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Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on November 19, 2024, with a quorum present in person and by Zoom. The commission approved the October 8 minutes and received a budget report showing year-to-date expenditures remained within budget; both items were approved without opposition. Staff also presented and the commission approved the annual report for submission to the Legislative Research Commission by the December 1 statutory deadline, with minor edits suggested by the chairman. The chairman announced that Steven Pum had been selected as the new general counsel, with a start date of December 16, 2024. Staff also outlined upcoming training events: new legislator orientation on December 3, 2024, and a current issues seminar on January 8, 2025, featuring David Devilers, a former U.S. attorney who worked on the Ohio House Bill 6 corruption investigation. Members discussed the possibility of having a commission member speak at the orientation. Staff provided updates on a long-running technology replacement project for the lobbyist/employer database, online filing system, and searchable register, noting continued work with LRC and another meeting scheduled. The commission approved using Constant Contact for bulk email communications at a cost of $80 per month, based on LRC’s recommendation and security concerns. Staff also reported that the previously approved conference room technology upgrade was nearing completion, with only the camera remaining to be installed. At the end of the public session, the commission voted to go into executive session to discuss confidential complaints and informal opinions, and the motion passed without opposition.

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Summary: The commission returned to open session and stated for the record that discussions in closed session were limited to confidential complaints and that no final agency action was taken there. It then took up case 24-LEC-05, where a motion was made to find no reason to believe the respondent had committed or was about to commit a violation of the code and to dismiss the complaint under KRS 6.686(1)(d)(3). The motion was seconded, no discussion followed, and the complaint was dismissed by voice vote. After that action, the commission moved into another executive session under KRS 61.810(1)(f) to discuss personnel matters. The motion was made and seconded, and the commission approved entering executive session by voice vote.

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Summary: The meeting resumed from closed session with a statement for the record that the closed discussion was limited to personnel matters and that no final agency action was taken. The chair then moved to approve the hiring of Steven Pulum as general counsel under the terms discussed in closed session; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The group also discussed whether to move the December meeting from the 10th to the 17th. After brief discussion about holiday timing and the possibility of canceling the meeting if no pressing business arose, members agreed to keep the meeting on December 10, with the understanding that it could be canceled later if unnecessary. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved. The chair thanked members for their work and wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:19 Discussion of Recommendations 00:35, 958, all

Summary: The Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force met to wrap up its interim work and review the draft recommendations that will be forwarded to House and Senate leadership. Co-chairs and members repeatedly praised the task force staff and said the meetings produced a substantive, in-depth look at workforce issues across Kentucky. Several members said the recommendations reflected a broad range of testimony and ideas, and noted that the draft is not final legislation but a basis for future policy work heading into the 2025 session. Members discussed the value of hearing from a wide mix of presenters and emphasized practical approaches to getting more people back into the workforce, including thinking outside the box about populations such as people in recovery or involved with the justice system. Representative Poock urged the group not to stop at recommendations and to take action on them. Representative Frankie raised concern about the governor’s announcement at Keeneland rebranding Kentucky as “My New Kentucky Home,” saying it appeared to use taxpayer dollars without legislative input and expressing surprise that it had not been part of the task force’s work. The chair responded that the task force hoped for closer partnership and better communication with the executive branch going forward. After discussion, the chair asked for a motion to approve the memo containing the recommendations. A motion was made and seconded, and the committee approved it by voice vote. The chair then thanked the members and staff again and said he hoped the task force’s work would lead to fruitful policy outcomes.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:42 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:58 Approval of Minutes: 00:01:58 Deferred Compensation Authority Update/Housekeeping Proposal: 00:02:17 Actuarial Valuation Update Judicial Form Retirement System: 00:13:32 Kentucky Public Pensions Authority: 00:18:45 Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System: 00:41:22 Adjournment: 01:31:09, 958, all

