Several Kentucky public school superintendents and other public education leaders came together in Erlanger Tuesday off school grounds and on their own time to warn the public about the harms of passing Amendment 2, the voucher amendment, which will appear on the ballot in November.
“This voucher amendment would siphon public tax dollars away from public districts across the commonwealth – not only in Kenton, Campbell, and Boone Counties – and starve students of critical resources they need to receive the best education possible and help us set them up for a lifetime of success,” said Matt Baker, Superintendent of Walton-Verona Independent Schools.
(Photo from Kentucky Center for Economic Policy)
Baker and other speakers cited research from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KyPolicy) that shows the enormous cost of diverting public money to private school vouchers in the commonwealth. If Amendment 2 is approved and the legislature passes a Florida-scale private school voucher program, it would cost $1.19 billion annually from the Kentucky state budget. That equals the cost of employing 9,869 Kentucky public school teachers and employees. (Read KyPolicy’s report: “The Impact of Diverting Public Money to Private School Vouchers in Kentucky”)
“If Amendment 2 passes, it will upend Kentucky’s constitutional commitment to public education and result in legislation that takes money from public schools to fund private school vouchers,” said Jason Bailey, Executive Director of KyPolicy. “No one knows the harms that will follow better than our public school superintendents.”
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Henry Webb, Superintendent of the Kenton County School District, said a private school voucher program will be so expensive because it will first subsidize families already in private school. “The recent experience of other states with voucher programs shows that 65% to 90% of voucher costs go to subsidize families already sending their children to private schools or planning to do so — a group whose average household income in Kentucky is 54% higher than public school families,” he said. “Providing vouchers to that group will easily cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars based on the number of Kentucky students already in private school.”
That money could be better spent on strengthening our public schools, said Chad Molley, Superintendent of Erlanger-Elsmere Independent Schools. “Instead of weakening our public schools by diverting funds to private interests, we should be investing in proven strategies — smaller class sizes, increased teacher pay, universal pre-K, and robust safety measures,” he said. “These are the kinds of investments that strengthen public education for everyone.”
The superintendents emphasized that they are using their own personal time and resources to educate Kentuckians on the harms that will follow if Amendment 2 is passed, and that they will continue to do so.
“There has and will continue to be a lot of money spent in the election about this issue, but it is imperative that voters know the facts when they head to the polls to vote,” said Webb. “Please continue to educate yourself on what Amendment 2 really is — a voucher amendment.”
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Wednesday, April 2, 2025 winning numbers for each game
Cash Ball
02-03-11-15, Cash Ball: 17
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Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Lucky For Life
18-22-35-36-43, Lucky Ball: 08
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 7-7-4
Midday: 4-8-6
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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 4-6-8-7
Midday: 9-9-5-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball
05-17-41-64-69, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2
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Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball Double Play
07-18-23-31-44, Powerball: 24
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
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The dust has settled on Mark Pope’s first season at Kentucky, and although it ended in disappointing fashion, I think most fans would agree it was a success. As hungry as Big Blue Nation is for the program to return to glory, Pope’s first squad provided some major highs, including an NCAA record eight wins over AP Top 15 teams and a return to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cats also became beloved by fans, a ragtag group assembled in a matter of weeks from mostly smaller schools through the transfer portal. They battled injuries and played with a chip on their shoulder and a genuine appreciation for the Kentucky jersey, guided by Pope, a former team captain and national champion. There were some lows (the loss to Tennessee in the Sweet 16, the loss to Arkansas in John Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena); however, Pope and the Cats infused the program and fanbase with some needed joy and hope for the future.
Work is underway on year two. While we wait to see what that looks like, I thought it’d be good to compare Pope’s first season to some of his coaching counterparts. Obviously, Kentucky’s reputation as a blueblood, the current state of the sport with the transfer portal and NIL, and the SEC’s strength this season are important variables, but Pope’s record stacks up pretty well.
As mentioned, the Cats tallied an NCAA record eight wins over AP Top 15 teams and made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019, all while dealing with injuries to several starters. Pope’s offense ranked in the top ten nationally throughout the year, and the Cats’ 341 three-pointers broke the school record for most in a season.
Nate Oats, Alabama (2019-20)
Final Record: 16-15 (.516) Regular Season Record: 16-15 SEC Record/Finish: 8-10 (9th) SEC Tournament: N/A (Canceled due to COVID) NCAA Tournament: N/A (Canceled due to COVID)
A former math teacher, Nate Oats came to Alabama after four seasons at Buffalo, where he led the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons, losing to Kentucky in the second round in 2018. His fast-paced, five-out offense has become one of the most successful in the sport (as evidenced by the Crimson Tide’s record 25 threes in the vs. BYU in the Sweet 16), but it took him at least one season to get his system in place.
