Russell Independent
April 29, 2025 6:00 PM
Russell Independent Special Board Meeting
I. Call To Order
Rationale

Mr. Whitt called the Regular Meeting of the Russell Independent Board of Education to order at 6:00 p.m.

I.A. Moment of Silence
Rationale

Mr. Whitt led those in attendance in a Moment of Silence.

I.B. Pledge to the United States Flag
Rationale

Mr. Whitt led those in attendance in the Pledge to the United States Flag.

I.C. District Mission Statement
Rationale

Our mission is to inspire and empower all students to reach their maximum potential: one student, one lesson, one day at a time.

 

Progressing into the future…

Our Students are our top priority.

 Our School Family plays a crucial role in student development, achievement, and success.

 Our Parents are supportive partners and are essential in the advancement of each student.

 Our Community shares our desire to develop highly skilled and productive citizens.

 Our Technology enables our students to reach beyond the classroom.

 Our Culture inspires leadership and excellence.

 Our Academics focus on rigorous standards and global success.

II. Adopt the Agenda
Actions Taken

Order #68365 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the agenda passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
III. Delegations
Rationale

Procedures for Addressing the Board of Education

The Russell Independent School District Board of Education encourages attendance at meetings of the Board of Education.  The Board of Education understands that from time to time the public may wish to share opinions with them at these meetings.  Procedures for speaking to the Board of Education are detailed below:

 

·      Those who wish to address the Board of Education must sign the Delegation sheet provided prior to each Regular Meeting.  This sheet can be found beside the Board Agenda on a podium near the entrance of the room.

 

·      Generally, in the first ten minutes of the Meeting, the Board Chair will ask for delegations.  At this time please state your name, the name of the organization or group that you are representing, and the subject that you would like to address.  Please keep in mind that issues regarding a specific school should be shared with Principal and/or Site Based Decision Making Council, as that is the governing body for that school.

 

·      Individuals may address the Board of Education for a maximum of 5 minutes, as determined by the Board Chair.

 

·      The Board Chair reserves the right to intervene in order to maintain order and to ensure the expedient conduct of the Board’s business.

 

·      Comments to the Board should be stated in a professional manner.  Accusations and/or disparaging remarks about individuals will not be permitted. 

IV. Recognitions/Achievements/Reports
V. Notification of Personnel Matters
Rationale

Personnel for Board Information Only in accordance with KRS 160.390 (2)

New Hires                       

David Pugh                       RHS Evening Custodian (has not completed required background checks)

Jessica Bondurant             RMS Bookkeeper

Tabitha Wheeler                RPS Cook  6.5 hour per day

Eric Douglas                     RMIS 5th Grade Teacher (25-26 School Year)

Makayla Suman                RMIS 5th Grade Teacher (25-26 School Year)

                            

Emergency Substitutes               

Natalie Whitlock                           

Jackson Hammond                      

Lindsey Chandler                          

                            

FMLA                  

Employee 1229                March 24-May 30, 2025

Employe 2873                  April 21-May 29, 2025

Employee 2937                April 23-May 29, 2025

                            

Resignations/Retirements                       

David Craft                       District Maintenance Supervisor Retirement-March 31, 2025

Holly Gillum                     RHS Teacher-Resignation June 30, 2025

Jason Anders                   District Maintenance-Resignation March 28, 2025

Lauren Daniels                RMS Instructional Aide-Resignation April 4, 2025

Dana Brown                    RMIS Teacher-Retirement November 1, 2025

Tyler Gibbs                      RMIS Special Education Instructional Aide-Resignation June 30, 2025

Terri Hensley                   RPS Teacher Retirement-May 29, 2025

Mickie Stapleton               RPS Cook-Resignation-March 25, 2025

Cheri Foster                     RHS Teacher-Retirement May 1, 2025

                            

Non-Renewals                

Jason Anders, Whitney Cooksey, Lauren Daniels, Debbie Duvall, Lindsey Hammond, Elizabeth Hartshorn, Alyssa Holbrook, Gary Rosys, Trista Smith              

VI. Regular Business
VI.A. Approval of Minutes of the March 24, 2025 Regular Meeting and Special Called Meetings on April 21, 2025 and April 23, 2025
Actions Taken

Order #68366 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the minutes from the March 24, 2025 Regular Meeting passed with a motion by Mr. Samuel Pack and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes

Order #68367 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the minutes from the Special Called Meetings on April 21, 2025 and April 23, 2025 passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VI.B. Treasurer's Report
Actions Taken

Order #68368 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Treasurer's Report showing a balance of $8,333,639.17 passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VI.C. Payment of Accounts Payable and Payroll
Actions Taken

Order #68369 - Motion Passed:  Approval of payment of Accounts Payable and Payroll passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VII. Consent Agenda
Actions Taken

Order #68370 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Consent Agenda as presented passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VII.A. Fundraisers
Rationale

RHS Boys Golf will host a Car Show

RHS Conservation Club will have a Mural Sponsorship

VII.B. Overnight Trips
Rationale

RHS Bass Fishing Team travel to Nicholasville, KY April 25-26, 2025

RHS Softball Team will travel to Winchester/Lexington, KY May 2-3, 2025

RHS Seniors will travel to Mason, OH on May 14, 2025 (Day trip but is out of state)

