Amber Franceschi, District 1

Larry Yeager, District 2

Billy Montgomery, District 3

Cliff Prewitt, District 4

Randy Phillips, District 5

The agenda is being presented for approval. Any changes are to be made at this time.

We will observe a moment of silence in honor of a Mercer County Elementary School second grader PaisLeigh Hurst who passed away in the past week.

The following students are being recognized for being selected in the Governor's Scholar Program:

• Madeline Angel, Bellarmine University
• Ashlyn Cheek, Morehead University
• Brayden Dunn, Centre College
• Selina Haralu, Morehead University
• Lauren Hayslett, Morehead University
• Emma Kiernan, Centre College
• Addison Riley, Centre College
• Wesley "Nathan" Simpson, Morehead University
• Nathaniel Vittitoe, Centre College

The following students are being recognized for being selected in the Governor's Scholars for the Arts Program:

• Nicholas Walden

The following students are being recognized for being selected as a Craft Academy student:

• Lauren Bordeaux

The following teachers are being recognized:

• Mark Dunn for being named as a CKEC Outstanding Educator.
• Stacy Isaacs for being named as a Campbellsville University 35th Annual Excellence Award recipient.
• Heather Sanders for being named as a Campbellsville University 35th Annual Excellence Award recipient.

The Board will make a statement at this time.

Pursuant to Board Policy 01.421, persons wishing to address the Board must first be recognized by the Chairperson and stand behind the podium. An individual or group granted the privilege of being heard must give his/her name, address, and reason for speaking. The Chairperson may rule on the relevance of the topic to the Board's Agenda, and will set the time limit to five (5) minutes. The Board will only act on/respond to items on the published agenda. If you wish to have an item placed on the agenda, you must first meet with the Superintendent.

At this time the board will receive comments from the public.

This section of the agenda is reserved for reports only, no action will be taken.

The Superintendent will report to the board at this time.

The Finance Officer will report to the board at this time.

July 2021 Recap 

• Ending GF Cash Balance was $5,541,942 as opposed to $4,147,960 last July

• General Fund Revenue:

  • Overall revenue was 26.1% higher as opposed to last July, including the budgeted beginning balance.

  • Receipts received in the year are up 91.6% compared to the prior year at the same time.

    • Timing of payments received fluctuates from year to year, this will have a large impact on these differences.

• Expenditures:

  • Up 5% compared to the prior year

  • Expenses of $571,111 in July

    • Timing of payments made fluctuates from year to year, this will have a large impact on these differences.

• Upcoming:

  • September:

    • Tax Hearing on September 16, 2021 at 5 p.m. followed by the regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m. where Tax Rates will be set.

    • Approval of the Working Budget on September 16th, due to KDE by September 30th.

    • Should receive Tentative SEEK during this month.

    • School councils will receive updated SBDM Staffing Allocations with real attendance numbers by September 15th.

• July 2021 Monthly Financial Reports

KRS 160.390; KRS 160.38; KRS 160.370    The Superintendent is responsible for all personnel actions including hiring, assignments, transfer, dismissal, suspension, reinstatement, promotion, and for reporting these actions to the board of education (KRS 160.390 (1)).  All appointments, promotions and transfers of principals, supervisors, teachers, and other school employees shall be made only by the Superintendent of schools, who shall notify the Board of the action taken (KRS 160.380(2a)).

“Consent Agenda” items are voted on with one motion and one vote. 

These are, typically, items that happen on a regular basis, are annual fees, or routine items in doing business. 

The board may discuss any item they wish.

The board has the option to pull any item out for a separate vote.

• August 3, 2021 Special Meeting Minutes
• July 15, 2021 Meeting Minutes

• JULY 2021-PAID WARRANT REPORT

Approval of SBDM Meeting Minutes as presented.

• MCSH 7-22-21 - Special Called Meeting - Draft Minutes_
• SBDM Minutes August 2021 (2)
• SBDM Minutes July 20 2021

See the attached KECSAC Memorandum of Agreement for approval.

• KECSAC MOA.pdf

See the attached Department of Juvenile Justice Agreement for approval.

• DJJ Agreement.pdf

See attached Morehead State University Memorandum of Agreement for approval.

• Morehead MOA.pdf

Please see attached items that are being requested to be deemed as surplus.

• MCES Surplus
• scan_bfreeman_2021-07-16-12-44-53.pdf
• scan_wcarlton_2021-07-15-14-54-11

See attached documentation to approved drivers of nine passenger vehicles.

The KY Division of FRYSCs gave all FRYSCs in the state the opportunity to write $100,000 grants this summer. These GEER grants stem from COVID monies received by KY from the Federal Government. The grant must address the effects of COVID on families and students as well as support either or all of these subject areas; Early Childhood, Social Emotional Learning or Community Childcare Centers and can only name one center in any grant. The Mercer County FRYSCs decided to write two grants in the short turn around time. One from MCES addressing/expanding community early childhood learning, Kindergarten Readiness, and supporting additional SEL health for PK to 2nd grade students in the elementary school. The MCIS FRC will also be involved in implementing some early childhood programs. The second was written from MCIS, KMS and MCSHS/Mercer Central FRYSCs addressing families/students at risk with nutrition/cooking club and additional programs/supports for identifying community resources. The Rachels Challenge program will be coming to the listed schools, Districtwide training in Ruby Payne principals on poverty and additional SEL supports in all buildings will be put in place. We are proud to say both grants have been approved. We are now all seeking Mercer Co BOE approval to accept the funds and proceed with grant activities to begin as soon as possible.

