Berea Independent
June 16, 2025 7:00 PM
BEREA INDEPENDENT BOARD OF EDUCATION
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I. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
II. COMMUNICATION
II.A. Board Report
II.A.1. Superintendent Report
Rationale

See Board Policies 03.131-03.1313 "The Superintendent shall make all appointments, promotions, and transfers of certified personnel for positions authorized by the Board and, at the first meeting following the actions, shall notify the Board of same. Such notification shall be recorded in the Board minutes."

II.A.2. Financial Report
Attachments
II.B. Audience Comments
III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approval of the agenda as written was passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Mr. Tom McCay.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
IV. BUSINESS/CONSENT ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approval of the Business/Consent Items for Board Consideration passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Mr. Tom McCay.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
IV.A. Minutes
Rationale

Approve the minutes of the board meetings on May 19, 2025. Requested by Christine Knight, Secretary, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

Attachments
IV.B. Financial Reports
Rationale

Approve the financial reports of the Elementary, Middle School, High School, Food Service and General Fund, including the Orders of the Treasurer. Requested by Nathan Sweet, Finance Director, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

Attachments
IV.C. Exceptional Children's Contracts
Rationale

Approve the Exceptional Children's Contracts with Bluegrass Speech Therapy, Hands on Therapy, and Karen White for TVI Services. Requested by Jennifer Whitt, Exceptional Children's Director, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

IV.D. BCHS Physical Science Position
Rationale

 Create/ratify .55 Physical Science position at BCHS. Requested by Kelly Caldwell, High School Principal, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

IV.E. District Funding Assurances 2025-2026 School Year
Rationale

Approve the following Federal and State Compliance Agreements for the 2025-2026 school year:  As Superintendent of the Berea Independent School District, I declare that all the schools in our district (including private schools receiving funding from our district) are in compliance with all of the assurances listed in the Assurances document.  All pertinent information related to these assurances is available for review at the district’s central office.

Attachments
IV.F. 2025-2026 Activity Account Budgets: BCES, BCMS, and BCHS
Rationale

Approve the Activity Account Budgets for BCES, BCMS, and BCHS for the 2025-2026 school year.  Requested by Kimberlee Coyle, BCES Principal, Casey Poynter, BCMS Principal and Kelly Caldwell, BCHS Principal, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

 

Attachments
IV.G. MOA- Personnel
Rationale

This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is entered into, by and between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Education ("the Commonwealth") and Berea Independent Board of Education ("the Contractor") to establish an agreement for an Educational Recovery Leader position (Kimberlee Coyle). This MOA is effective from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. 

 

This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is entered into, by and between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Education ("the Commonwealth") and Berea Independent Board of Education ("the Contractor") to establish an agreement for a Continuous Improvement Coach position (Jennifer Donnelly). This MOA is effective from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. 

 

This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is entered into, by and between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Education ("the Commonwealth") and Berea Independent Board of Education ("the Contractor") to establish an agreement for a Continuous Improvement Coach position (Paula Johnson). This MOA is effective from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. 

V. BUSINESS/ACTION ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION
V.A. Second Reading: Approval of Policy Revision: (Certified) Holidays 03.122
Rationale

Approve the second reading of the proposed changes to Policy 03.122, adding Memorial Day as a holiday for staff with 210 or more days of employment and adding the Exception clause. Requested and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

Attachments
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approve the second reading of the proposed changes to Policy 03.122, adding Memorial Day as a holiday for staff with 210 or more days of employment and adding the Exception clause passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Ms. Sarah Rohrer.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
V.B. Second Reading: Approval of Policy Revision: (Classified) Holidays 03.222
Rationale

Approve the second reading of the proposed changes to Policy 03.222, adding Memorial Day as a holiday for staff with 210 or more days of employment. Requested and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

Attachments
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approve the second reading of the proposed changes to Policy 03.222, adding Memorial Day as a holiday for staff with 210 or more days of employment passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Ms. Sarah Rohrer.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
V.C. Renewal of Insurance Coverage - Property Insurance, Workers Compensation, Student Accident, Cyber Insurance
Rationale

