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Photo: Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
Gov. Matt Bevin has made the following appointments to the Education Professional Standards Board:
- Rachel Colyer, Lexington, represents middle school teachers. She is a teacher for Scott County Schools. Colyer shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- David Graham, Bowling Green, represents arts and humanities teachers. He is a teacher for Warren County Schools. Graham shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- Jon Robert Akers, Versailles, represents principals or school administrators. He is the principal at Woodford County High School. Akers shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- Sarah Lynn Burnett, Somerset, represents science, engineering, math, or technology teachers. She is a teacher for Pulaski County Schools. Burnett shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2021;
- Daniel Morgan, Louisville, represents secondary school teachers. He is a teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools. Morgan shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Tracy Voils Adams, Russell Springs, represents exceptional education teachers. She is a teacher for Russell County Schools. Adams shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Dustin Eric Phelps, Somerset, representing school counselors or psychologists. He is a psychologist for Pulaski County Schools. Phelps shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Donna Rice Hedgepath, Campbellsville, represents members of a private postsecondary institution. She is vice president for academic affairs for Campbellsville University. Hedgepath shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2020;
- Sherry Wilson Powers, Lexington, represents members of a public postsecondary institution. She is dean of the College of Education at Eastern Kentucky University. Powers shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019;
- Katherine Ann Gornik, Lexington, represents members at-large. Gornik is co-founder and former president of THIEL Audio, and chairman of Newton’s Attic, a non-profit educational organization. Gornik shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019; and
- Steven Robert Thomas, Campbellsville, represents career and technical education. Thomas is an area technology center teacher in Allen County Schools. Thomas shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
- Tolya Lynn Ellis, Shelbyville, represents elementary teachers. She is a teacher for Shelby County Public Schools. Ellis shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
- Shad Michael Sletto, Ft. Mitchell, represents the School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council. He is a workforce representative and a director at EGC Construction Corporation. Sletto shall serve for a term expiring June 30, 2019.
Governor Matt Bevin signed an executive order Friday that establishes the Kentucky Charter Schools Advisory Council to ensure successful implementation of House Bill 520 (HB 520). The order also realigns key education boards, councils and committees to provide an efficient, modern structure for implementing Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) and provides for greater coordination of efforts across the education system.
“The historic charter school legislation passed during this year’s General Assembly session represents a truly momentous step forward in providing quality choices for Kentucky’s most vulnerable students,” said Gov. Bevin. “This advisory council will play a vital role in ensuring the success of this exciting new educational option. Public charter schools will create the promise of real opportunity for young people and their families where hope does not currently exist.”
The Charter Schools Advisory Council will serve as a resource to the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE).
Senate Bill 1, passed during the 2017 session of the Kentucky General Assembly, set up a framework for the state’s new school accountability system and future academic standards. KBE now has the responsibility of disseminating regulations for that new system and the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Kentucky’s state plan, which includes its redesigned accountability system, is due to the U.S. Department of Education in September 2018. Further, the Standards and Assessment Review and Development Committee will soon begin the process of reviewing current academic standards and proposing changes to the Kentucky Board of Education sometime next year.
“Increased expertise on Kentucky’s boards and councils will help ensure that Kentucky’s new accountability system results in improved education outcomes for students,” said Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner. “Through this realignment, we are appointing members and advisors who will serve in dual capacities on various boards. These dual members and advisors will enhance the flow of communication between boards.”
Gov. Bevin’s executive order will improve collaboration among key stakeholders of the following boards and councils:
- Kentucky Board of Education
- Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE)
- Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB)
- School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council (SCAAC)
- Standards and Assessment Review and Development Committee
- State Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education
- State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children
- Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Grant Steering Committee
The changes to the Kentucky Board of Education include providing four non-voting, non-member advisers in an effort to enhance alignment of education decision making on all levels. The new advisers will include a member of CPE; a member of EPSB; a member of the SCAAC; and a member of the Charter Schools Advisory Council.
