This story was written by Lia Salvatierra, our new Education Reporter. Find more of Lia’s reporting here. Do you have an NKY education story? Email lsalvatierra@linknky.com.
Between all 13 school boards in Northern Kentucky there’s no shortage of decisions and discussions taking place each week.
That’s where I come in, as LINK nky’s new education reporter, to keep an eye on and highlight some of the most notable actions from your local school board, and prime you for upcoming meetings, like a special meeting of the Boone County Schools Board of Education tonight to hear public input on the district’s proposed tax rates.
Here’s my first weekly roundup of a handful stories from school board meetings at Dayton, Newport, Covington and Walton-Verona independent school districts last week.
Dayton Independent Schools may sue social media mammoths
Aug. 26 regular board meeting
Dayton Independent Schools has opted to participate in a multi-district lawsuit against social media giants seeking damages for the platforms’ negative impact on youth mental health.
The decision comes a few months after Kentucky’s Breathitt County School District settled for $27 million against the owners of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube — one of the first to reach a settlement out of 1,300 school districts suing those companies nationwide.
That is separate from another $17.1 billion multi-state lawsuit settlement agreement reached this week against Meta, of which the Commonwealth of Kentucky will receive a $358 million share.
The Dayton Board of Education authorized a combined three law firms to file a civil action lawsuit on behalf of the district during an Aug. 26 meeting.
Those firms are Hendy Johnson Vaughn, P.S.C., Schroder and Schroder, PLLC and DeMarcus Law, PLLC. According to the approved fee agreement, the three firms will keep a third of whatever damages the district recovers.
Dayton Superintendent Rick Wolf told LINK nky the school board attorney brought the lawsuit to his attention.
A resolution approved by the board Tuesday to join a suit claims social media companies knowingly harmed and addicted youth mental health via its platforms.
Resolution language argues school districts are now responsible for increased mental health issues, as one of the “main providers of mental health services for school-aged children in the community.”
“The School District believes it is entitled to compensation for its efforts and resources expended to address and treat the mental health issues caused by social media,” the resolution reads.
During the Aug. 26 meeting, the board also officially adopted previously proposed property tax rates of 91.5 cents on real property and 112.8 cents on personal property, which will generate 4% more revenue than last year.
Newport Independent Schools adopts new social-emotional learning curriculum
Aug. 26 regular board meeting
Newport Independent Schools is adopting a new social-emotional learning curriculum proven effective in urban school districts.
Called CharacterStrong, the curriculum builds on Newport Elementary School’s social-emotional learning framework, adding content geared toward older kids.
For example, the curriculum incorporates role models such as sports celebrities to teach character atrributes the curriculum encourages, like perseverance.
During an Aug. 26 meeting, Newport Board of Education Chairperson Ramona Malone asked if the new curriculum was designed to curb bullies.
The new curriculum follows a school year during which district-wide bullying and harassment cases more than doubled than the previous year, according to reporting by WCPO.
Newport Intermediate School Principal Dr. Alexandria Watkins said the curriculum does include tools to address those behaviors.
Watkins said she selected the curriculum based on high ratings from a national social emotional learning nonprofit — and because it was one of a few available frameworks proven to work for urban school districts.
Board members asked Watkins to track and present success metrics for implementing the new program through quarterly reports.
Covington Independent Schools proposes to lower tax rates, generate more revenue
Aug. 27 regular board meeting
Covington Independent Schools has proposed to lower its property tax rates, while still generating 4% more in revenue than last school year.
The district is proposing to lower its rate for real property from 95.1 to 86.8 and keep its rate for personal property at 96.8.
That translates to $868 in tax revenue for every $100,000 in real property down from $951 and $968 for every $100,000 in personal property.
The Covington Board of Education voted to propose those rates during an Aug. 27 regular meeting.
Under new state rules, districts must propose and advertise rates for two weeks before the board can officially adopt them at a public hearing.
Board of Education Chairperson Tom Haggard asked the district’s finance director, Annette Burtschy, if it would be possible to take a smaller revenue hike, such as 2% or 3% over last year.
Burtschy told the board that a 4% revenue increase is necessary, based on what she’s seen while designing the budget so far.
Covington Superintendent Cortnei Flucas, who joined the district in July, said her understanding is that the additional funds are needed to backfill expenses that were previously covered with one-time pandemic relief funding.
Burtschy also said the increase in local dollars is necessary to recoup a decrease in state funding.
Under the state’s school funding formula, higher property values reduce state funding and lower property values increase state funding. Other factors like attendance also play into the formula and determine the district’s final share of state funding.
Find more detailed information on how school property taxes work here.
Walton-Verona Independent revises out-of-district tuition policy
Aug. 25 regular meeting
Walton-Verona Independent School District is simplifying its process for enrolling out-of-district students.
Under a revised policy the district would admit tuition-paying students on a rolling basis, rather than requiring those students to enroll before the first two weeks of school.
Walton-Verona Superintendent Dr. Dylan Smith told LINK nky that under the current policy, tuition-paying students could enroll mid-year, but that the process required extra steps.
The board approved a first reading of the revised policy at an Aug. 25 meeting.
Next week in meetings
Boone County Schools
When: Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.
Where: Ralph Rush Professional Development Center at 99 Center Street Florence, Kentucky 41042
What: Special meeting to hear public comment on the district’s proposed tax rates.
Bellevue Independent Schools
When: Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.
Where: 125 North St, Bellevue, OH 44811
What: Special meeting followed by working meeting on the district’s budget.
Find meeting details here.
Fort Thomas Independent Schools
When: Sept. 4 at 4:30 p.m.
Where: 28 N Fort Thomas Ave Unit #28, Fort Thomas
What: Working meeting, no action scheduled.
Find meeting details here.
Agendas must be posted at least 24 hours before a meeting.
Lia Salvatierra is a journalist with Report for America, a service program that helps boost coverage of underreported topics and areas throughout the United States. To help LINK nky continue to provide this kind of reporting, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.