Approve the renewal of the insurance package through our Agent of Record (Linville Insurance Agency) with policies written by Liberty Mutual, KEMI, AG Administrators (approximately $227,007.11).  Requested by Nathan Sweet, Finance Director, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

 

 

Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approve the renewal of the insurance package through our Agent of Record (Linville Insurance Agency) with policies written by Liberty Mutual, KEMI, and AG Administrators (approximately $227,007.11) passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Ms. Sarah Rohrer.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
V.D. Annual Policy Updates
Rationale

Approve the first reading of the policy updates as presented.  Requested and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

Attachments
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approve the first reading of the policy updates as presented passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Mr. Tom McCay.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
V.E. Employee Handbook and Substitute Teacher Handbook
Rationale

Approve the changes to the Berea Independent Schools Employee Handbook and Substitute Teacher Handbook.  These changes are at the recommendation of the Kentucky School Board Association. Requested by Nathan Sweet, Director of Operations/Finance/Human Resources, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

Attachments
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approve the changes to the Berea Independent Schools Employee Handbook and Substitute Teacher Handbook passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Dr. Jacqueline Burnside.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
V.F. Salary Schedule 2025-2026 School Year
Rationale

Approve salary schedules for the 2025-2026 school year.  Requested by Nathan Sweet, District Finance Officer, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.

Attachments
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approve salary schedules for the 2025-2026 school year passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Mr. Tom McCay.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
V.G. Capital Funds Request
Rationale

The General Assembly continues to allow flexibility in the use of school district capital funds without forfeiting the district’s eligibility to participate in the School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC) program.  To exercise that flexibility, a district must submit a Capital Funds Request (CFR). The attached list of items for consideration will be subject to KDE approval of a request to transfer up to $407,880 from the district's capital outlay fund to the general fund. Requested by Nathan Sweet, District Finance Officer, and recommended by Dr. Elmer Thomas, Superintendent.
 
 KRS 157.420(7)   
"Upon approval of the commissioner of education, these funds may be used for school plant maintenance, repair, insurance on buildings, replacement of equipment, purchase of school buses, and the purchase of modern technological equipment, including telecommunications
hardware, televisions, computers, and other technological hardware to be utilized for educational purposes only."

 

 

Attachments
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approve requesting any/all of the listed items for transfer via KDE's CFR procedure passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Mr. Tom McCay.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
VI. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Actions Taken

Motion Passed:  Approval to adjourn the meeting passed with a motion by Mr. Nathaniel Hackett and a second by Ms. Sarah Rohrer.

Member Votes
Dr. Jacqueline Burnside Yes
Mr. Nathaniel Hackett Yes
Mr. Tom McCay Yes
Mr. J. Morgan Yes
Ms. Sarah Rohrer Yes
VIII. 2025 Meeting Schedule
Rationale

All meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Theater except for work session meetings and those noted which will take place in the Central Office.

 

2025 Meeting Schedule

Monday, January 27, 2025                   Kennedy Theater

Monday February 17, 2025                  Kennedy Theater

Monday, March 17, 2025                      Kennedy Theater

Monday, March 31, 2025                     Kennedy Theater (Special Called Meeting)

Monday, April 14, 2025                       Central Office (Special Called Meeting--8 AM)

Monday, April 21, 2025                       Kennedy Theater

Monday, May 19, 2025                        Kennedy Theater (Special Called Meeting--6:50 PM)

Monday, May 19, 2025                        Kennedy Theater

Monday, June 16, 2025                       Kennedy Theater

Monday, July 21, 2025                        Kennedy Theater

Monday, August 18, 2025                    Kennedy Theater

Monday, September 15, 2025              Kennedy Theater

Monday, October 20, 2025                   Kennedy Theater

Monday, November 3, 2025                Central Office (Assessment – Work Session)

Monday, November 17, 2025               Kennedy Theater

Monday, December 15, 2025               Kennedy Theater