Changes to the EPSB with this executive order include increasing the diversity of board members’ experience and expertise, and ensuring greater coordination among EPSB and other education boards and commissions, including SCAAC and the Kentucky Board of Education. EPSB establishes standards and requirements for professional educator licensure, and establishes standards for and approves Kentucky’s educator preparation programs.
“These new structures will bring a greater diversity of expertise outside of education to address workforce needs, and the needs of Kentucky’s 21st century economy,” said Heiner.
Gov. Matt Bevin yesterday met with more than 400 faith leaders and concerned citizens at Louisville’s Western Middle School to address the epidemic of violence that is gripping the heart of Kentucky’s largest city.
He invited churches and other community groups to commit to “adopt” an inner-city neighborhood block to visit 2-3 times per week over the course of the next year—respectfully walking the perimeter in teams of 3-10 individuals to pray for and get to know local residents.
“I truly believe we’re going to see a difference in this city,” said Gov. Bevin. “I personally believe in the power of prayer. I’ve seen it evidenced in our community and across others.”
“Don’t lose sight of this: these are the sons and daughters of Louisville and Kentucky,” he said. “We owe it to each other to have each other’s back on this.”
Please click the following links to access pertinent resources:
- Presentation from Gov. Bevin’s “Reclaiming Our Communities” message
- Maps of Louisville-Jefferson County homicides: 2015 | 2016 | 2015-17
- Listing of potential Louisville-Jefferson County neighborhood blocks to “adopt”
“Do we still need economic, political and law enforcement solutions? Of course we do,” noted Gov. Bevin. “This will not take their place but we feel it will make a real difference.”
For more information or to commit to “adopt” a block, please contact Adrienne Southworth at reclaim@ky.gov.
Gov. Matt Bevin today made the following appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions:
Bari Ann Lewis and Brett Bachmann have been appointed to the Institute for Aging. Dr. William Michael Mansfield has been reappointed.
- Bari Ann Lewis, of Louisville, is director of education and advocacy at the Alzheimer’s Association. She shall serve for a term expiring Sept. 1, 2019.
- Brett Bachmann, of Louisville, is CEO of the Heuser Hearing Institute. He shall serve for a term expiring Sept. 1, 2019.
- Dr. William Michael Mansfield, of Louisville, is a dentist and educator. He shall serve for a term expiring Sept. 1, 2019.
The Institute for Aging advises the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and other officials on policy matters relating to the development and delivery of services for the aged.
Gov. Matt Bevin announced that the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) has selected Kentucky as one of only 10 states to participate in a learning lab on state strategies to reduce childhood hunger.
“The Commonwealth has taken steps to begin addressing the unacceptable problem of childhood hunger,” said Gov. Bevin. “In 2016, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles launched the Kentucky Hunger initiative. The objective of the initiative is to study the sources of hunger, identify the unique issues that affect different regions of the Commonwealth, and take and inventory of resources related to the fight against hunger.”
Through participation in the learning lab, state teams will examine how Virginia leverages public-private partnerships to ensure school age children have regular access to healthy meals and increased participation in child nutrition programs. They will discuss strategies such as communicating and collaborating to reduce hunger, expanding access to school breakfast, supporting innovation in summer meal programs, and streamlining eligibility determination for free meals.
“I am excited that Kentucky has been chosen to be a part of this important discussion,” said Commissioner Quarles. “By sharing some of the lessons learned from the Hunger Initiative, and seeing firsthand the efforts of other states in combating hunger, I know this experience will be a success.”
NGA learning labs provide an opportunity for a limited number of state teams to visit a state that is successfully implementing an innovative practice. States participating in the learning lab will have the opportunity to meet in Virginia to learn about best practices for providing healthy meals to school-age children, get an assessment of the degree of childhood hunger present in their own states for policymaking, and receive assistance developing a plan for reducing childhood hunger.
The NGA Center is conducting this learning lab in collaboration with Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit focused on ending child hunger through its No Kid Hungry campaign.
