Board Vice Chair Ashley Reding called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

The adoption of agenda

Order #931 - Motion Passed:  The adoption of agenda passed with a motion by Farrah Pruitt and a second by Teresa Gilbert.

Board Member Appreciation and Proclamation Presentation

Judge Executive Blake Durrett read aloud a Proclamation honoring members of the LaRue County Board of Education and declaring January 2026 School Board appreciation month.

2025 Altech Engineering Challenge Finalists 

• Alyssa Andrews
• Zachary Quesenberry
• James Preston Brown
• Jace Detre
• Liam Ditto
• Madelyn Herring
• Kendyl Pass
• Billy York

• Audience Comments
• Board Comments / Updates

• LCHS Proficiency Report - Whitney Choate
• Attendance - Chris Price, Penny Cecil
• Communications - Caleb Phelps
• Strategic Planning Report - Amanda Reed
• Personnel Report - Cindy Dunn
• Open Records Requests - Adryanne Warren
• Superintendent's Activities & Comments - Adryanne Warren
• SBDM Reports     LCHS   LCMS   HES   ALES

Approval of the Consent Agenda

Order #932 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Consent Agenda passed with a motion by Janet Cruse and a second by Farrah Pruitt.

Draft Budget for FY2027

The Draft Budget is a preliminary planning document. Many items will change between the Draft Budget and the Tentative Budget, which will be presented in May 2026. For purposes of the Draft Budget, the FY2026 budget is rolled forward as a baseline.

Information is gathered throughout January, February, March, and April through a series of budget meetings. Key information that will impact the Tentative Budget includes, but is not limited to: Average Daily Attendance (ADA), state and federal allocations, the SEEK growth factor, and legislative actions. It should be noted that this is a budget session year for the Kentucky Legislature, which may result in funding changes that affect the final budget.

Budget Timeline – LaRue County School District

January

• FY2027 Draft Budget is presented to the Board of Education at the January board meeting.

January–February

• Preliminary budget meetings are held with the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Finance Director, and Principals to discuss:

  • Preliminary allocations

  • Staffing changes

  • Enrollment projections

  • ADA trends

February

• FY2027 Tentative salary schedules and preliminary allocations are presented to the Board of Education.

March

• Continued refinement of budget assumptions based on updated enrollment, ADA data, and legislative developments.

April/May

• FY2027 Final salary schedules and allocations are presented to the Board of Education.

• FY2027 Tentative Budget is presented to the Board of Education.

September

• FY2027 Working Budget is presented to the Board of Education.

Approve the Draft Budget for FY2027 as presented

Request to apply for the 2026 KEMI Safety Grant.  Grant funds up to $2,500 are available.  Funds will be used to replace/update security cameras in the district.

Approve the 2026 KEMI Safety Grant application as presented

Order #933 - Motion Passed:  Approve the 2026 KEMI Safety Grant application as presented passed with a motion by Farrah Pruitt and a second by Teresa Gilbert.

The Math Achievement Fund Mini-Grant is a Kentucky Department of Education competitive grant opportunity that will provide $40,000 to 25 schools to assist in the purchase of high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs) and associated professional learning to implement the materials. It is limited to middle and/or high schools. This is a one-year grant and does not require a match.

LaRue County High School is currently considering the possibility of adopting new math instructional materials for implementation in 2026-2027. We are requesting permission to apply for LCHS.

Approve request to apply for the Math Achievement Fund HQIR Mini-Grant on behalf of LaRue County High School

Order #934 - Motion Passed:  Approve request to apply for the Math Achievement Fund HQIR Mini-Grant on behalf of LaRue County High School passed with a motion by Farrah Pruitt and a second by Janet Cruse.

Approve LCMS Teacher, Ashely Carter, to apply for two grants: 

Paula Mullins Growing Gardeners Grant - $250-$500 - The Capital Area Extension Master Gardeners (CAEMG) invites educators in Kentucky Counties to apply for grant money to seed a garden education project in the classroom or community.  Pre-K through 12th grades are eligible to receive an award between $250 - $500. No matching required.  To be used to support the Middle School's outdoor classroom.

White-Reinhardt Scholarship/Grant - $1200 -  The scholarship is to support participation in the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, June 22-25, 2026.  Money can be used  to cover travel expenses, lodging, food for a staff member to attend an outdoor classroom training.  Recipients are given an expense reimbursement form. Transportation, lodging, and any meals are covered. The scholarship does not cover educational materials purchased at the conference or paid tours. The conference registration fee will be paid directly to the conference on your behalf and is not included in the $1,200 scholarship for travel expenses.

Approve applying for the Paula Mullins Growing Gardeners Grant and the White-Reinhardt Grant

Order #935 - Motion Passed:  Approve applying for the Paula Mullins Growing Gardeners Grant and the White-Reinhardt Grant. passed with a motion by Farrah Pruitt and a second by Teresa Gilbert.

Update the FY2026 Extra Duty Schedule:

Change "Summer Speech Services" to "Extended Speech Services" 

Attached is the updated schedule with the highlighted change.

Approve the Extra Duty Schedule as presented

Order #936 - Motion Passed:  Approve the Extra Duty Schedule as presented passed with a motion by Teresa Gilbert and a second by Farrah Pruitt.

Below is an outline of the CHAMP project as it was presented at project closeout. The only difference is that the $400,000 transfer from the Turf Escrow has been broken out separately from the transfers originating from the General Fund for clarity and transparency.

Approve the transfer "COMMITTED-FUTURE CONST-TURF" account in escrow on the Balance Sheet to the CHAMP project

Order #937 - Motion Passed:  Approve the transfer "COMMITTED-FUTURE CONST-TURF" account in escrow on the Balance Sheet to the CHAMP project passed with a motion by Farrah Pruitt and a second by Janet Cruse.

The School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC) is offering assistance in the annual debt service amount of $10,403, to be applied toward future potential construction or major renovation projects outlined in the District’s most current approved facilities plan. This offer is historically made every biennium and, once approved, remains available for use for a period of eight years.

The Board’s action is limited to acceptance of the offer. Upon acceptance, the assistance is “banked” for up to eight years and may be applied when the Board elects to bond a Priority 1 or Priority 2 project at any time after July 1, 2026. Acceptance of this Offer of Assistance obligates the District to comply with all applicable statutes and administrative regulations governing the program.

The annual offer of $10,403 creates an estimated $135,000 in additional bonding potential. Over the past eight years—the maximum period for banking offers—the District has accumulated $64,086 in SFCC offers, resulting in an estimated additional bonding potential of approximately $800,000.

The District currently has an estimated total bonding potential of $25.5 million. If the recently passed nickel tax is equalized, the District’s estimated bonding potential would increase to approximately $35.5 million.

Approve the acceptance of the SFCC Offer of Assistance for $10,403

Order #938 - Motion Passed:  Approve the acceptance of the SFCC Offer of Assistance for $10,403. passed with a motion by Farrah Pruitt and a second by Janet Cruse.

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

Order #939 - Motion Passed:  The adjournment of this meeting of the LaRue County Board of Education passed with a motion by Farrah Pruitt and a second by Teresa Gilbert.