Maintaining a Quality Education at Kentucky School for the Blind

WHEREAS the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) has served as the premier educational facility for young blind citizens of Kentucky since its inception in 1842; and

WHEREAS: The Kentucky School for the Blind was designated the Statewide Educational Resource Center on Blindness and Visual Impairment by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for students birth to 21; and

WHEREAS: The lack of leadership, sound decision-making, communication, and supervision by Kentucky Department of Education and the Principal at the Kentucky School for the Blind are lacking in their ability to oversee a positive work environment for employees and an educational environment for the students to say the least; and

WHEREAS: These deficiencies have caused considerable disruption in the education of students at Kentucky School for the Blind resulting in teachers and other support staff expressing beliefs of not being recognized as professionals in the field of blindness and visual impairment; and

WHEREAS: This lack of consideration of one another as peer professionals has led to low morale and trust issues between the administration, teachers and other support staff; and

WHEREAS: These issues continue to spiral well out of control causing several well qualified and dedicated teachers and staff to file grievances with Kentucky Department of Education and others to resign from their positions at the Kentucky School for the Blind deciding to take their talents and skills elsewhere; and

WHEREAS: Even when the concerns of parents are voiced, no action takes place: now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED: In convention this 13th day of October 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky that the Kentucky Department of Education take immediate action to resolve these issues which create a hostile atmosphere that negatively impacts the education of the students at the Kentucky School for the blind; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a Committee of stakeholders selected by their constituencies should be appointed no later than November 15th, 2018 to provide guidance, support and recommendations to Kentucky School for the Blind and Kentucky Department of Education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Kentucky School for the Blind Site Based Decision Making Council be reinstated immediately to provide input by teachers and parents to the day-to-day operation of instruction and extracurricular activities at Kentucky School for the Blind.