The largest annual gathering of workplace safety professionals from companies all across Kentucky gathered in Covington last week for the state’s premier occupational safety and health conference and exposition.
Representatives from 48 companies who earned the prestigious Governor’s Safety and Health Award during the last year were in attendance to help celebrate Kentucky’s all-time low Injury and Illness Rate.
“The recipients of the 48th Governor’s Safety and Health Award are a major reason why Kentucky’s workplaces recorded their safest year in history,” Gov. Bevin said. “In order for the Commonwealth to become the greatest version of itself, we must keep the health and safety of our workforce a top priority. I am delighted to congratulate each company for achieving this high honor by being leaders in this area. Together, we can find ways to continue raising the bar of excellence and making our workforce the safest and strongest in the nation.”
The Labor Cabinet also used this week to draw attention to a renewed focus on workplace safety education and training called “KY SAFE.”
“’KY SAFE’ is our effort to re-brand the education and training services that the Cabinet provides to all two million workers in Kentucky,” Labor Secretary Derrick Ramsey stated. “We want to eliminate hazards before injuries occur by building better partnerships with Kentucky employers and their employees. Between our free on-site surveys, online training modules, statewide OSHA training seminars and partnership programs, the Labor Cabinet is working tirelessly to advance health and safety in the Commonwealth. We want to urge employers of all sizes to contact us on ways we can help safeguard their workplace before a needless injury or illness occurs.”
Co-hosted with the Kentucky Safety and Health Network (KSHN), this year’s conference also featured $40,000 in Scholastic Achievement for Education (SAFE) Award scholarships to college students and an additional $20,000 to a new initiative to train thousands of students who will graduate from high school with an OSHA 10-Hour card.
“The 2017 conference theme is ‘Made Safely in Kentucky,’” KSHN President Lisa Curtis said. “This theme is meant to highlight the many products and services provided by Kentucky businesses that put safety first and increase the awareness of workplace safety and health through education and training.”
The Labor Cabinet’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health Education & Training leads the Cabinet’s proactive efforts to create safe and healthful workplace conditions, including overseeing a new web-based training service called eTrain (www.KYSAFE.KY.GOV). This new online training module will offer a variety of safety and health training topics, certificates, and live and recorded webinars all at no cost.
In addition to eTrain, the Cabinet provides free consultative services to employers across Kentucky on ways to increase workplace safety – including how to improve Injury and Illness Rates. Services include free on-site consultations to all employers, as well as other compliance assistance, educational materials, and class-style training for all employers.
Last year, the Division conducted 350 free on-site visits, or “consultative surveys,” for employers across Kentucky. As a result of these confidential surveys, employers corrected 3,813 serious conditions that could have affected up to 108,307 employees and could have resulted in enforcement penalties of up to $26,691,000.
Based on a mathematical calculation from a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report that describes the number of recordable incidents per 100 full-time employees, Kentucky’s rate improved from 3.8 in 2014 to 3.7 in 2015 – reflecting the most recent data available and the lowest rate in Kentucky’s history. This rate has steadily declined since it was first calculated in 1996 when a rate of 8.4 was reported.
