Members of the public may address the Board during the period set aside by the Board without submitting an item for the agenda. No action shall be taken during this portion of the meeting on issues raised by employees or the public unless deemed an emergency by the Board. Please note: Comments are asked to refrain from personal remarks in which an individual is named. Comments are limited to two minutes unless extended by the board chair. Critical comments or complaints are processed through the District’s complaint procedures. Questions and concerns will be addressed by the Board through various venues, including, but not limited to, the district website and e-mail.

The Kentucky School Boards Association provides updates on the legal policy amendments that must be made to our policies annually.  These amendments are based on changes with the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS), the Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR) and legal opinion.

These policy amendments were reviewed by district departments.

This is the first reading for these policy amendments, final reading will be on June 22, 2023 Regular Board meeting.

• C17_POL_First Reading 6.8.23.pdf

The 2023-2024 school calendar is being amended to count for LEAP year in 2023-2024.  The committee overlooked 2024 has a LEAP year.  Last day for students will now be May 30, 2024 and closing day for staff will May 31, 2024.

• Amended 23-24 School Calendar Summary Leap Year

• CIPS Strategic Plan 2023-2028 (G&O only)

The proposed rules outline proper use of the space for community use at Latonia Elementary. 

• LATONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Community Garden Rules(2821300.1).pdf

The proposed Memorandum of Understanding outlines a partnership with Covington Independent Public Schools, Latonia Elementary and Latonia Uptown to manage the outdoor garden space.

• LATONIA ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY GARDENS MOU(2848113.1).pdf

1. Donations are defined as gifts of real or personal property to the school from persons or entities outside the school system for use at the school or for the students of the school.
2. Local boards shall receive any gift for the benefit of schools in the district and hold and use them as requested, provided that the purpose for which it is used shall be in harmony with the aims and general program of public education in this state. Schools receive contributions and donations from a variety of sources, including external support/booster organizations. Boards should ensure the purpose of the contributions and donations is clear and the donor and school staff all understand and agree upon the purpose for which the funds will be used.
3. However, the local board may give the responsibility for the donations to the schools by establishing a policy allowing schools to maintain their own donations. If the board allows donations to be kept at the school level, the principal and/or bookkeeper shall produce a listing of donations for submission to the school board at year-end.
4. The Donation Acceptance Form (Form F-SA-18) shall be completed stating the purpose of and any restrictions on the funds received. A donation acknowledgement should be sent to the donor.
5. Cash donations to the school for a specific purpose (restricted purpose) shall be maintained in a separate activity account and expended as indicated by the donor as long as the board has approved a policy for the donation to be maintained at the school level. Tracking this balance as a separate account with proper supporting documentation for expenditures will reflect that the donor’s wishes were met.
6. Cash donations to the school for general use (unrestricted purpose) shall be deposited in a general account as long as the board has approved a policy for donations to be maintained at the school level. The principal and SBDM council will decide the use of these donations. These donations must be used to support student activity.
7. Equipment or other property donations to the school will remain at the school and be included on school inventory records and become the property of the local board. These donated items shall be reported at year-end along with cash donations to the school board.

• DONATIONS FY23

Attached is the school bus maintenance agreement between Covington Independent Public Schools and Ludlow Independent School District.  The original school bus agreement was approved by the Board on February 13, 2020.  The Board requested the District bring back the agreement each school year.  This school bus agreement is for 7/1/23 to 6/30/24.

The Finance Director analyzed the labor rate on the contract to the salaries of staff that will be providing the work for Ludlow Independent School District for FY24.  The current rate of $120 per hour still allows for overhead expenses like wear & tear on CIPS equipment, lights, etc.

• Bus Maintenance Agreement with Ludlow 5-24-23

That the Covington Board of Education enter into the Bank Depository/Pledge of Collateral with Heritage Bank with a contract period of 7/1/23 through 6/30/24.

Pledge of Collateral

KRS 160.570 requires each board of education to appoint a bank, trust company, or savings and loan association to serve as its depository. The depository selected shall, before entering upon its duties, provide collateral in accordance with KRS 41.240 The depository shall be approved by the local board of education and by the commissioner of education. For a depository to be approved, a depository must provide a Pledge of Collateral. Pursuant to KRS 41.240, the depository institution should pledge or provide sufficient collateral which, together with FDIC insurance, equals or always exceeds the amount of public funds on deposit. In accordance with KRS 160.570, approval must be obtained by the local board of education in accordance with Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) administrative regulations and be approved by the Commissioner of Education.