Summary: The Public Pension Oversight Board met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard updates from several retirement systems. Kentucky Deferred Comp reported its 50th anniversary, growth in assets and participants, and the effects of auto-enrollment and targeted communications, including higher average deferrals and increased participant balances. It also outlined its 2025 legislative requests: codifying a fiduciary standard, expressly authorizing fiduciary liability insurance, adding a self-correcting mechanism to keep pace with federal tax-law changes, and authorizing a self-directed brokerage option. Auditor Ball raised concerns that the fiduciary language should be reviewed carefully because KPPA’s ESG-related language may not fit Deferred Comp’s structure; the presenter agreed to review it. Board members also praised the free certified financial planning service and the high retention rate among new hires. The Judicial Form Retirement System presented its actuarial results, explaining that as a smaller plan it does not do full funding valuations every year, but instead provides roll-forward GASB results in odd-numbered years. It reported that all four of its plans have a net pension asset on the Commonwealth’s financial statements and said a full funding valuation will be done in 2025 for use in the 2026 budget cycle. The board also received follow-up information on health insurance participation for LRP and JRP retirees, including monthly participant counts, premium costs, and the share paid by members. KPPA then reviewed its actuarial study and long-term funding target of 2049, saying all five funds showed improvement and that four of the five insurance funds are fully funded. The presentation discussed payroll growth, membership trends, investment returns, and the impact of supplemental funding and the Inflation Reduction Act on liabilities and rates. Members asked whether payroll growth is built into assumptions, and staff said CERS uses a 2% payroll assumption while KERS remains at 0%, though actuaries are reviewing the issue. Senator McDaniel questioned why contribution rates would be reduced when KERS is still only 56% funded; staff said the board will vote in December and any extra contributions would reduce the unfunded liability. The board also learned that sports wagering revenue is being deposited into the Permanent Pension Fund, which currently holds a little over $50 million and is awaiting legislative appropriation before it can benefit the plans. The meeting ended as TRS was called to present next.

Keywords: Roll Call 00:00:16 Approval of Minutes 00:02:56 Building Trades 00:03:05 Vintage Distilled Spirits 00:07:30 KY Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation Updates 00:16:35 Vaping Issues 00:40:31 Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy 01:07:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and observed a moment of silence for Senator Douglas’s brother, Charles. Chair Shively said the agenda was over-programmed and time limits would be enforced. The first presentation was from Brian Miller of the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky and the Enzweiler Building Institute. He described last year’s dual-credit career education bill and asked for legislation to let high school students in electrical, HVAC, and plumbing programs count internships or co-op work toward on-the-job training requirements, which he said would better align construction trades with other in-demand fields and help address Kentucky’s housing shortage. Committee members praised the program and indicated a bill would be sought for the next session. The committee then heard testimony on Vintage Distilled Spirits from Shannon C. Smith and Brad Bonds of Revival Vintage Bottle Shop. They thanked lawmakers for the existing law allowing purchase and resale of vintage spirits and said it had boosted tourism and business. They asked for changes to the 24-bottle-per-person annual cap, a waiver process for estate sales or other good-cause situations, and permission to ship vintage distilled spirits, arguing the current limits push sales to out-of-state or illegal secondary markets. Several members expressed support, noted the bill language had been shared publicly, and encouraged the witnesses to find a sponsor for next session. Jamie Eid, president and CEO of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation, gave an extensive update on racing, historical horse racing, sports wagering, and implementation of Senate Bill 299. She reported strong results for the Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and breeder incentive funds, including more than $48 million in added Thoroughbred purse money in 2023, over $20 million for Standardbreds, nearly $16 million from the Kentucky Breeders’ Incentive Fund, and nearly $300 million awarded across the incentive programs since inception. She also reported $9.6 billion wagered on HHR last fiscal year, $144.5 million in excise tax, and $2.6 billion wagered in the first year of sports wagering, producing $43.1 million in state excise tax. Susan Specker then outlined progress on SB 299 implementation, including transition committees, outsourcing finance and HR in the short term, a new organizational chart, procurement regulations, and planning for charitable gaming to join the corporation on July 1, 2025. Members praised the racing and wagering results, discussed concerns about Turfway’s racing experience and the future of charitable gaming in local halls, but no votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

