Board Chair Farrah Pruitt called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

All agreed.

The district will need substitutes to fill in for certified staff when they are absent from the classroom. Emergency substitutes meet the requirements to be a substitute teacher, but they do not have a degree in education. An emergency substitute teaching license is required annually. Approval is requested for up to 80 emergency substitutes for the 2025-2026.

A student at LCHS requires a shortened school day due to medical appointments and lack of tolerance of a full school day. 

The following books have been replaced with new versions over the years. These books are no longer needed for instructional purposes. In accordance with KAR 45A425 (Surplus or Excess Property), I am requesting these materials be declared as surplus so they may be disposed. They will either be sold or recycled. If a buyer can be found, the revenue will go into the board general fund and be used to purchase replacement textbooks and resources at the school where these books are currently housed.

Request to approve the 2025-2026 ECTC Dual Credit MOA the upcoming academic year.

Communicare provides school based mental health counseling to specified students in our school district.  They also provide education consultation services to staff for children receiving services from Communicare. LaRue County Schools does not get billed for any of the services provided.  Contractual Services Agreement is attached.

Mr. Claycomb has reviewed the contract.

The approval of the MOU between Communicare and LaRue Co. Schools for the 25-26 school year

Updated Student Code of Conduct 

This is the first reading.

MOA between LaRue County Board of Education/LaRue County Schools and Bluegrass Professional Counseling.  BPC provides school-based therapy services to our students. 

Request the BOE approve the agreement between LaRue County Schools and Cumberland Family Medical Center for the 2025-2026 school year. The agreement is to provide a school-based satellite clinic for our students and employees.

Hope Collaborative provides mentorship programs to students as well as parental supports.  This partnership would enhance LaRue County Schools mental health care scope of services.  The MOU has been reviewed by Mr. Claycomb.

The agreement between LaRue County Schools and The City of Hodgenville provides for the services of two School Resource Offices with such services to be rendered at school district sites for the 2025-2026 School year. This agreement  beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. The Agreement shall be revisited on July 1, 2026.

Updated Job Descriptions

• Speech Language Pathologist - will now report to the Director of Special Education instead of the Principal
• Gift and Talented Teacher - will now report to the Instructional Supervisor instead of the Principal (this has already been happening, the description needed to be updated).  
• Bus Driver - changed "area coordinator" to "transportation director.  Also, added "maintains a clean bus free of all safety hazards" to duties and responsibilities.  
• HI/VI Teacher - Created a specific job description for HI/VI teachers and have them directly reporting to the Director of Special Education

Curneal Hignite Insurance submitted the following 2026 Insurance Renewal Comparison that includes the following policies:

Property, General Liability, School Leaders, Law Enforcement, Crime, Auto, Worker's Compensation, and Cyber.

Each year Curneal Hignite Insurance puts the District's insurance program out to market to those carriers interested in pricing Kentucky schools, including Worker's Comp.  Curneal Hignite was able to move the District’s Workers Comp program to more competitive pricing with KEMI.  This provides us with an approximate 26% savings for the 2025/2026 policy school year (for Worker's Comp Insurance).  See attached comparison for the changes in Worker's Comp insurance premiums.

All other insurances are increasing by 13.0% - from $412,403 to $466,135.  See attached for details (a line by line comparison from FY2025 to FY2026) and a yearly comparison on insurances.

Below are other insurance policy changes from Curneal Hignite:

Curneal Hignite anticipated an increase in the Property and General Liability coverage sections during all renewals this year, but didn’t receive the kind of increase that was originally anticipated.  Per discussions last year large commercial property carriers introduced and implemented a percentage property deductible for all wind/hail claims.  Curneal Hignite was successful in negotiating down to a 1% wind/hail deductible for the Larue County schools. A per location minimum deductible of $100,000 will be applied; however, if the deductible of the claim exceeds the minimum amount the 1% wind/hail deductible will be applied as the primary deductible used in the claim (so, property deductible is a 1% with a minimum of $100,000 per location).  Just FYI - high school and middle school are considered separate locations.  This only applies to wind/hail - all other deductibles are $10,000. 

