Lawrence County Board of Education Special Meeting &
2023-2024 Tentative Budget Work Session
May 30, 2023
LCHS at 6:00 PM
By Sarah Gauze
LC BOE PR director
The Lawrence County Board of Education held a special meeting at Lawrence County High School in the library on May 30, 2023, at 6:00 PM. Board members Jim See (Chairman), Maddlene Roberts (Vice Chair), Garnett Skaggs, Barbara Robinson, and Susie Rice were all present in person.
The meeting was called to order by Mr. See. The first order of business was the communication/Superintendent’s update. Dr. Fletcher discussed the opening days of LC School summer school programs, which are scheduled to last for two weeks. The football field turf delivery is scheduled for June 5th, 2023. LCHS held wonderful ceremonies for their student awards and graduation. There are several employees currently retiring from the LC School District.
- LC School District: Ms. Janice Salyer
- BES: Sandy Edwards
- FES: Paul Chapman
- LCHS: Scott Osborn, Pam Puryear, Kim Cecil, Dave York
- LEES: Loretta Workman, Johnda West, Erica Parsons, Sherita Akers
- LMS: Tammy Borders, Pat Tate
- LWES: Belinda Webb
In the student learning and support services, the PSST annual Custom Check Template Service costs $479 in contracts and services were approved.
The annual football helmet reconditioning with Continental Athletic Supply was approved for $5,496.67.
The DC Elevator service with annual price increases on June 1, 2023, for LCHS (+ $5.75), FES (+$5.75), and LMS (+ $11.50) was approved. These amounts will be added to the current total amounts for each school per school year.
There is an out-of-state school trip requested for the LCHS FFA to Washington, D.C. for the FFA National Leadership Conference from June 20-24, 2023.
A use of facilities request was approved for the LC Tennis Courts to be used by the LC Fair Board for a pickle ball tournament and food vendor, pending insurance.
The LC Board approved the first reading of a revised policy for the 06.5 Use of Buses by Outside Groups/Transportation. Last summer a need arose for the use of school buses, however, the current policy did not allow for outside group use. Ms. Prince has been working on a new proposal that allows for the outside use of buses and the leasing of the buses to be used by these outside groups. This policy is currently being used in Nelson County, KY. The LC Board Attorney, Mr. Shaw, will continue working on this policy.
They also approved to acknowledge the review of the revised procedures and recommendations for certified and classified employment.
In construction, building, and grounds projects/updates, the LC Board approved the repairs to the BES and FES wastewater treatment plants.
The LC Board approved a temporary surface agreement between LC Schools and Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC for federally mandated line inspections near LEES.
A lone bid was presented and awarded to First State Bank of Louisa for LC Schools banking and depository services.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was approved for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program (Dollywood Foundation), pending legal approval. This program will allow Lawrence County residents’ children, ages 0-5 years, to receive a free book each month through the mail. Participants will sign up for the program once the contract has been completed and approved between LC Schools and the Dollywood Foundation.
The LC board approved a MOA with the 2023-2024 UK Next Generation Scholars Dual Credit Program. LCHS students utilize this program by taking social studies and US history courses through the University of KY for dual credit purposes. The LC Board also approved a membership agreement between the LC School District (Food Service) and Gordon Food Service. The membership dues are $3,275 per year. Mr. Burns discussed that being a member would allow for district savings, which far exceed the membership amount.
Dr. Fletcher gave an overview of the 2023-2024 Tentative Budget Work Session. He discussed that LC Schools is always seeking to manage a fiscally responsible budget. Currently, LC Schools has nearly $8 million dollars of grant monies invested for the future building of the new vocational building, greenhouse, and LCHS renovations. The grant money was invested to gain additional monies to offset the current inflation costs of materials and labor.
Through ESSER funding, the district has purchased seven new buses, offered three consecutive years of summer school, and offered two consecutive years of universal preschool. ESSER funding, in the amount of nearly one million dollars, was used for the purchase of textbooks for all subjects and grades throughout the district. The ability to utilize the ESSER funding has allowed the LC Schools general fund to be spared from these necessities. ESSER funding was also allowed to be used for a one-time $750 payment in Dec of 2021 to all district employees.
The LC School District is also working on the LC Softball Facility and the LC Football turf projects.