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Summary: The committee met with a quorum for what was described as its final interim meeting. After approving the minutes, members reviewed three administrative regulations related to cannabis/hemp business licensing and related fees; all three were moved, seconded, and approved without opposition. The chair also noted the departure of Representatives Danny Bentley and Jacob Justice from the committee and thanked them for their service. A major portion of the meeting focused on the new LRC Office of Health Data and Analytics. Stephanie Bates, the office’s assistant director, explained that the office is intended to serve as a nonpartisan resource for the General Assembly on health-related issues, including Medicaid, by gathering and analyzing data and making recommendations. Members asked whether the office could also support health care providers and public health inquiries; Bates said the office is still being built, would likely handle requests on a one-on-one basis, and would develop data governance and structure over time. Co-Chair Meredith and others emphasized the office’s potential value while cautioning that it should not duplicate existing resources unnecessarily. The committee then received a detailed Medicaid program update from Commissioner Lisa Lee, CFO Steve Beckel, and staff. They outlined the department’s structure, enrollment, and spending: about 1.4 million members, more than 600,000 children, 485,000 expansion members, over 69,000 providers, and a 2024 combined administrative and benefits budget of $18.5 billion. Officials said enrollment has declined since the end of the public health emergency, but spending is rising because remaining members are higher-acuity, utilization is increasing, pharmacy and behavioral health costs are up, and directed payments and waiver rates have grown. They also explained that about 30.5% of the $14.3 billion managed care spend is tied to directed payment programs, including hospital, ambulance, and university programs, and noted a new trauma-center directed payment is pending CMS review under Senate Bill 280. Members questioned the budget growth, fraud/waste/abuse findings, and the impact of enrollment changes and high-cost drugs. The department said it would provide follow-up information on program integrity and more detailed spending breakdowns. Officials also announced that, due to recent court activity, Anthem will no longer be a managed care organization beginning January 1, 2025, reducing the number of MCOs from six to five; they described a transition plan to reassign members and avoid gaps in coverage.

Keywords: 00:00:00 Meeting Start / Roll Call 00:01:12 School District Audits 00:40:42 Department of Education, Director of Government Relations 00:45:56 Announcements / Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The task force met to hear from the Auditor of Public Accounts, Allison Ball, about the scope and status of the comprehensive Jefferson County Public Schools audit. Ball explained that the work is broader than the annual financial audits already conducted through SCHISA and is intended to revisit the 2014 comprehensive audit, which had 45 findings and more than 200 recommendations. She highlighted several past issues, including weak benchmarking and peer comparisons, high teacher out-of-pocket spending, and limited board understanding of the budget, and said the new audit will examine whether those recommendations were implemented and whether JCPS is using funds effectively. Ball said the audit is still in the RFP stage, is expected to be released July 1, 2026, and will be contracted out to specialists. The planned review includes finances, selected federal grants, administrative and teacher salaries, board oversight, safety, cybersecurity, complaint reporting and investigations, school security, bus safety, violence and discipline, mental health and social services, tutoring, attendance and dropout prevention, multilingual supports, curriculum, performance data, and related DEI issues. Members asked how the audit would overlap with KDE work, whether it could produce interim findings, and how deeply it would examine academic and sociological issues; Ball said some topics would be better addressed in the KDE audit, but JCPS-related academic effectiveness and curriculum cost/outcome questions are in scope. Several members also raised questions about follow-up on prior audit findings, the role of internal audit, and whether the review would consider recent transportation issues and school board structure. Ball said the audit would include prior recommendations and newer issues as appropriate, but she emphasized the need to remain neutral and avoid premature conclusions. No votes or formal actions were taken at this meeting.

