Thank you!
Thank you for attending a March SBDM endorsement training session! The professional learning opportunity is beneficial to your SBDM role as a coordinator or trainer and serves as the endorsement necessary for this important work and as required by KRS 160.345(6).
This year we explored an update to the SBDM Training Database, introduced you to a pilot initiative of the updated staffing allocation worksheet and explored the election process for minority representation on councils.
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) goal is to ensure you are equipped with SBDM and training updates that are pertinent to the success of school-based decision making councils and the students in each of those schools. If you were not able to attend one of the endorsement sessions, email Mia Morales as soon as possible so that further guidance can be given.
Please note that new SBDM coordinators and trainers also will need to engage in a more in-depth and introductory training to SBDM. The New Coordinator Training is schedule for May 23 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Registration for the webinar will be shared soon.
Staffing Allocations and Pilot Initiative
Tentative staffing allocations should have been sent to school councils by March 1, with a final allocation date of May 1. If a district plans to revise its staffing formula for the 2023-2024 school year, it will need to send its updated staffing allocation worksheet to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for approval. These updates can be emailed to Mia Morales.
A sample staffing allocation worksheet can be found on the SBDM Technical Documents webpage on the KDE website under “SBDM Staffing Allocations.” Please allow time for KDE to review the allocations prior to May 1.
Staffing allocations for certified staffing positions are determined based on projected full-time equivalent enrollment. Section 4 of 702 KAR 3:246 states that, "a board staffing policy or guidelines shall be established to determine the number of allocated positions for certified staff for each school. To determine the allocation to school councils for certified staff, the district shall provide sufficient funds: (a) To meet class size caps and pupil contact hours established in KRS 157.360 based on the projected full-time equivalent enrollment for the upcoming school year.”
Section 6 (Other Minimum Allocations) and Section 7 (Distribution of the Balance) of the regulation is articulated differently and specifically references average daily attendance (ADA) when determining allocation amounts under those sections. When determining Section 6 and 7 allocations for the 2023-2024 school year, districts should use the year they selected for base funding – either the 2018-2019 ADA or 2019-2020 ADA.
Within the next couple of months, the KDE will pilot an updated staffing allocation worksheet to pre-selected districts. The updated staffing allocation worksheet contains streamlined directions, statutory and regulatory references and terminology. The updated worksheet will also, most importantly, calculate the 150 pupil hours and will be flexible to your school’s schedule.
The worksheet is scheduled to go live for the 2024-2025 school year for all schools and districts. Additional training and guidance for the updated worksheet will be released with the launch of the worksheet.
Elections Procedures
Council member elections are underway! Parent and teacher election procedures determine how elections are run. To that end, here are several points to keep in mind when constituent groups are gearing up for the election process:
-
Teachers are elected to council by majority vote.
- To be elected by majority vote, a teacher must receive half plus one of the votes by those eligible to vote. For example, if there are 30 teachers assigned to the building, then 16 votes are needed to be elected.
- All certified staff in the school, including itinerant teachers, part-time teachers, counselors and library media specialists, are eligible to serve as a teacher representative.
-
Parents are elected to council by plurality vote.
- Plurality vote means receiving more votes than the other candidates.
- Eligible parent candidates must have a student enrolled or preregistered to attend the school for the year they will be serving on the school council. The candidate must be a parent, stepparent, foster parent or a person who has legal custody of a student pursuant to a court order and with whom the student resides.
-
Minority representation is required when a school has 8% or more student minority population. Schools may choose to use the Kentucky Department of Education’s Superintendents Annual Attendance Report (SAAR) or internal data of enrollment on Oct, 1, 2022.
- Electronic elections are permissible and more guidance can be found on the SBDM Elections Guidance document.
The Kentucky Department of Education and the Office of Education Accountability recommend that school councils remove election procedures for teachers and parents from a council’s bylaws. Teachers and parents should establish their own written election procedures. The following questions should be considered by parents and teachers and documented in the election procedures:
- When and how candidates are nominated;
- Who prepares the ballot;
- When, where and how parents and teachers can vote;
- Voting schedule and process; and
- When and where runoffs will be held.
|