As a member of the Covington Independent Schools Board of Education, I have the privilege and responsibility of advocating for our students, families, and community. This November, Kentucky voters are facing an important decision on Amendment 2, and I want to share why I’m voting NO and why I believe you should too.
Amendment 2 – What It Means for Our Future
Amendment 2 might sound like it’s about making positive changes, but in reality, it could severely impact the rights and freedoms of Kentuckians—especially our young people. As a school board member, my priority is to ensure that our schools are safe, equitable, and provide opportunities for all students to thrive. This amendment jeopardizes that mission by imposing unnecessary restrictions that could have long-term, negative consequences.
Protecting the Rights of Our Students and Families
One of my greatest concerns with Amendment 2 is that it could limit the rights of our students and their families. Education is about empowerment, and that includes teaching young people to think critically and advocate for their own rights. By voting "yes" on this amendment, we risk creating a constitutional framework that makes it harder to protect those very rights.
Undermining Local Control
Here in Covington, we understand the unique challenges and strengths of our community. Amendment 2 would centralize decision-making power in a way that could prevent local leaders—those who know our students and families best—from making the choices that serve us all. Our communities should have the flexibility to adapt and respond to local needs, not be bound by state mandates that don’t reflect the realities on the ground.
Our Duty as Stewards of Public Dollars
At the same time, we as public school stewards have an immense responsibility to be the ultimate stewards of the public dollars entrusted to us. Every dollar that comes into our schools is a precious resource for our students, and it’s our duty to ensure it’s used in the most effective, transparent way possible. But Amendment 2 doesn’t advance that goal—it does the opposite.
This amendment threatens to shift control and decision-making to the state level, creating unnecessary bureaucracy and inefficiency that could waste valuable resources. When we allow decisions about our schools and communities to be made far from home, we risk undermining our ability to make the most of the funds we receive. It is crucial that our local schools have the flexibility and autonomy to direct public dollars where they are needed most, without interference from state-level mandates that don't serve our students’ needs.
A Step in the Wrong Direction
We are at a critical moment in Kentucky, where we need to be moving forward, not backward. This amendment is a dangerous step toward limiting the progress we’ve made in creating inclusive, supportive environments for all Kentuckians, especially in our schools. I believe our state constitution should be a living document that reflects the values of fairness and justice. Issue 2, however, threatens those principles.
Our Schools Deserve Better
As a school board member, my commitment is to the students, families, and educators of Covington. I believe that Amendment 2 would undermine that commitment by limiting our ability to create policies that serve our community’s best interests.
That’s why I’m voting NO on Amendment 2—and I urge you to do the same.
Together, we can protect our community’s future. Let’s stand up for our schools, our students, and our shared values by rejecting this harmful amendment.
On Election Day, vote NO on Amendment 2—for the sake of Covington, our schools, and Kentucky as a whole.
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