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

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

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

Order #68408 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the agenda passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

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. 

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

Order #68409 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the minutes from the May 19,2025 Regular Meeting passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Order #68410 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Treasurer's Report showing a balance of $7,219,529.07 passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68411 - Motion Passed:  Approval of payment of Accounts Payable and Payroll passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Order #68412 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the Consent Agenda as presented passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Order #68413 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Pay App 4 to GHAC in the amount of $48,888.00 for the Russell Independent Emergency HVAC BG 25-177 passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68414 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Invoice 3 to Alt32 in the amount of $3,724.67 for the Russell Independent Emergency HVAC BG 25-177 passed with a motion by Mr. Johnny Highfield and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Order #68415 - Motion Passed:  Approval to enter into contract with Trace Creek for RHS HVAC & RATC Roof Project #25-264 passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Order #68416 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Revised BG-1 for RHS HVAC & RATC Roof Project #25-264 passed with a motion by Mr. Johnny Highfield and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Order #68417 - Motion Passed:  Approval of RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RUSSELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, RUSSELL KENTUCKY, CONFIRMING THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION; AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE EXECUTION OF A PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH SAID COMMISSION; AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE RUSSELL INDEPENDNET SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCE CORPORATION AND ANY FURTHER NECESSARY INSTRUMENTS; APPROVING CERTAIN ARCHITECTS' PLANS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CERTAIN SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT; AND APPROVING THE PLAN OF FINANCING THE COST OF SAID PROJECT passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Order #68418 - Motion Passed:  Recess of Board of Education Meeting and Enter into Russell Independent School District Finance Corporation Meeting passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Order #68419 - Motion Passed:  The Russell Independent School District Finance Corporation Meeting was called to Order passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Finance Corporation Chair- Sean Whitt

Finance Corporation Secretary-Dr. M. Sean Horne

Finance Corporation Treasurer-Dennis Chambers

Order #68420 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Finance Corporation Chair, Mr. Sean Whitt passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68421 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Finance Corporation Secretary, Dr. M. Sean Horne passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68422 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Finance Corporation Treasurer, Mr. Dennis Chambers passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Sean Whitt.

Order #68423 - Motion Passed:  A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE RUSSELL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCE CORPORATION, RELATING TO AND PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF $--------- PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (SUBJECT TO A PERMITTED ADJUSTMENT OF 10%) OF SCHOOL BUILDING REVENUE BONDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS 58.180 AND 162.120 THROUGH 162.300 AND 162.385 OF THE KENTUCKY REVISED STATUTES TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PURPOSES, PROVIDING AND DETERMINING THE DUTY OF SAID CORPORATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL PROPERTY, THE CREATION OF FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON SAID REVENUE BONDS AS AND WHEN THEY MATURE, THE CREATION OF ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSURANCE FUNDS, AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE OF SUCH FOREGOING PROPERTY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE RUSSELL INDEPENDENT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68424 - Motion Passed:  Russell Independent School District Finance Corporation Meeting Adjournment passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Order #68425 - Motion Passed:  Reconvening Russell Independent School District Board of Education Meeting passed with a motion by Mr. Johnny Highfield and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Order #68426 - Motion Passed:  Approval of First Reading of the Annual Policy & Procedure Updates passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Order #68427 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Professional Service Agreements with FunWorks Pediatric Therapy, East Kentucky Psychological Resources, Karen White, Paige Smith Therapeutics, PLLC, Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Abundant Grace Counseling and Assessment, Pathway, Inc., Mountain Comprehensive Care Center and Ramey Estep Homes-Re-group passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Order #68428 - Motion Passed:  Approval to pay $41,876.97 in Athletic Expenses over budget passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68429 - Motion Passed:  Approval of a payment of $4,034.85 for the uncollectible Food Service charge balance passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68430 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Breakfast and Lunch Pricing for the 2025-2026 School Year to kept the same as the 2024-2025 School Year passed with a motion by Mr. Johnny Highfield and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Order #68431 - Motion Passed:  Approval of 2025-2026 Administrative Salary Schedule passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Order #68432 - Motion Passed:  Approval of Property, Auto and Worker's Compensation Insurance Renewal at an estimated cost of $395,602.23 passed with a motion by Mr. Johnny Highfield and a second by Mr. Terry Vest.

Order #68433 - Motion Passed:  Approval of submitted Booster Fundraisers passed with a motion by Mr. Sean Whitt and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Order #68434 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the creation of one Assistant Dance Team Coach passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Samuel Pack.

Order #68435 - Motion Passed:  Approval of the removal of Bass Fishing as an approved Sport passed with a motion by Mr. Johnny Highfield and a second by Mr. John Jones.

Order #68436 - Motion Passed:  Enter into Executive Session Per KRS 61.810 (1) c for discussion of possible litigation against the District passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Sean Whitt.

Order #68437 - Motion Passed:  Return from Executive Session passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.

Order #68438 - Motion Passed:  Approval that the Board of Education intends to consider an additional equivalent tax rate of five ($.05) cents per hundred dollars of assessment over the amount of revenue produced by the compensating tax rate defined in KRS 132.010 for the 2024-25 school year that would be dedicated to major renovation of existing school facilities, new construction, and debt service and so orders that the appropriate notices for a tax rate hearing be published for consideration of such action. passed with a motion by Mr. John Jones and a second by Mr. Sean Whitt.

Order #68439 - Motion Passed:  Meeting adjournment passed with a motion by Mr. Terry Vest and a second by Mr. Johnny Highfield.