Approval of the following Booster Clubs:

• KMS Girls Basketball Boosters

• KMS Girls Basketball Booster Packet.pdf

Please see the attached contract with Anthem so the Nurse Practitioner can provide health services to staff with Anthem insurance and bill the insurance company.

• Anthem Mercer County Schools Contract.pdf

See attached agreement with Wild Health so they are able to help our Nurse Practitioner swab for COVID, at no cost to the district.

• BAA - Wild Health.pdf

The following items require board action, but do not require a roll call vote for approval.

Danna Yates- Bus monitor- Doctor has not released her to come back to work until 8/23/2021.

Last week the Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) approved an emergency regulation entitled “District Employee Quarantine Leave” which will soon be filed. This regulation does not take effect and have the force of law until it is filed at the Legislative Research Commission. Please carefully review the regulation, at 702 KAR 1:191E. It states that each district SHALL provide paid quarantine leave to all eligible employees, if the employee

1) has been placed in quarantine by a medical professional, health department, school district, etc.; and

2) has been vaccinated against COVID-19 (or if they “present a statement from a treating medical professional that a disability prevents the employee from taking the COVID-19 vaccine, or is prevented from taking the COVID-19 vaccination based on sincerely held religious belief”).

This emergency regulation will apply only during the 2021-2022 school year, and only relates to quarantine for COVID-19 and its variants.

Under this emergency regulation, the quarantine leave cannot be used if the employee is diagnosed as having an active COVID-19 infection. As explained during the KBE meeting, if a person tests positive for the infection they are therefore ill with COVID-19 and should use their sick days instead of quarantine leave. Once this is filed at LRC and in effect, the regulation will apply without local board action to require this leave for eligible employees.

The regulation gives some discretion to local districts/boards on three issues which may require local action. The regulation says that:

1.) “A school district, at its discretion, may determine quarantine leave is unnecessary when an employee can fulfill his or her job duties remotely during the quarantine period; "and

2.)“In order to shorten the quarantine period, a school district may require an employee on quarantine leave to undergo a COVID-19 test at the district’s expense and provide the results to the district. Such test shall occur no sooner than the earliest date recommended by [CDC and state DPH] quarantine guidelines. A district may require an employee testing negative for COVID-19 to return to work in accordance with [CDC and DPH] quarantine guidelines: and

3.)“A school district may require the employee to provide written documentation from the entity placing the employee in quarantine.”

We would like to implement all of the three above options to be approved in the attached resolution such be adopted by the board indicating such.

• A RESOLUTION of the Mercer County Board of Education
• Quarantine Employee Leave (1)

Please see the attached Professional Growth Plan for Superintendent Booher for approval.

• Professional Growth Plan 2021-22.docx

The following items require board action and a roll call vote for approval.

The following changes were made to the 2021-22 Salary Schedule and need board approval:

• Titan Academy Classified Instructional change from $1,200 for the year to $1,250 for the year ($50/day of work)
• Addition of COVID-19 Contact Tracers to be paid every 9 weeks based on the work that was completed in the 9 weeks preceding the payment. The payments will be $750 each paid on October 15th, December 15th, March 15th and May 15th. These added duties will be assigned by the Director of Pupil Personnel and Safe Schools at the beginning of the 9 week period, and will only be in place during the COVID-19 emergency. There will be up to 8 Contact Tracers per 9 week period.
• ESL Coordinator stipend changed from $6,000 to $6,323 (to keep in line with classified position)
• Change number of Special Education Consultant's from 3 to 4

• FY 22 Salary Schedule August 19, 2021.pdf

Please see the attached contract for Hands on Therapy.

• Hands on Therapy Contract.pdf

The attached contract is for a Local Planning Committee Facilitator in the amount of $4,500. Mr. Tim Eaton with KSPMA will be the facilitator that is used in this case. The Local Planning Committee will be developing the new District Facilities Plan that is due by the end of the year.

• Mercer Co. LPC Contract-KSPMA 2021.doc

The Council for Better Education, along with Frankfort Independent and Warren County Schools, has filed litigation regarding the unconstitutionality of the private school tax credits in HB 563. This litigation is in process and a full update on the status and timeline of the litigation will be sent soon. To again be clear, they are only challenging the tax credits portion of this bill. 

 

The Finance Cabinet filed an affidavit on July 2, 2021 that confirmed, for the first time, that the Program would not be fully ready for implementation by the Revenue Department until Oct. 11, 2021.  Given this additional time that was not anticipated, as well as prior indications from the Court that the judge would like to proceed expeditiously on the merits, CBE decided it was appropriate to withdraw their motion for temporary injunction.  The newly scheduled hearing date of October 11 gives ample time to decide on the merits and also eliminates the possibility of “imminent” injury, which is a required element for temporary relief – “temporary” meaning relief before a decision on the merits can occur.   Nothing negative should be read into the decision to withdraw the earlier motion for the injunction. The facts changed (Oct. 11 implementation date and expedited treatment by the Court) and the right thing to do was withdraw the motion. 

 

The proposed cost of the assessment is 50 cents per pupil for each district that will join with CBE in this litigation to pay the legal and related costs associated with this process. The cost for Mercer County Schools is $1,225.17.

A motion is needed to adjourn the meeting.