WHY BOONE COUNTY, KENTUCKY MATTERS TO EVERYONE
Where Public Corruption Is A Way Of Life For Democrats
Every now and then I take a deep dive into Boone County, Kentucky Politics. I do this for two reasons. First, I live here. Second, what happens in Boone County and Kentucky is more than likely happening where you are. After all, the old but enduring sobriquet of politics still rings true: All politics is local.
The general election is a mere three weeks away. Though the outcome in Kentucky and Boone County is predictable there is one ballot issue that is hotly contested, Amendment 2.
The language of Amendment 2 is simple and easily understood:
“To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?
“IT IS PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The General Assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186, and 189 of this Constitution notwithstanding.”
The reference to sections of Kentucky Revised Statutes are included so that voters understand that those sections cannot be used a means for preventing the General Assembly from approving financial support to the parents of private and parochial school students. Kentucky is one of only two states that has no provision for providing financial support to the parents of private and parochial school children. The other is North Dakota.
Amendment 2 is the hottest item on the ballot. Battle lines are firmly drawn and Surprise! Surprise! Those in favor of Amendment 2 are generally conservatives looking for a better education for their children and grandchildren or residents who understand the inherent unfairness of forcing parents who choose to send the children to private or parochial schools also being forced through their taxes to pay to support the state’s public education system. On the other side are a vocal group of teacher unions, teachers, and school administrators. That is where we have a problem.
On October 10, 2024 the Boone County Board of Education took a disparaging public position on Amendment 2 as well as toward those who support that Amendment and the Kentucky taxpayers who send their children to private and parochial schools.
This action by the full Board is in direct violation of Commonwealth law - a position clearly articulated by Commonwealth Attorney General Coleman on August 13, 2024. In an Advisory concerning the public debate over Amendment 2, AG Coleman wrote to "... remind those entrusted with the administration of tax dollars appropriated for public education that those resources must not be used to advocate for or against the Amendment. Despite AG Coleman's Advisory, Board Chairman Parks, Vice Chairman Brown and members Wolfe, Young, and Byrd approved a resolution which states in part:
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The Boone County Board of Education opposes any legislation or policy that would allocate state dollars to fund schools outside the common system of public schools..."
There is no doubt that The Boone County Board of Education elected by the people of Boone County, willfully ignored the Advisory of the Commonwealth's Attorney General and in so doing they violated KRS 65.013 which prohibits "...the use of tax dollars to campaign in support or opposition to the question."
The Board might claim that they were unaware of the law or the Attorney General's Advisory. But being unaware is not an excuse. As children, most of us learned that ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking the law.
The debate surrounding Amendment 2 is contentious enough and it is fraught with false information coming from both sides of the question. Nevertheless and despite the Attorney General’s admonition against taking a public stance one way or the other the Board has not only attempted to put its thumb on the scales but they also crossed another line. Here is another passage from the Board's resolution:
"WHEREAS, using state funds to support schools outside the common system of public schools diverts essential resources from public schools, weakening their capacity to effectively serve all students. This practice will also increase segregation based on socioeconomic status, race, and religion, thereby undermining the principles of equity and inclusivity that are fundamental to our public education system."(emphasis added)
The implication of the Board's language is unmistakable. According to the Board, existing private and parochial schools are practicing segregation based on race and religion. In other words, those of us supporting Amendment 2 are clearly racists and religious bigots and if the Amendment passes we will become more racist and greater religious bigots.
Even worse is that this resolution came from the State Board of Education which is under the direction leadership of our Governor, Andy Beshear who was briefly being considered to be Kamala Harris’ running mate. Make no mistake, we are not looking at just one rogue county Board of Education. It is the Governor using OUR Board of Education against us. I am most certain that all of you have seen this movie written and directed by Democrats. The bottom line here is that when the Republican Attorney General issued an Advisory warning our school boards to not engage in political activity they ignored him. It is, after all what we have come to expect from the democrat party in this country
Both the State’s Department of Education’s and the Boone County School Board’s illegal actions require a legal response. The Commonwealth General Assembly should take measures to impeach The State Superintendent of Schools and the entire State Board of Education as well as the Boone County School Board and they should be subject to a criminal investigation by AG Coleman. Unfortunately that won’t happen because the General Assembly didn’t attache a penalty to KRS65.013. But that is changing.
There is an alternative. Chairman Parks and the entire Boone County Board of Education can and should apologize to the People of Boone County and resign without delay. None of that is not likely to happen. But we can always ask for God’s Devine intervention. And we can most certainly appeal to the Commonwealth Attorney General and the General Assembly.
Who would have thought that one of the most powerful entities in Kentucky would be the Commonwealth’s Board of Education which is allowed to operate without accountability.
For my readers in Kentucky, Attorney General, Russell Coleman has invited you to contact his office on this matter at (502) 695-5300 or at www.ag.ky.gov/Contact-Us/.
Union, Kentucky
15 October 2024