Alabama went 16-15 in Oats’ first year in Tuscaloosa, losing four of its last six games. The NCAA Tournament was canceled that season due to COVID, but the Crimson Tide would have been on the outside looking in, barring a strong run in the SEC Tournament. Since then, Alabama has made the NCAA Tournament each season, reaching the Final Four in 2024 and the Elite Eight in 2025.
Bruce Pearl, Auburn (2014-15)
Final Record: 15-20 (.428) Regular Season Record: 12-19 SEC Record/Finish: 4-14 (13th) SEC Tournament: 3-1 (Semifinals) NCAA Tournament: Didn’t make field
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Pearl inherited an Auburn team that went 14-16 under Tony Barbee. He still had five months left on his show-cause order from his NCAA violations at Tennessee, so he wasn’t able to contact recruits during the summer recruiting period. The Tigers went 15-20 that season, losing to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament semifinals. In the decade since, Pearl has steadily built Auburn into a perennial power, leading the Tigers to two Final Fours (2019, 2025). The Tigers are the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s tournament and will face Florida for a spot in the national championship game on Saturday.
Mar 23, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden reacts during the first half against the Florida Gators in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Todd Golden, Florida (2022-23)
Final Record: 16-17 (.484) Regular Season Record: 16-15 SEC Record/Finish: 9-9 (8th) SEC Tournament: 0-1 NCAA Tournament: Didn’t make field (NIT First Round)
Golden succeeded Mike White, who left Florida for Georgia. It was a big step up for Golden, who had just led San Francisco to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. The Gators did not make the NCAA Tournament in Golden’s first season, finishing the season 16-17 with a loss in the first round of the NIT, but there were bright spots, including a win over No. 2 Tennessee.
Obviously, Florida’s been on the rise since then, winning 24 games in Golden’s second season and now reaching the Final Four in his third. A young coach with a very modern offense, Golden is a success story in the new age of college basketball.
Rick Barnes, Tennessee (2015-16)
Final Record: 15-19 (.441) Regular Season Record: 13-18 SEC Record/Finish: 6-12 (12th) SEC Tournament: 2-1 (Quarterfinals) NCAA Tournament: Didn’t make field
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Barnes came to Tennessee after being fired by Texas, where he spent 17 seasons. He replaced Cuonzo Martin, becoming the third coach in as many seasons for the Vols. It took a few seasons for Barnes to get rolling in Knoxville, but in his third year, he had Tennessee back in the NCAA Tournament, and the Vols have made it every year since (omitting 2020, when the tournament was canceled due to COVID). As we know, they’ve still never made it past the Elite Eight.
You know all about John Calipari’s history before taking the Arkansas job. After leaving Kentucky for Fayetteville, Calipari assembled a roster with one of the biggest NIL budgets in college basketball. The Razorbacks struggled to start SEC play, losing six of their first seven conference games, but the win over Kentucky in Rupp lit a fire under the squad, which made it to the Sweet 16, the furthest Calipari had gone since 2019. The turnaround was commendable, but given the resources, the jury is still out on whether the Cal era at Arkansas will be deemed a success.
Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey watches his team during their game against the Bellarmine Knights on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
There was nowhere for Louisville to go but up in Pat Kelsey’s first season. The Cards went from finishing last in the ACC in the previous two seasons under Kenny Payne to finishing second with an 18-2 conference record. They lost to Duke in the ACC Tournament championship and finished No. 10 in the AP Poll, even though they drew a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Creighton in the first round. Kelsey took home ACC Coach of the Year honors. The ACC was very weak this season, but there’s no doubt that Kelsey has the Cards on the right track — even if he lost his first game against Kentucky, 93-85 at Rupp Arena.
Mike Woodson, Indiana (2021-22)
Final Record: 21-14 (.600) Regular Season Record: 18-12 Big Ten Record/Finish: 9-11 (9th) Big Ten Tournament: 2-1 (Semifinals) NCAA Tournament: 1-1 (First Round – Started in the First Four)
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How about another blueblood that kept it in the family? In 2021, Mike Woodson returned to Indiana, where he played for Bobby Knight from 1976 to 80. In his first season, he led the Hoosiers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, where they lost to Saint Mary’s in the first round after beating Wyoming in the First Four. The Hoosiers went 2-6 against AP Top 25 opponents during the regular season but made it to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament, knocking off No. 1 seed Illinois in the process. A decent first year, but, as we know, Woodson’s run at Indiana ended in February 2025, when he stepped down after four seasons.
