In a continuing effort toward creating a collaborative culture, please find summaries of the Scott County Board of Education work session on February 4, 2016 and meeting on January 28, 2016. This is being forwarded to all employees and parents/community via e-communications. This is merely a summary and not to be perceived as official board minutes.
The Scott County Board of Education met on February 4, 2016 at 6:30pm at the Great Crossing Office Complex. Board members approved Lemons Mill Elementary School to write the 2015-2016 Kentucky Numeracy Project Intensive Plus Teacher Leader Mini-Grant. With this approval, the school can accept the grant if funded. With 16 students, numerous parents, and volunteer coaches in attendance, board members heard a presentation regarding a clay target league at Scott County High School. Student leaders sited the safety of the program as well as available scholarships and the opportunity to develop a lifelong pastime. Board members agreed with the importance of students being actively engaged and approved the SCHS Clay Target League.
In other business, board members approved contracts with KVC, Hospice of the Bluegrass, and bluegrass.org for counseling services for students. Members agreed that, in addition to these valuable partnerships, the mental health needs of students throughout the district must continue to be a topic for close consideration. The board also approved a common carrier to transport the Scott County High School Swim/Dive team to the regional competition due to a last-minute change of venue and the timing of the event.
Next board members approved the offer of assistance from SFCC if funded by the general assembly. This is part of the state-level budget process which requires an official notification of acceptance of approximately $285,000 for debt service. If funded, the money will be available after June 30, 2016.
Director of Facilities Mike Luscher discussed the Lemons Mill Elementary School Phase II fencing bid package with board members. Members requested to see the land contract to discern stipulations for fencing prior to taking action.
Director of Finance Randy Cutright was available for questions and clarification regarding the previous week’s presentation of the tentative budget. Local media made an increase in tax revenue sound definitive as a result of this presentation. The required tentative budget included various scenarios and trends regarding expenditures, revenue, and enrollment and was based on projections alone as the state budget has yet to be finalized.
The next meeting of the Scott County Board of Education will take place on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 6:30pm at the Great Crossing Office Complex.
Scott County Board of Education Meeting on January 28, 2016.
The Scott County Board of Education met on January 28, 2016 at 6:30pm at the Great Crossing Office Complex. KSBA Facilitator Tim Eaton was present to give board members an update of the Screening Committee search for a new Superintendent for Scott County Schools. Finalists will be presented to the Scott County Board of Education on February 23, 2016. Next steps include reference checks for the top five candidates.
Next, the board approved a resolution initiating the refinancing of series 2007 and second series 2007 school building revenue bonds before recessing the Scott County Board of Education meeting and convening a special-called meeting of the Scott County School Finance Corporation. A representative of Ross Sinclair was present. All bonds are issued by a finance corporation which facilitates long-term borrowing on behalf of a school district. This resolution, and the refinancing of the bonds as presented, will generate an interest savings for Scott County Schools but does not extend the terms of the bonds. It is estimated that approximately $1.2 will be saved over the life of the bond issues. This will also increase the district’s bonding capacity, though not by a significant amount. It will next be reviewed by the state bond oversight committee. The bonds will likely be sold by the end of March 2016. At this time the final amount saved will be determined. With the adjournment of the finance corporation meeting, the regular meeting of the Scott County Board of Education was reconvened.
Board members continued dialogue with architects from Sherman Carter Barnhart regarding Great Crossing High School. In summary, board members requested more information and cost analysis if the school was built on a different location on the site using as much available geotechnical information as possible. Members also wished to see cost savings if the square footage of the building is reduced primarily in hallways and teacher storage areas as well as a reduction of the size and specifications for a gymnasium which has been included as alternate in Phase I construction. Board Chair Haley Conway provided a list of corporate sponsorships of athletic facilities for a new high school in McCracken County and volunteered to pursue corporate funding for athletic facilities for Great Crossing High School. Other topics of discussion included use of the new high school facility as a stand-alone school for ninth grade as well as equity between the two high school programs with the opening of the second school.
Next, Director of Finance Randy Cutright presented the 2017 Draft Budget which the board must review prior to January 31st. Cutright’s presentation included projections and trends for expenditures and revenue as well as projected enrollment. No additional budget information has been made available from the Kentucky Department of Education beyond the overview provided in Governor Bevin’s recent State of the Commonwealth address. Board members recognized the hard work and dedication of Cutright and employees in the district’s Finance Department. The board will review the Tentative Budget by May 30, 2016.