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Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and spent most of the meeting recognizing veterans and hearing an update from USA Cares. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, followed by introductions of guests including a Pike County High School NJRTC group and newly elected Representative Adam Moore. The committee then honored Staff Sergeant Randy Weatherford with a citation and military coins for his Army service from 1976 to 1996, including overseas service in Germany and Korea and multiple decorations. It also recognized Major General John Tindle for 36 years of Army service and his continued work supporting veterans through organizations such as USA Cares. USA Cares then presented its annual update. Leaders said the nonprofit, founded in 2003, uses state funding to provide financial assistance and post-service support to veterans and their families, with a focus on reducing risk factors tied to veteran suicide. They reported that calls to the organization’s call center have increased from roughly 125-150 per week to about 250 per week, and that the first quarter of the current funding produced 188 payments and assistance to 48 Kentucky families. They described help with housing, utilities, food, car insurance, internet, and other expenses, and said the funding is helping keep families together, prevent evictions and foreclosures, and stabilize veterans in crisis. The committee also heard testimony from Timothy Johnson, a USA Cares client, who said the organization helped him secure housing, food, insurance, vehicle repairs, and stability after addiction and homelessness, and that the assistance improved his mental health and helped other veterans in his court seek help. USA Cares officials said Kentucky’s funding has allowed them to assist both pre- and post-9/11 veterans in the state, unlike in most other states. Members asked about cross-border referrals near Fort Campbell and about the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program in western Kentucky; USA Cares said it is expanding outreach, working with shelters, and has been approved to hire another staff member. The meeting concluded with a citation honoring USA Cares President and CEO Trace Chester upon his retirement, praising his Army service and leadership of the organization.

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Summary: The committee met for its final meeting of 2024, approved the October 23 minutes, and the chair recognized Senator Westerfield, Representative Raymond, and staffer Samir for their service. The main presentation was from the Division of Prevention and Community Well-Being, which described Kentucky’s child welfare prevention framework and its shift toward earlier intervention and community-based supports. Witnesses explained the division’s three levels of prevention: primary prevention for the general public, secondary prevention for families at higher risk, and tertiary prevention for families already involved with DCBS. They highlighted community collaboratives, parent engagement meetings in 22 counties, partnerships with schools, libraries, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, and the use of lived-experience families in program design. The division also described a new library collaboration and the Lean on Me initiative as ways to connect families to services in non-threatening settings. A major focus was secondary prevention and the Opt-in for Families initiative, supported by a $9 million, three-year Doris Duke Foundation grant. Under that effort, screened-out hotline referrals are routed to community agencies rather than DCBS when they do not meet the threshold for investigation, with current pilot sites in several counties and partners including Gateway Children’s Services and the Brighton Center. The division also discussed a developing Safe Care Community Connector for pregnant and postpartum parents, intended to link families to Kentucky Moms Matter and related supports before birth. The tertiary prevention portion covered Family First evidence-based services such as family preservation and reunification, Kentucky Strengthening Ties, Empowering Parents, Start, Multisystemic Therapy, Intercept, and High Fidelity Wraparound. Officials said these services use intensive in-home support, flexible funds, and quick access to treatment, with reported outcomes showing over 90% of children remaining in the home at closure for several programs. No votes or legislative actions beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes were taken.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:17 Approval of Minutes 00:02:15 Report on the projects considered for funding by the Agricultural Development Board 00:02:34 Early Childhood Advisory Council 00:35:20 Annual Update from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:47:34, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met in November, established a quorum, approved the September minutes, and received an update from the Department of Agriculture and related boards on September and October activity. The presentation highlighted the annual report required under House Bill 611, which was described as newly printed and to be distributed to all legislators. Members also welcomed Representative Pratt’s replacement, Tony Hampton, and heard a brief report on the recent National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs conference, where Kentucky’s agricultural finance corporation was noted as a national leader with about $140 million in assets. The committee reviewed several funded projects and programs. In September, the Development Board and Finance Board reported investments of $2.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively, including participation loans and county council site visits. Projects highlighted included Logan Premium Meats and Processing in Christian County, which received a $500,000 forgivable loan and a $5 million participation loan for expansion; Wonderlick Veterinary Services, supported through the large animal veterinary incentives program to purchase equipment; and a University of Kentucky Research Foundation extension program funded at $176,700 for one year. The committee also heard that the veterinary incentives program had approved 21 applications so far, with five pending. The October update focused on broader board activity, including $1 million in Development Board investments and $2.9 million from the Finance Board, a strategic planning session at Lake Barkley, a joint board meeting at Evans Orchard, and tours of agribusiness projects such as Perel’s Sausage. The boards also hosted the National Council conference in Kentucky, and members were told a future report would help guide the next generation of fund use. In addition, Hannah Johnson reported on the Women in Agriculture 25th anniversary conference, which drew more than 176 attendees, featured a proclamation of Kentucky Women in Agriculture Day, and recognized past leaders in the organization. No contested votes or major legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the reports.

