KYSPRA members, this incentive is for you!

Expand your PR knowledge and resource repertoire by joining the National School Public Relations Association today! KYSPRA Members joining NSPRA before May 15th, will pay $160, a $100 savings off the regular cost of membership.

Click here to learn more!

This discount is available only to new NSPRA members of the chapter.

TELL KENTUCKY Survey Information and Helpful Links

The TELL KENTUCKY Survey is open March 2 – 31, 2015 to certified, school-based educators. Very few if any KYSPRA members will participate in the survey, however, if administrators or the local media would like to view participation rates, the specific questions, or other resources included in the administration of the 2015 TELL KENTUCKY Survey, all are available on the www.tellkentucky.org website.

The 2015 TELL KENTUCKY Survey Questions: educator and principal-only.

Additional resources for your information include the poster, sample letters, statement of partners and a schedule of events available here: http://www.tellkentucky.org/resources

More details:

• The survey is accessed through a generated access code. Each school’s Kentucky Educators Association representative or point of contact should have received a packed of letters, including the codes to participate. The codes are anonymous but assigned to determine schools and district participation. Each code may only be used once.
• Educators will complete the survey online by visiting http://www.tellkentucky.org/. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and must be finished in one session.
• Survey data will be available approximately five weeks following the close of the survey for schools with more than 50% participation, with a minimum of five participants. State results will be reported in the fall.
• School survey results are used in the new Principal Professional Growth and Effectiveness System. Principals must show how the school is utilizing data for school improvement.

School Calendar Law & Make Up Days

KYSPRA members should have received the following information in the Fast Five on Friday, February 20, 2015, from the Kentucky Department of Education. Summarizing and reposting the information as a reference for the coming days and weeks. If you have not received questions about make up days, you will soon.

Under HB 211 (2014), the "Student instructional year" means at least 1,062 hours of instructional time for students delivered on not less than 170 student attendance days. If a local board of education amends its school calendar after its adoption due to an emergency such as inclement weather, it may lengthen or shorten any remaining student attendance days by 30 minutes or more, as it deems necessary, provided the amended calendar complies with the requirements of a student instructional year. No student attendance day shall contain more than seven hours of instructional time unless the district submitted and received approval from the commissioner of education for an innovative alternative calendar.

Delays? A district shall not be required to make up a total of five hours missed as a result of shortened days due to emergency.

Emergency days? Waivers shall not be granted unless the district has missed more than 20 regular student days and demonstrated extreme hardship. The district shall make up at least the first 20 regular attendance days by adding equivalent hours into the school calendar. Waivers must be requested by local boards of education and approved by the commissioner.

More information about School Calendars can be found on the KDE website at http://education.ky.gov/districts/enrol/Pages/School-Calendar.aspx.

For questions, please contact Cheri Meadows, cheri.meadows@education.ky.gov, in the Division of District Support.

Creative Snow Day Announcements in Kentucky

I hope all of my KYSPRA colleagues are staying safe and warm during these LONG dreary winter days. Snow days are some of my least favorite days to work in school PR, as I am sure many can relate. So many experts, opinions, and social media really seems to bring out the best in folks. (Yes, that was sarcasm.) And while I can without a doubt say my Superintendent is not signing up to do any snow day sing-song announcements, I did find a few creative efforts on the Twitterverse from Kentucky superintendents.

Superintendent Benny Lile sings Walk Softly because there is no school in Metcalfe County:



Green County Schools have a few creative videos on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/greencoschools/timeline.

Ohio County School District's Superintendent Scott Lewis with his version of a snow day rhyme to call all students, faculty and staff:



And Lyon County is having a "school closing" parody video contest with videos to be submitted by 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday. We'll check back to see what the Lyon Co. Lyons create.

If I have missed any other unique announcements, please share links in the comment box!

Stay warm!

Leslie

Leslie McCoy
KYSPRA President 2014-15

Summary of February 6 KYSPRA Board Meeting

The KYSPRA Board of Directors met on Friday, February 6, 2015 for the third quarterly meeting of the school year. In an effort to keep KYSPRA members informed on action from the Board of Directors, below is a summary of information discussed at the meeting. This should not be considered official meeting minutes.