The LC Board has provided financial assistance toward the final completion of the JROTC obstacle course, academic team t-shirts, and LC teams’ state tournament needs.
The LC School District allots funding for safety, including for SRO’s (School Resource Officers), school building surveillance cameras, and buzz-in systems.
In summary, the LC Schools are diligently working to keep moving forward toward an overall enhanced education, safety, and facilities upgrades.
Dr. Fletcher also explained that the LC School District may face funding shortages in the upcoming school year due to a decline in attendance.
He discussed there may be legislative measures in the works, that if implemented, could possibly stabilize the shortage. One measure is the discussion of moving from Average Daily Attendance (ADA) to Average Daily Membership (ADM). However, members of the KY legislative body have announced concerns that KY Schools may not continue to prioritize daily attendance with a change over to the ADM program. Another legislative measure is the prospective continuation of the state funding of the full-day Kindergarten program. If the state continues to fully fund this program, that will provide less strain on LC Schools’ general fund.
Ms. Brandi Peters, LC Finance Officer, gave the LC County Schools 2023-2024 Tentative Budget Update. Ms. Peters disclosed that 2% is required within the contingency fund, however, LC Schools is currently higher at 3.7%. This allows for security if ever funding issues should arise. She discussed the other budget projections, revenue and general fund balances.
The meeting entered an Executive Session for the purpose of Student Discipline/Expulsion Hearings. All people not involved in the hearing exited the meeting room.
The Executive Session was adjourned, and the LC Board of Education Special Meeting was reconvened.
The LC Board approved the resolution to authorize LC Superintendent, Dr. Robbie Fletcher to take necessary steps to support the Council for Better Education (CBE) in the legal challenge to the constitutionality of House Bill 9, the payment of appropriate dues/assessments related to the school districts membership in CBE or its support of the referenced legal challenge.
The board also approved a motion concerning social media litigation of the damages because of social media platforms’ harmful content
The LC Board also approved a motion to allow the next steps in the recall process as it relates to the double-nickel tax. Chris Jobe, LC Clerk, validated the document’s signatures and certified the petition.
There are four avenues the board can proceed toward in relation to the double-nickel tax. They can repeal the resolution, choose to hold a special election within 30-45 days, add it to the general election ballot, or challenge the findings. The board felt the findings were accurate. There was a conversation about not wanting to spend $30,000-$40,000 on holding a special election. A motion was approved to add the double-nickel tax to the general election ballot.
There was a discussion that there is false information about the tax circulating throughout the community. The double-nickel tax will only apply to property tax. It would not apply to utility, automobile, or any other type of tax.
The LC Board approved a motion for the creation, abolishment, and or changes regarding positions. There was a motion to approve receipt of the Superintendent’s Personnel Action/Update, which was approved. The meeting was then adjourned.
The next Regular School Board Meeting will be held on June 19, 2023, at the LCHS library at 6:00 PM. A Special LC School Board meeting will be held on June 21, 2023, at 6:00 PM. All residents are always invited to attend the Lawrence County Board Meetings to become aware of the issues affecting our students and schools. The meetings may also be viewed virtually through the public viewing link. A copy of the most recent Lawrence County Board agendas & meetings may be found on the current Lawrence County District webpage at www.lawrence.k12.ky.us.
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At last month’s meeting — (Official minutes of meeting(s) coming soon…
In a more simple way to interpret this taxes going up this fall.
But….they’ll have a beautiful football field with some of the money used out of the general fund…Hmmmm
Can you say wasteful?
Can you say “Don’t know what you’re talking about”?
But ole Joe I do.. ask any member of the petition committee. They were at the meeting when the board finally admitted to it. The guy that works for Chris Rose ask the question. The board admitted it.
Wonder if the social media content has anything to do with bus drivers playing in bars on school nights and looking under the influence while driving home? Also seen during the school day slumped over the steering wheel in between runs? How well does that represent “All in LC”
I want to build the next dressing room for LCHS. Hopefull a half million profit.
With an anticipated shortfall, is now a good time to sign on for the Dolly Parton book program? It will cost over $40,000 within 5 years. As an avid reader, I think it’s a wonderful program but I have to question the timing. I thought saving money was discussed at an earlier board meeting 🤷🏻♀️