FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has appointed the following members to the Kentucky Board of Education:

• Austin W. Moss, of Hopkinsville, will represent the First Supreme Court District. Since 1995, he has served as the Vice President of Human Resources at Jennie Stuart Medical Center. The appointment replaces Keith Travis, who has resigned. Moss shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term ending April 14, 2010.
   
• Dorothy “Dorie” Z. Combs, of Richmond, will represent members-at-large. She previously served on this board from June 2002 to April 2006. Combs is a professor in the College of Education at Eastern Kentucky University. The appointment replaces Janna Vice, whose term has expired. Combs shall serve for a term expiring April 14, 2012.
   
• Stephen B. Neal, of Louisville, will represent members-at-large. He is the executive director of the Jefferson County Teachers Association. The appointment replaces Bonnie Lash Freeman, whose term has expired. Neal shall serve for a term expiring April 14, 2012.
   
• Billy Harper, of Paducah, will represent members-at-large. He is the president and chief executive officer of Harper Industries, Inc., and a member of the McCracken County Board of Education The appointment replaces David Rhodes, whose term has expired. Harper shall serve for a term expiring April 14, 2012.
   
• Brigitte B. Ramsey, of Falmouth, will represent members-at-large. She is a public policy analyst for the United Way of Greater Cincinnati and a member of the Pendleton County Board of Education. The appointment replaces David Webb, whose term has expired. Ramsey shall serve for a term expiring April 14, 2012.

The Kentucky Board of Education has 12 members, with the governor appointing 11 voting members – seven representing the Supreme Court districts and four representing the state at large. The additional non-voting member is the president of the Council on Postsecondary Education. Members serve four-year terms and are not paid, but receive modest reimbursement for expenses and travel.

The Kentucky Board of Education develops and adopts the regulations that govern Kentucky’s 174 public school districts. While the board has legal authority to establish performance standards for local school districts and to mandate corrective actions, the board respects the local autonomy of each school district.

The Kentucky Board of Education regularly meets two days every other month, either at the Frankfort offices of the Kentucky Department of Education or at other locations across the state.

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