Keywords: 1. Call to order and roll call: 0:00 2. Approval of minutes: 0:48 3. Staff report on Board of Cosmetology Oversight Functions: 1:10 4. Response from Board of Cosmetology: 32:54 5. Responses to committee member requests from the October 10, 2024 meeting: written information only but referenced at 1:02:47 6. Adjournment: 1:02:57, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, adopted the minutes, and received a staff report on oversight of the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. Staff described the board’s structure, licensing responsibilities, and three main problem areas identified in the review: structural issues, inspections and inspectors, and fines. They also explained that Senate Bill 14 created a conflict between statute and existing regulation on nail technician retesting and changed the standard for emergency orders, prompting recommendations to align regulations and clarify board policy. The report said the board lacks several internal policies and procedures, including clear guidance on emergency orders, appeals of fines, transfer of signature authority, handling unsolicited gifts to inspectors, and use of its mass communication system. Staff also noted the board has virtually no oversight of its decision-making, and that its complaint and disciplinary processes are handled internally with appeals only to Franklin Circuit Court. Recommendations included creating administrative appeal hearings, written policies for staff transitions and communications, and a continuing education review for possible regulation. On inspections, staff said the board is not meeting the required inspection frequency because of too few inspectors, relies heavily on complaint-based inspections, and has broad inspection procedures that can lead to inconsistent results. They recommended revising inspection standards, improving checklists and documentation, and creating formal training and complaint-review procedures for inspectors. On fines, staff reported that the board received about $374,000 in fine revenue that should have gone to the general fund, lacks a searchable tracking system, and issues fines with limited explanation or corrective direction. Recommendations called for returning improperly received fine revenue, tracking fines electronically, tying smaller fine ranges to specific violations, itemizing fines in orders, and allowing online payment. The new executive director reportedly agreed with the report’s conclusions, and no votes or formal actions beyond adopting the minutes were taken during the excerpt provided.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:09 Bourbon Builds Kentucky - The 25th Anniversary Rebrand of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail 00:02:30 Update on America’s 250th Celebration in Northern Kentucky 00:40:42 Introduction to the Kentucky Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority (KORRRA) and Proposed Amendments 00:52:30, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology convened with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard member introductions of guests, including a new Lexington-area representative and a member taking a departing legislator’s seat. The main presentation came from the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, represented by Jack Maserak and KDA president Eric Gregory, who thanked lawmakers for years of alcohol and tourism law changes that have helped modernize the industry and expand bourbon-related tourism. The KDA described major growth in Kentucky bourbon: from six distilling members in 2008 to 70 distilling members and 53 industry members today, with 86 distilling operations in 42 counties. Gregory said the industry now supports more than 23,100 jobs, $2.2 billion in payroll, $358 million in state and local taxes, and more than $500 million in exports in 2022. He also highlighted a $5.4 billion capital investment campaign and said bourbon tourism has become a major economic driver, with distilleries hosting over 2.5 million experiences in 2023. A large portion of the presentation focused on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s 25th anniversary and a rebrand that combines the legacy and craft trails into one experience. The KDA said the trail now has 46 distilleries, with 13 more approved to join in January, and is rolling out a new website, digital tools, regional trip-planning features, and a new logo to encourage visitors to slow down, stay longer, and explore more of Kentucky. The group emphasized that bourbon tourism attracts mostly out-of-state, higher-income visitors who stay several days and often discover new brands. Gregory also credited specific legislative changes, especially 2016 Senate Bill 11, for allowing distilleries to serve cocktails and develop more robust hospitality offerings. He noted continued work on responsible alcohol use, including ignition interlock efforts and a new college and university responsibility-education coalition, and said the KDA is now part of the World Spirits Alliance. No committee votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:54 Solutions to Population Challenges in Eastern Kentucky 00:01:30 Logan Aluminum Workforce Successes 00:39:10 Apprenticeship Programming for Kentucky’s Electrical Industry 01:19:31 Attracting Military Workforce 01:39:42, 958, all

