President's Perspective

03Mar

KASB President’s Perspective: First things first: Kids can’t learn if they’re not socially & emotionally ready

By Shannon Kimball KASB President Lawrence USD 497 In early February, representatives of school counselors and mental health professionals from across Kansas testified in Topeka before the House Education Committee on the mental health challenges that students and staff are dealing with in our classrooms. One of the presenters to that committee shared that they were working with a second-grade teacher who had four students attempt suicide this school year. Four students. Second grade. A single school year. Stop reading now, and sit with that for a while . . . When educators and public school advocates talk about the changing and deepening crises...

Board of Directors, School Board Review, President's Perspective, Newsroom
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02Mar

March issue of School Board Review available now

The March issue of School Board Review is full of news about what is happening in education from Washington, D.C. to Topeka and throughout Kansas. Here is a link to the publication and a hard copy should be arriving for school board members and administrators in the mail soon. Federal K-12 issues are previewed with insights from NSBA Executive Director Thomas Gentzel and new polling information about the public’s view of public schools. Meanwhile, KASB Advocacy/Outreach Specialist Leah Fliter provides coverage of KASB attendees recent trip to the NSBA Advocacy Institute in D.C. in which Kansas board members met with Kansas’ congressional...

Board of Directors, School Board Review, President's Perspective, KASB BOLD, Newsroom, Board Member Profiles, Federal Issues, Financing Schools, Instruction & Services, Kansas Legislature, Negotiations, Local Boards, Professional Personnel, Student Issues, Safety and Security, State Board of Ed, Teacher Issues, 2020 LFT
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04Feb

KASB President’s Perspective: New year, new voices but no time to relax

By Shannon Kimball KASB President Lawrence USD 497 The start of the new year and the new semester coincides with an opportunity for new (or renewed) resolve and fresh perspectives on the many opportunities and challenges facing our students and our schools. My local board welcomed three new members at our first January board meeting — I am excited to work with them, learn from them, and add their talents, knowledge, and perspectives to our work together. My district stands to benefit greatly from the experiences and perspectives of these new board members. I look forward to seeing where their fresh resolve takes...

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07Jan

KASB President’s Perspective: KASB completes year in a strong position

By Shannon Kimball KASB President Lawrence USD 497 Welcome to a new year! And welcome to the 2020 legislative session. This month, I want to give you a short update on the work of your KASB board of directors and staff in 2019 and to note a couple of issues to keep an eye on as the legislative session gets underway. If you have visited the KASB website recently, you have seen this header: Leading Success! The Kansas Association of School Boards is proud to support you in your role as a local leader. So what has KASB accomplished in 2019 toward providing that...

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06Jan

January School Board Review previews legislative session and more

The January edition of School Board Review offers a preview of top education issues for the 2020 legislative session and information on how education leaders can stay on top of developments under the Statehouse dome. The issue is now available online here and is in the mail to members. In addition to news about the session that starts Monday (Jan. 13), SBR covers the election of new KASB officers, an update from KASB President Shannon Kimball about the association’s work and thoughts from KASB Executive Director Dr. John Heim on mixing education and politics. The edition also provides more information on...

KASB Updates, Board of Directors, School Board Review, Conference, President's Perspective, Newsroom, Federal Issues, Financing Schools, Instruction & Services, Kansas Legislature, Local Boards, Student Issues, Safety and Security, State Board of Ed, Teacher Issues, KASB Legislative Committee, 2019 LFT
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05Nov

KASB President’s Perspective: Tax policy matters for public education

By Shannon Kimball KASB President Lawrence USD 497 For many years, I have firmly believed that the high quality of public education in Kansas is one of the most important and compelling economic development, recruitment, and retention tools available. Our schools play an essential role in the quality-of-life metrics that attract families and businesses to come to or remain in our communities. Often, though, it has been my perception that the role of our schools in these discussions is at best overlooked, or at worst, undervalued or dismissed. So, it was with great excitement that I attended several days of meetings in September...

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03Oct

KASB President’s Perspective: School boards can learn from each other

By Shannon Kimball KASB President Lawrence USD 497 Halloween has not arrived yet, but December is right around the corner, and that means it is almost KASB Annual Conference time! I am excited about the learning and networking opportunities available this year—our KASB staff and board of directors are working hard to ensure our conference will provide board members and district leaders with a wide range of opportunities to share what they are doing in their districts and to participate in learning so we can all return to our communities with new knowledge to benefit our students. Sessions at the Annual Conference will allow...

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02Oct

October issue of KASB School Board Review is available

Articles on education equity, the effect of social media on our students, the school bond environment, KASB’s upcoming annual conference and more are featured in the October issue of School Board Review, which is available online here. This month’s publication includes the final installment of KASB Associate Executive Director of Advocacy and Communications Mark Tallman’s analysis of equity in student success. KASB Executive Director John Heim writes about how young people today face challenges their parents didn’t — namely that their exploits are recorded forever in the digital world. KASB’s Rob Gilligan, government relations specialist, analyzes opportunities to reinvest in school...

Board of Directors, School Board Review, Conference, President's Perspective, KASB BOLD, Newsroom, Board Member Profiles, Federal Issues, Financing Schools, Instruction & Services, Kansas Legislature, Negotiations, Local Boards, Professional Personnel, Student Issues, Safety and Security, State Board of Ed, Teacher Issues, KASB Legislative Committee
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04Sep

KASB President’s Perspective: Effective leadership: A matter of trust

By Shannon Kimball KASB President Lawrence USD 497 Back-to-school greetings! Welcome to September. This is always my favorite time of year, both personally and as a parent. I relish the excitement of each of my children as they greet old friends, meet new friends, and take on new challenges and opportunities as the school year really begins to click along. I hope the past month has brought similar excitement, optimism, and success into your lives and your work as board members. In mid-August, members of your KASB leadership team attended the National School Boards Association Summer Leadership Seminar. This is an annual opportunity...

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03Sep

September issue of School Board Review is out; focus on vaping

The September issue of the KASB School Board Review focuses on the alarming increase in the use of e-cigarettes by young Kansans and includes articles covering numerous other education issues. The issue, available here online and in the mail to school leaders, also includes columns by KASB President Shannon Kimball and Executive Director John Heim. In addition, Mark Tallman, KASB’s associate executive director of advocacy and communications, provides further analysis of the achievement gap in the second installment of a three-part series. SBR also includes coverage of KASB’s Board of Directors, Legislative Committee and Workers Compensation Committee; KASB Annual Survey data;...

KASB Updates, Board of Directors, School Board Review, Conference, President's Perspective, KASB BOLD, Newsroom, Federal Issues, Financing Schools, Instruction & Services, Kansas Legislature, Local Boards, Student Issues, Safety and Security, State Board of Ed, Teacher Issues, Risk Management, KASB Legislative Committee
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