Nov 21, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer watches game action during the second half against the Bellarmine Knights at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Scheyer was tasked with the impossible: replacing Mike Krzyzewski. Obviously, three seasons in, he’s doing pretty well, leading the Blue Devils back to the Final Four, but even his first season could be considered a success. Scheyer brought in a top recruiting class and won the ACC Tournament, ultimately losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Tennessee.
In terms of a blueblood program with a lot of resources, Scheyer’s success is enviable, although he is still leaning on elite freshmen talent while the rest of college basketball is focusing on the transfer portal.
Bill Self, Kansas (2003-04)
Final Record: 24-9 (.727) Regular Season Record: 20-7 Big 12 Record/Finish: 12-4 (2nd) Big 12 Tournament: 1-1 (Semifinals) NCAA Tournament: 3-1 (Elite Eight)
So much has changed in college basketball since 2003 that it seems silly to include Self’s first year at Kansas in this exercise, but we’ve gotten this far, so why not? Self replaced Roy Williams, who left for North Carolina after the Jayhawks lost in the 2003 national championship game to Syracuse. In just his first season, Self led Kansas to a second-place finish in the Big 12 and the Elite Eight, where the Jayhawks lost to Georgia Tech.
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Since then, Kansas has won two national championships and has been the picture of sustained success — until recently. The Jayhawks, who were ranked No. 1 in the AP Preseason Poll, are coming off their second straight 10+ loss season, losing to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, their first first-round exit since Self’s third season.
Mark Pope’s 1st season at Kentucky compared to other coaches
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 2, 2025) — UK Innovate, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) and the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA) — an initiative of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corp. — will host a forum focused on the critical role of intellectual property (IP) in fostering innovation and regional economic development.
The event, Blueprints for Innovation: Intellectual Property in the Bluegrass State, will be 3-5:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at UK’s Gatton Student Center in Ballroom 212A.
The afternoon will feature a range of engaging discussions and presentations, providing valuable insights into the national innovation landscape and the importance of IP.
“For decades, innovative businesses including many in Kentucky have developed and maintained competitive advantage through protection of their technology with IP rights,” said Ian McClure, J.D., UK HealthCare vice president for innovation and UK Research associate vice president for research, innovation and economic impact. “Our ability to compete in fast-evolving technology markets as a region, and globally as a nation, relies significantly in the strength of our IP system, and I look forward to the insights that will be shared by local and national leaders on these important matters right here on our campus.”
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The event will include a fireside chat featuring U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who has sponsored bills in Congress to reform the patent system for stronger IP rights, and Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP, former undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and the former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Attendees will hear a national innovation perspective from Frank Cullen, executive director of C4IP.
“We’re excited to join UK Innovate and KYIPA to highlight how IP drives Kentucky’s growing innovation economy — from its thriving manufacturing sector to cutting-edge research at its universities — and supports entrepreneurship and job creation throughout the Bluegrass State,” said Cullen.
The key panel discussion of the event will bring together a group of experts, moderated by McClure, including:
Mandy Decker, chair of KYIPA and patent attorney with Stites & Harbison
Jeffery Langer, general counsel of Zoeller Co.
Terry Samuel, president of Kentucky Science and Technology Corp.
Raechelle Smalls, director, Invest Blue
Michael Murray, Spears-Gilbert Associate Professor of Law at the UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law
The forum will conclude with a Q&A session followed by a reception. You can register for the forum and find the full agenda online.
This event is free and open to anyone interested in the intersection of innovation and IP in Kentucky.
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About the Council for Innovation Promotion The Council for Innovation Promotion is a bipartisan coalition dedicated to promoting strong and effective intellectual property rights that drive innovation, boost economic competitiveness and improve lives everywhere.
About Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance KYIPA, an initiative of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and affiliated with the United States Intellectual Property Alliance, fosters an effective ecosystem and marketplace to facilitate the creation, protection and advancement of intellectual property in Kentucky. By serving as a connecting organization for statewide companies, organizations and innovators, KYIPA helps Kentuckians access, learn about and benefit from IP. Learn more at kyipa.org.
About UK Innovate UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky drives economic, societal and entrepreneurial growth from research discoveries. Through technology commercialization, healthcare innovations, corporate partnerships, social innovation and economic development, UK Innovate helps researchers and employees across UK Research and UK HealthCare accelerate their ideas into use. By connecting talent, research, corporate partners and community resources, UK Innovate works to move ideas into the world faster, where they can make the greatest societal and economic impact possible. Learn more: www.research.uky.edu/ukinnovate.
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