Summary: The Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force approved the October meeting minutes and then heard a presentation from Colby Hall, executive director of Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOR), on population and workforce challenges in Eastern Kentucky. Hall said the region’s distressed counties have lost population since 1980, are aging faster than the national average, and are struggling to retain prime-age workers. He argued the region’s main issue is not simply unemployment from coal’s decline, but long-term joblessness and labor-force disengagement, and said the task force should focus on both attracting new residents and re-engaging local residents. Hall described two SOR efforts already supported by the General Assembly: EKY Remote, which uses a remote-work attraction model, and a federal Recompete grant effort. He said EKY Remote has drawn more than 4,400 expressions of interest, resulted in nearly 20 households moving in, and is estimated to have generated about $1.5 million in annual economic impact and $200,000 in direct tax contributions. He also said SOR received a $41 million Recompete grant, backed by $4 million in state matching funds, to help disengaged prime-age adults in 12 counties return to work through supports tied to health care, infrastructure, and remote work. Members asked about the role of Pikeville’s health care and higher-education assets, barriers to employment such as child care, housing, transportation, and the dignity of work, and whether grant funds could help advertise jobs or direct people to the Kentucky Career Center. Hall said health care is a major regional employer, that many workers are spread across large counties, and that SOR is working with career centers and workforce agencies to provide human supports and referrals rather than just job listings. He also said the infrastructure most likely to help in the near term is broadband and remote connectivity, while roads and water remain longer-term needs. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Keywords: 00:00:00 Meeting Start / Roll Call 00:00:53 Approval of Minutes 00:01:14 Effective School Board Practices in the Nations’ Great City Schools 00:58:42 Effectiveness and Efficiency of Kentucky School Districts 01:39:50 Strategies to Support Transformation in Urban School Districts 02:25:14 Announcements / Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The task force met, called the roll, approved the October 7 and October 21 minutes, and heard a presentation from the Council of the Great City Schools. Dr. Raymond Hart and AJ Krael described the council’s work with 78 large urban districts, including Jefferson County Public Schools, and said their focus is helping districts improve student outcomes through stronger governance, operations, and academic practices. They explained that their student-outcomes-focused goals and guardrails approach emphasizes board practices that align district work with community values and measurable outcomes. A major part of the presentation compared JCPS with Kentucky and other large districts using NAEP and other data. The presenters said Kentucky generally outperforms JCPS overall, but that when students are grouped by race and economic status, JCPS and the state are often similar, with differences driven more by poverty than race alone. They also said JCPS’s staffing ratios for teachers and administrators are close to Kentucky’s and to national medians for large districts, and that JCPS’s post-pandemic recovery on state assessments has been faster than the rest of the state. They stressed that large urban districts face higher levels of poverty, including abject poverty, which they said is a major factor in achievement gaps. Members asked about the causes of disparities, whether the council could share additional comparison slides, and whether outcomes should be measured by something other than standardized tests. The presenters said the council can provide more district-to-district NAEP comparisons and that boards should decide locally which outcomes matter most, which may include standardized tests, local assessments, or other measures. They said their work with JCPS has been underway for a little over a year and that they expect gaps to continue narrowing if the district keeps implementing best practices and focusing on student needs.