Linda Salyer reported that invoices for membership dues have been sent to current members. Linda also provided a summary report from the 2014 Fall Conference, sharing there were 36 conference registrations and nine one-day registrations, which included four students from Campbellsville University. Twenty-three additional tickets for the OASIS banquet were purchased. After expenses, the Association earned $3,233.42 in revenue from the Conference.

Organizational Reports:

·         Nancy Rodriguez of the Kentucky Department of Education shared information about the Kentucky Rising initiative that is still being discussed. (Click here to download a draft Fact Sheet from KDE). In summary, Kentucky Rising is a program to take Kentucky’s College & Career Readiness efforts to the next level. More details will be shared from KDE in the future. Nancy also mentioned that there will soon be an open position for Editor of the Kentucky Teacher publication. Interested applicants should check the KDE website for more info.

·         Madelynn Coldiron of the Kentucky School Board Association informed the Board of upcoming pre-conference professional development for Board of Education members, including sessions on The Perfect Interview, School Crisis Management, and Ethics. Madelynn also led discussion to gather feedback on the OASIS Professional Development Program which is coordinated by Brad Hughes of KSBA. The Board will work with Brad to brainstorm all suggestions and will share changes with the requests for entries that will be sent to members later this year.

·         Tom Martin attended the Board of Directors meeting on behalf of Kentucky Educational Television. He talked about the recent Financial Aid call in show on Education Matters, as well as an upcoming show regarding the Core Academic Standards, airing first on KET Monday, February 23 at 9:00 pm EST. Also, KET is currently accepting submissions for the 2015 KET Young Writers contest, a statewide competition designed to improve the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. Students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade are invited to submit entries to KET’s Young Writers Illustrated Story Contest. Students in 4th and 5th grades are invited to submit entries to KET’s Young Writers Short Story Contest. Entries must be received by April 11. More info on the contest: http://www.ket.org/pressroom/2013/11/youngwriters2015.html. And last, Tom said if KYSPRA members would like to be added to a distribution list from KET for notice of shows or programming, contact him via email at tmartin@ket.org.

Old Business:

·         Tracy Green reported that she has been working with Susie Hart and a small committee to update and redesign the KYSPRA website with the goal to make the site more interactive, linking several resources to the page, as well as adding more features to recognize distinguished OASIS projects.

·         The blog and Twitter account are being utilized to share day-to-day information with members and members are encouraged to share posts with KYSPRA to keep the blog updated and active. Kyspra.blogspot.com and @kyschoolpr on Twitter.

New Business:

·         Spring Professional Development: Wayne Walden led discussion about upcoming professional development opportunities. Based on feedback from the post-conference survey in the fall, it seems many members would prefer more regionally-based opportunities to limit travel time and costs. Wayne will be working to organize three to five one-day meetings with similar agendas to be held in areas across the Commonwealth. More details will follow regarding specific opportunities and registration.

Thanks to each of you for all you do for Kentucky schools.

Leslie McCoy

KYSPRA President, 2014-15

Board of Directors Agenda: February 6, 2015

Kentucky School Public Relations Association

Board of Directors

February 6, 2015, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Roux Restaurant: Louisville, KY

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Approve Minutes from November 12, 2014

3. Reports:

• Financial, Linda Salyer, Association Manager
• Membership, Linda Salyer, Association Manager
• Regional, Board Representatives
• Organizational (KDE, KSBA, KET)

4. Old Business:

• Fall Conference Wrap-Up, Cindy Williams & Linda Salyer
• Blog, Twitter Stats and Post Commitments, Leslie McCoy
• Redesign KYSPRA Website, Susie Hart & Committee

5. New Business:

• Spring Professional Development, Wayne Walden

6. Adjourn

Links: Kentucky Immunization Laws and Regulations

Vaccination requirements and parental choice are making local and national headlines. In Kentucky, immunizations are required for children enrolled in child care and schools, however the requirements do provide exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services website lists the most current certificates, schedules and requirements: http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/epi/School+and+Childcare.htm as well as a "cheat sheet" for quick reference.

The Kentucky Department of Education also provides immunization resources specifically directed to public schools. By law, current immunization certificates for all students should be on file at the school within the first two weeks of enrollment.