Child Nutrition Programs
- postponed approval, pending a final auditor’s report, of a Declaration of Emergency in Leslie County due to a negative general fund balance
- approved the appointment of Dennis E. Pearce of Fayette County to the State Textbook Commission
- approved the appointment of Brianna Adams, a teacher in Carter County, to the Writing Portfolio Advisory Committee
- agreed to contact the Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) to encourage the group to re-evaluate its policies on sports practice during warm weather
The board also elected officers for the next 12 months. Keith Travis will serve as chair, and Bonnie Lash Freeman will serve as vice-chair.
The board heard presentations on:
- the work of the state’s new primary assessment contractor, Measured Progress, on the 2006-07 assessment
- an update of programs, services and operations at the Kentucky School for the Blind and Kentucky School for the Deaf
- issues facing multi-district counties
- identification of districts on the financial Watch List
- certification of nonpublic schools
- the secondary GED program
- the board’s 2007 legislative agenda
- a report on the School Facilities Evaluation Task Force
The next meeting of the board will be September 6 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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