The 2015 Legislative Session & School PR

Kentucky’s 2015 Legislative Session kicked off this week and will continue through Friday, January 9 before a break until February 2, 2015. It is likely that several bills will be introduced but with action delayed until February. In my school district, working with the District Leadership Team and our Community Advisory Cabinet, I try to stay up-to-date on issues and bills being discussed by our state leaders. I am then able to provide district administrators notice of potential decisions impacting various departments, as well as the ability to proactively prepare issue-specific information for local legislators, community members and/or media. Beyond the daily headline and news services, three resources I use to stay informed of education-related bills are Bill Watch , the Kentucky Association of School Administrator’s Legislative Insider Community, and Twitter #kyga15.

Bill Watch

Bill Watch is free and allows unlimited tracking of legislation during the session. This includes keyword and topic searches, notifications of new bills, and of course tracking of existing bills. Today, I searched by topic and found the list of bills to the left filed under keywords “Education- Elementary/Secondary,” and “Education Finance.”

Legislative Insider

Each year the KASA Board of Directors approves a LegislativeProgram including the top priorities of schools, educators, and education leaders to the General Assembly. The KASA Board also takes a position on many education bills and the Association the provides lobbying efforts on behalf of school leaders. As a member of KASA, one of many member benefits is the Legislative Insider Community. This service provides frequent and relative legislative updates from KASA Executive Director Wayne Young and KASA lobbyists, as well as an open forum and bill reports. As a member of this community, KASA members also agree to assist with efforts by establishing positive working relationships and communicating with local legislators. If you are a KASA member (or if you join KASA) and would like to participate as a Legislative Insider, click here to register:
http://admin.kasa.org/KASA_Legislative_Insider_reg.html.

Twitter
Using Twitter, I follow @GovSteveBeshear, @@KYSenateGOP, @KYSenateDems, @KYHouseDems, and @KYHouseGOP, but tweets using #kyga15 provide 140-character updates and links related to action and conversation in Frankfort.
#kyga15 Tweets

If you have any questions about these services or how they assist in school public relations, feel free to contact me.

Happy 2015!

Leslie McCoy
Bowling Green Independent Schools

KYSPRA President 2014-2015

P.S. KYSPRA does not have a new President; my name has changed because I married over the winter break.