With this year’s policy renewal, Liberty is changing their umbrella/excess limits, no longer offering a $10M umbrella/excess liability limit, instead they offering a $5M underlying umbrella/excess liability limit.  If a $10M umbrella/excess is requested or ever needed, the District would purchase the additional in $5M layers from other umbrella/excess carriers.  This becomes extremely expensive and almost cost prohibitive, but they have access to many umbrella/excess markets. 

Large fleet carriers (school bus fleets) increased bus deductibles from $2,500 to $5,000.  All other vehicle deductibles are being increased to $2,500.  The Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist is also transitioning from $1,000,000 down to $500,000 limits.  These changes are becoming a standard for large fleets nationwide and Liberty is following this trend.

Approve the District to solicit sealed bids for pest control services for the district for 2026 through 2028.

A contract with Leitchfield Exterminating, Inc. for pest control service ends June 30, 2025. Leitchfield Exterminating has contracted to provided services to the district since 2014.

Waste Management is the current vendor for garbage pickup for the District. Waste Management was awarded the bid for years 2022 through 2025 with the option to extend the bid.  FY2026 will be the first time it is extended.

The District would like to extend the contract with Waste Management.  See attached for the contract.

Approve Farmers Energy Propane Plus to install a propane tank at the bus garage.  Farmers will gather permits and install the tank.  The District is responsible for running electricity to the site.  Attached is a map of where the tank is to be located. 

The propane will be delivered weekly to the bus garage.

Approve the contract for FY2026 between LaRue County School District and Farmers Energy Propane Plus to purchase propane for the propane-fueled buses at a fixed cost of $1.879  gallon (a decrease in cost per gallon of $1.919 for FY2025). 

See attached for the contract.

Request to enter into a contract with Landmark Sprinkler for fire protection inspections and monitoring for $6,665 (Fire Protection - Annual Inspection Fee), $1500 (onetime fee for dialer installation), and $3,000 (yearly for dialer monitoring fee). Total for the year: $11,165

Previously, Johnson Controls held the contract. Johnson Controls quote came in at $18,965 yearly.

Both contracts are attached for your review.  Contract will start August 1, 2025.

Update the Ex Extended Days and Stipend Schedule for FY2026 with the following change:

CURRICULUM SPECIALIST - MS & HS (x1) - change from $1500 stipend to $3,000.00, as this one position covers two schools.

CHAMP Project Final Pay App and Closing Documents

See attached list of fixed assets to be retired, adjusted, or sold at auction for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

Annual updates for review.

This is the first reading.

Policy 08.2324 and Procedure 08.2324 AP.2 Traceable Communications.

This is the first reading.  

• HS Business School Based Enterprise - Tara Wooden
• Certified Evaluation Plan Revision - Amanda Reed
• Archery Storage Building - WL Miller                                                                                              The archery boosters feel that they need a storage building or a shipping container. They will cover the cost. It will need to be placed behind the gym.
• Review of Challenged Instructional Materials - Adryanne Warren

Closed Session per KRS 61.810(k) for discussion of Superintendent Evaluation

The motion to adjourn to Closed Session per KRS 61.810(k) for discussion of Superintendent Evaluation

Order #789 - Motion Passed:  The motion to adjourn to Closed Session per KRS 61.810(k) for discussion of Superintendent Evaluation passed with a motion by Ashley Reding and a second by Teresa Gilbert.

The motion to reconvene in open session

Order #790 - Motion Passed:  The motion to reconvene in open session passed with a motion by Joanna Hinton and a second by Janet Cruse.

The adjournment of this meeting of the LaRue County Board of Education

Order #791 - Motion Passed:  The adjournment of this meeting of the LaRue County Board of Education passed with a motion by Janet Cruse and a second by Joanna Hinton.