VII.C. Rental Applications
Rationale

RMIS will be used by KRUSH (Jalina Wheeler) June 4-6, 2025

RHS Student Union will be used by RHS Class of 1985 on August 9, 2025

VII.D. Approval of Fidelity Bond of Treasurer
VII.E. Approval of School and District Professional Development Plans
VII.F. Approval of 2025-2026 Teacher Academy Plan
VII.G. Approval to declare listed Technology devices as surplus to the District and sell to Second Life Mac
VII.H. Approval of Bid Awards for Fuel, Waste and Instructional and Office Supplies
VIII. New Business
VIII.A. Consider approval of Pay App #2 to General Heating and Air Conditioning in the amount of $12,800.25
Actions Taken

Order #68371 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Pay App #2 to General Heating and Air Conditioning in the amount of $12,800.25 passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.B. Consider approval of District Purchase Order (DPO) #1 to Elite Air in the amount of $158,750
Actions Taken

Order #68372 - Motion Passed:  Approval of District Purchase Order #1 to Elite Air in the amount of $158,750 passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.C. Consider approval of Invoice #2 to Alt32 for the Russell Ind. Emergency HVAC project in the amount of $6,634.70
Actions Taken

Order #68373 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Invoice #2 to alt32 for the Russell Ind. Emergency HVAC project in the amount of $6,634.70 passed with a motion by Mr. Samuel Pack and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.D. Consider award of FY25 Audit Bid to Kelley Galloway Smith Goolsby, PSC
Actions Taken

Order #68374 - Motion Passed:  Award of FY25 Audit Bid to Kelley Galloway Smith Goolsby, PSC passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.E. Consider approval of a 6-year English Language Arts adoption with McGraw Hill Wonders (K-5) and McGraw Hill StudySync (6-8) at a total cost of $353,079.53
Actions Taken

Order #68375 - Motion Passed:  Approval of a 6-year English Language Arts adoption with McGraw Hill Wonders (K-5) and McGraw Hill StudySync (6-8) at a total cost of $353,079.53, payable over the course of three years passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.F. Consider approval of a 6-year adoption of McGraw Hill Inspire Science: Earth and Space for 8th and 9th Grades at a cost of $21,254.40
Actions Taken

Order #68376 - Motion Passed:  Approval of a 6-year adoption of McGraw Hill Inspire Science: Earth and Space for 8th and 9th Grades at a cost of $21,254.40 passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.G. Consider approval of the revised Certified Evaluation Plan
Actions Taken

Order #68377 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the revised Certified Evaluation Plan passed with a motion by Mr. Samuel Pack and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.H. Consider approval of payment of Spring Teacher Academy Stipends
Actions Taken

Order #68378 - Motion Passed:  Approval of payment of Spring Teacher Academy Stipends passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.I. Consider approval of Dell Lease Agreement
Actions Taken

Order #68379 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Dell Lease Agreement passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.J. Consider selection of RHS Graduation Speaker
Actions Taken

Order #68380 - Motion Passed:  Selection of Katie Arnett as the 2025 RHS Graduation Speaker passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.K. Consider approval of 2025-2026 KEDC Membership Agreement
Actions Taken

Order #68381 - Motion Passed:  Approval of 2025-2026 KEDC Membership Agreement passed with a motion by Mr. Samuel Pack and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.L. Consider approval to purchase Reel Mower
Actions Taken

Order #68382 - Motion Passed:  Approval to purchase Reel Mower passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
VIII.M. Nomination for Board Vice Chair beginning at the conclusion of the April 29, 2025 School Board Meeting, running through the conclusion of the January 2026 School Board Meeting
Actions Taken

Order #68383 - Motion Passed:  Nomination of Terry Vest for Board Vice Chair beginning at the conclusion of the April 2025 School Board Meeting running through the conclusion of the January 2026 School Board Meeting passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
IX. Updates and Information
IX.A. Student Enrollment/Attendance Reports
IX.B. Meeting Reminder-Special Called Meeting May 12, 2025; Regular Meeting May 19, 2025
IX.C. SBDM Information
IX.D. Cards/Letters
X. Superintendent's Progress Reports/Updates
XI. Other Business and Information
XI.A. Enter into Executive Session per KRS 61.801 (1)(f) to discuss board member candidates to fill the vacancy of Judy Ledford's seat (to serve until 12/31/26)
Actions Taken

Order #68384 - Motion Passed:  Enter into Executive Session to discuss board member candidates to fill the vacancy of Judy Ledford's seat passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
XI.B. Return from Executive Session
Actions Taken

Order #68385 - Motion Passed:  Return from Executive Session at 7:22 p.m. passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Sean Whitt.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes
XII. Closing
Actions Taken

Order #68386 - Motion Passed:  Meeting adjournment at 7:23 p.m. passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Sean Whitt.

Member Votes
Mr. Sean Whitt Yes
Ms. Judy Ledford Absent
Mr. John Jones Yes
Mr. Samuel Pack Yes
Mr. Terry Vest Yes