Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance (KEMI) is again returning $4.77 million to the Kentucky School Boards Insurance Trust Workers' Compensation Fund (KSBIT) following proactive management and improved claims outcomes. The plan mirrors the refund issued to schools by KEMI in 2019 and was approved by both the Kentucky Department of Insurance and the Franklin Circuit Court.

KEMI will be mailing the Lincoln County School district a refund check for $37,199.62.

• U.S. Bank, Principal & Interest on 2014 Bond Series, $263,251.87

• FY20 Head Start/Early Head Start COLA and Quality Improvement Funds
• FY20 Head Start CARES Funds 

Annual Board approval is required for the Lincoln County NTI application.

A request for public assistance has been filed with FEMA in case emergency funds are made available stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.  FEMA requests each entity name an individual as Applicant Agent. All paperwork and correspondence goes to this individual.  

The 2020-2021 contracts for the Early Childhood Program include:  1) medical services (doctors, dentists, optometrist, mental health and health department); 2) Contracted staff - ERSEA Specialist up to 130 days and Technical Assistance /Compliance Specialist up to 168 days; 3) data collection.

Annual purchase of the iReady program.  This program is the district benchmark assessment and intervention tool for K-5.  

SB 177 – Emergency Leave
During the 2019-2020 school year, a local board of education shall allow emergency leave to any full-time or part-time classified or certified employee, if the local board determines it is necessary in relation to the COVID- 19 public health emergency.
No personal affidavit is required from the employee. This requires local board action

Declaring buses as surplus and taking sealed bids allows the district to reject any/all unacceptable bids. Each unit has been determined to be unneeded to transport students daily in a safe manner and are no longer eligible for further depreciation.

The Board must approve the district Certified Evaluation Plan annually. 

There is uncertainty about what the 2020-21 school year may look like. Because of the far-reaching impact of these future unknown events, we must be  cautious about the expenditure of school district funds. Other districts are considering sending a notice of salary reduction to all certified and classified employees who receive extra duty pay. It is possible, and perhaps even likely, that these duties and  compensation may be restored. The Board needs to discuss this issue before the deadline expires for sending out notices. 

Audit contracts and engagement letter for the 2019-2020 school year are due to KDE on or before May 28, 2020.

Indirect cost rates are set by the Kentucky Department of Education and approved by the Kentucky Board of Education.  The 2020-2021 rates for Lincoln County will be:

Non-restricted rate for food service: 13.47% 
Restricted rate for federal grants: 1.90%

Workers compensation must be in place by July 1, 2020, for the 20-21 school year.  The district experience modification rate has risen to 1.25 from 1.0 last year and .77 the year before that. The higher rate increases the premiums for the upcoming school year to $152,796.25 (an increase of $20,931.91 from 19-20).  

Insurance coverage for criminal bond, cyber risk, property, general liability, auto, and umbrella are needed to be in place by July 1, 2020 for the 2020-2021 school year.  
Criminal bond - Auto-Owners $891.59 (same premium as last year)
Cyber Risk - Axis Pro $5,315 (same premium as last year)
Property, general liability, auto, & umbrella - Liberty Mutual $488,185 (increase of $49,542 from last year due to claims activity; this amount may also fluctuate after KDE sets property insurance replacement costs for 2020-2021.)