The Pledge of Collateral Agreement (shown below) provides evidence between the board of education and the depository institution, of a pledge or provision of collateral in the event of failure or insolvency of the depository institution. Collateral includes securities or other obligations having an aggregate current face value or current quoted market value at least equal to the deposits or the provision of a surety bond(s) in favor of the district in an amount at least equal to the deposits, provided however, that amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation need not be collateralized. This agreement shall be signed by both parties, that is (a) in writing, (b) approved by the board of directors of the depository institution or its loan committee, which approval must be reflected in the minutes of the board or committee, and (c) an official record of the depository institution. A board of education may enter into an agreement with its depository institution whereby the premium on collateral guaranteed by a surety company may be paid either by the board, or by the depository as evidenced in KRS 160.570 (2). If the district board of education pays the premium, the depository shall allow the board not less than two percent (2%) interest on its average daily or average monthly balances. The agreement should be retained in the district's board office.  

• 052223_MINUTES Spec Mtg.pdf

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Boards has implemented an online application for processing certifications for Emergency Full-Time Teachers and has suggested creating blanket approval and one Board order number to use on all applications for emergency full-time certification for all emergency certified teachers not holding a regular Kentucky certification.

The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Boards has implemented an online application for processing certifications for emergency substitute teachers and has suggested creating blanket approval and one Board order number to use on all applications for emergency certification for all substitutes not holding regular Kentucky certification.

Board of Education approve the amended salary schedule to reflect a stipend for teachers who choose to participate in the LETERS program (2023-24 only) and elect not to participate in the educational reimbursement for up to $1,000 per year, page 9.  Added hours per day to page 11. Added Occupational Therapist page 3. 

• 2023-2024 SALARY SCHEDULE

The attached Contract for Transportation Services for Covington Independent Public Schools July 31, 2023, through August 1, 2024, is for board review. The contract includes; purpose, contract term, compensation, Holmes High School services, student pass program and schedule.

Dave Hartman, Assistant Principal at Holmes High School and Ken Kippenbrock, Executive Director of Human Resources and Operations both reviewed the contract and approved for signature.

• Covington Independent Schools TANK Contract 2023-2024.pdf

Covington teachers are being provided a wide array of professional development this summer, fall and throughout the 23-24 school year. Located in your packet is the following: 

·        Covington Independent Public Schools PD Plan 23-24

·        Covington PD Academy Offerings 23-24

·        Direct Instruction Reading Training Dates 23-24

·        District Professional Development Survey 23-24

·        Each school’s PD Plan for 23-24- for review and comment

• 23-24 PD Plan.pdf

This is our yearly review of the Assurances from the Kentucky Department of Education stating the Covington Independent Public Schools and the Non-Public Schools that receive funding from our district are in compliance with all the assurances listed in the Grant Management System document.

The District Assurances state CIPS is in compliance with various programs in the district. The assurances are general assurances that the district must follow.

Upon review and approval, we will send a statement via GMAP to KDE from Mr. Garrison with the meeting date stating that we will be in compliance with these assurances.

The District Assurances were released on May 25th through the GMAP platform. The Directors completed their sections quickly to meet the time line for the June 8th Informational Board meeting. This process is required to be completed by June 30, 2023 in order to submit a cash request from KDE. 

• CIPS23-24DistrictAssurances.pdf

Under KRS 158.115:  A County may opt to provide transportation for all students within its jurisdiction by means of contracting with the local public school district.  For Covington students, the Fiscal Court has to contract with our District because Kenton County School District cannot transport within our boundaries.  Under this contract, Covington Schools merely provides the transportation, if needed, and then Kenton County Fiscal Court reimburses the District the costs from its general funds.

• Covington Schools 2023-2024 Contract.pdf

Leadership will be presenting the ESSER III plan to the board.  Attachments to follow.

• ESSER III documents for the board on 6-8-23

June 9 ~ Holmes High School Graduation Practice, 9 a.m.

June 9 ~ 155th Annual Commencement Exercises

June 14 ~ Hall of Honors Celebration, 6 p.m., Drees Pavilion 

June 19 ~ Juneteenth, Offices Closed 

June 20 - July 21 ~ Camp Covington 

July 14 - 15 ~ KSBA Summer Leadership Institute, Lexington, KY 

July 27 ~ Regular Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Covington Board of Education 

August 10 ~ Regular Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Covington Board of Education 

August 16 & 17 ~ CIPS PD Academy, more details forthcoming

August 21 ~ Opening Day for Staff

August 22 ~ Hector Montenegro, District wide PD, Receptions, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

August 24 ~ Regular Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Covington Board of Education 

August 28 ~ First Day for Students

Pursuant to KRS 61.810 (1) the Board may go into executive session.