2017 Governor’s Safety and Health Award Recipients
Abel Construction Company, Inc. – Louisville
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. – Calvert City
Amfine Chemical Corporation – Hopkinsville
Atlas Machine & Supply, Inc. – Louisville
Big Rivers Electric Corporation – Sebree Station – Robards
Carhartt, Inc. Madisonville Cutting – Madisonville
Carhartt RCV Customer Service Center – Hanson
Catlettsburg Refining LLC – Catlettsburg
Charah, Inc. – Mill Creek Station – Louisville
Cintas Distribution LLC – Grayson
Daicel Safety Technologies America, Inc. – Beaver Dam
Daicel Safety Tube Processing, Inc. – Beaver Dam
Dana Incorporated Louisville KY – Louisville
Domtar Hawesville Mill – Hawesville
Donaldson Company, Inc. – Nicholasville
Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation – Glasgow
Firestone Building Products – Florence
Firestone Industrial Products – Williamsburg
H. B. Fuller Paducah, KY – Paducah
Heaven Hill Brands – Bardstown
Henderson Services, LLC – Louisville
Interplastic Corporation – Ft. Wright
J-Lok Corp. – Earlington
Joy Global, Inc. – Lebanon
LG&E Cane Run Station – Louisville
LexPlastics – Lexington
Lockheed Martin – MFC – Lexington
Madisonville West Side Wastewater Treatment Plant – Madisonville
Maker’s Mark Distillery – Loretto
Mid-America Conversion Services, LLC – Kevil
Multi Packaging Solutions of KY – Louisville
Ops Plus, Inc. – Louisville
Owensboro Municipal Utilities – Customer & Shared Services – Owensboro
PIC Group, Inc. – Louisville
PIC Group, Inc. – Harrodsburg
Raytheon Company – Louisville
Sargent & Greenleaf, Inc. – Nicholasville
Sekisui Specialty Chemicals America LLC – Calvert City
SFC Global Supply Chain, Inc. – Walton
Southern States Cooperative – Winchester
Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc. – Edmonton
Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc. – Scottsville
Swift & Staley, Inc. – Kevil
Tower International – Shepherdsville
Toyota Boshoku Kentucky – Harrodsburg
Toyota Boshoku Kentucky – Lebanon
Wabash National – Cadiz
Wacker Polymers – Calvert City
Gov. Matt Bevin joined four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield last week to announce a championship boxing match to be held in Louisville on June 24 at Freedom Hall. The announcement was made in conjunction with the Louisville Sports Commission, the Muhammad Ali Center, Top Knotch Boxing (TKO), Kentucky Venues, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.
The televised event will kick off a fight series entitled the “Real Deal Championship Boxing Series” that will be promoted by Holyfield’s company, Real Deal Sports & Entertainment. The Louisville event will feature a championship bout among contenders and an undercard that will include local amateur boxers.
The event is part of Louisville’s six-week celebration of Muhammad Ali’s legacy, entitled the “I Am Ali” festival. The festival runs June 3 to July 15, and focuses on Ali’s legacy and core values.
This is the second major combat sports announcement in Kentucky this year and comes on the heels of Gov. Bevin’s reorganization of the Kentucky Boxing & Wrestling Commission (KBWC). The reorganization streamlined KBWC as part of the Red Tape Reduction initiative and tasked the commission with cutting needless bureaucracy that stifled the combat sports industry.
“We are thrilled to welcome Evander Holyfield and Real Deal Sports & Entertainment to Kentucky for this exciting championship bout,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “Our state has a rich boxing heritage, and we have worked hard in recent months to cut red tape and remove unnecessary bureaucracy hampering the industry. As a result, Kentucky is able to once again host large-scale combat sports events. We anticipate that this will be the first of many to come and are grateful to Real Deal Sports & Entertainment for their vote of confidence.”
The boxing industry has experienced significant growth in Kentucky as a result of Red Tape Reduction efforts. In 2016 alone, there were 13 boxing shows, which was more than the prior three years combined. The number of scheduled shows in 2017 is already on track to exceed last year’s numbers. The state has also experienced approximately 30 percent growth in combat sports revenue during the last fiscal year.
Public Protection Cabinet Secretary David Dickerson stated that he is looking forward to additional economic development opportunities that will arise from Gov. Bevin’s charge to cut red tape in the industry. “It’s exciting to witness the explosive growth of combat sports in our state, and KBWC is constantly exploring new ways to grow the industry,” he said. “We believe that today’s exciting announcement is just the beginning.”
To date, Gov. Bevin’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative is responsible for repealing 151 regulations and targeting an additional 338 regulations for repeal. Over 1,900 of Kentucky’s 4,700 regulations have been reviewed as part of the initiative. Visit http://redtapereduction.com for full details.
The Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Commission oversees all professional boxing, wrestling, and full contact competitive bouts and exhibitions in Kentucky. Learn more about the commission at http://kbwa.ky.gov.