ELLIOTT, BLEDSOE INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF GOVERNANCE

ELLIOTT, BLEDSOE INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE 

KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF GOVERNANCE

FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 20, 2025)—Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, and Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, are spearheading legislative efforts to enhance governance at the Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD) through identical proposals in the Senate and House. The measures aim to improve the superintendent selection process and establish a task force to evaluate long-term governance options.

KSD was founded in 1823 in Danville. It was the first state-supported school for deaf children in the United States. Established by General Elias Barbee, whose daughter was deaf, KSD has been a cornerstone of deaf education for over two centuries.

Senate Bill (SB) 214 and House Bill 532 would strengthen the process for selecting KSD’s superintendent by requiring a search committee to be formed within 30 days of a vacancy. The committee would include representatives from the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Association of the Deaf, the KSD Alumni Association, KSD faculty, a parent, and a member of the KSD Advisory Board. Candidates would be prioritized based on their willingness to reside near the school and commit to full-time leadership. The bills would also establish a transparent hiring timeline and prevent current and former Kentucky Board of Education members or Department of Education employees from being considered for the role for one year after service. 

A separate measure, Senate Concurrent Resolution 76 and House Concurrent Resolution 28, proposes a Kentucky School for the Deaf Governance Task Force to examine whether the current governance structure best serves the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The task force would assess the feasibility of an independent board of education for KSD and explore opportunities to improve administrative oversight. The group would include eight legislators, individuals with backgrounds in deaf education, American Sign Language, and KSD faculty and parent representatives. Findings and recommendations would be presented to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1.

Elliott, who championed the effort during the 2024 Legislative Session, hopes to give KSD the tools it needs to continue its long-standing mission. 

“KSD has served generations of students, and we believe its governance and leadership structure should reflect the needs of the community it serves,” Elliott said. “This legislation and task force will allow us to take a thoughtful, informed approach to strengthening the school’s future.”

KSD provides its students with the linguistic, academic, social, and transitional skills necessary to achieve their full potential. Through these legislative efforts, Bledsoe and Elliott aim to ensure that the school remains a leader in providing quality education.

“These efforts are about more than just policy—they’re about making sure Kentucky’s deaf and hard-of-hearing students have the leadership and support they deserve,” said Bledsoe. “By improving how KSD selects its superintendent and taking a hard look at its governance structure, we’re ensuring the school remains strong, student-focused, and equipped to serve future generations.”

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Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, represents the 12th Senate District, including Boyle, Mercer, and Woodford Counties and part of Fayette County. She serves as vice chair of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee and the Senate Families and Children Committee. Additionally, Bledsoe is an ex officio member of various budget review subcommittees, including Health and Family Services; Education; Justice; General Government and Economic Development; and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. She co-chairs the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity statutory committee and is a member of the Licensing and Occupations Committee, the State and Local Government Committee, and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight statutory committee. In 2024, she co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Task Force and served on the 2024-26 Budget Preparation and Submission statutory committee.

Visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate112.jpg  for a high-resolution .jpeg of Bledsoe. 

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