Members of the public may address the Board during the period set aside by the Board without submitting an item for the agenda. No action shall be taken during this portion of the meeting on issues raised by employees or the public unless deemed an emergency by the Board. Please note: Comments are asked to refrain from personal remarks in which an individual is named. Comments are limited to two minutes unless extended by the board chair. Critical comments or complaints are processed through the District’s complaint procedures. Questions and concerns will be addressed by the Board through various venues, including, but not limited to, the district website and e-mail.

This Tentative Budget Cycle is required by State Stature KRS 160.470.  The Tentative Budget must be approved by the local school district and submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education by 5/30 of each year. 

The budget committee has met since February 2025, creating the budget for FY2026.  

The budget committee will be looking into how cost-saving measures can be incorporated into the budget.  At this time there are many unknowns related to the adoption of this budget. Once those unknowns become available, the budget will be amended and will be reflected in the Working Budget that is presented to the Board of Education in September of each year.

• talking points for board meeting on tentative FY26 general fund budget for board portal 4-15-25
• tentative budget for FY26 for May - rolled over 3-7-25 for board portal 4-15-25
• tentative budget FY26

Budget Narrative for March FY2025 monthly financial statement:

1. General fund (fund 1) – as of 3/31/25, revenue received of 46.9 million with expenses of 28.8 million.
2. Special revenue (fund 2) – as of 3/31/25, revenue received of 10.4 million with expenses of 11.3 million. Many grants in fund 2 are on a reimbursement basis. Money is requested after the expenses have occurred. There is a delay on receiving fund 2 revenue.
3. School Activity Fund (fund 25) – as of 3/31/25 revenue received of $236,000 with expenses of $20,000. This fund was set up end of FY20 due to a new GASB standard that went into effect.
4. Capital outlay (fund 310) - as of 3/31/25, revenue received of $162,665 with expenses of $0. The state does not provide all the capital outlay funding until the end of the fiscal year. This fund is used to pay the district’s bond payments. Bond payments occur throughout the whole fiscal year under fund 400 (new for FY’13 per KDE). Money will be transferred out of capital outlay into the debt service fund throughout the fiscal year.
5. Building fund (fund 320) - as of 3/31/25, revenue received of 2.7 million with expenses of $850,000. This fund is used to pay the district’s bond payments. Bond payments occur throughout the whole fiscal year under fund 400 (new for FY’13 per KDE).Money will be transferred out of building fund into the debt service fund throughout the fiscal year.
6. Construction fund (fund 360) - as of 3/31/25, revenue received of 9.1 million with expenses of 8.4 million. This fund is used to pay for the district’s construction projects.
7. Debt Service fund (fund 400) – as of 3/31/25, revenue received of $0 with expenses of $1,677,000. See detailed explanation under capital outlay and building fund.
8. Food service fund (fund 51) – as of 3/31/25, revenue received of 2.8 million with expenses of 2.5 million.
9. Daycare fund (originally fund 50 – switched to fund 52 per KDE) – as of 3/31/25, revenue received of $381,000 with expenses of $243,000. Revenue comes in throughout the fiscal year.

March budget changes for fund 1:

3/3/25 $470,320 net increase to revenue budget – SEEK tentative to SEEK final

3/3/25 $16,792 net increase to revenue budget – staffing changes on new hires, rank changes, certified and classified supplementals.

3/25 Superintendent’s emergency/timing budget – in budget at 500K – this is used throughout the school year.

Completed 4/1/25 by Annette Burtschy

• balance sheet March 2025
• financial report March 2025
• Info on funds to help with monthly MUNIS report for board 3-12-21
• March 2025 investments update for board portal 4-15-25
• March2025 bank account update for board portal 4-15-25

Pursuant to Policy 04.3111, the treasurer shall prepare warrants or “Orders of the Treasurer” to be acted upon at each regular Board meeting. The Board shall give subsequent approval to all budgeted disbursements made between meetings of the Board. Disbursements shall only be made on invoices for purchases made in accordance with District policy and procedures.

• 5-3 packet for April 2025 board meeting
• Warrants for April 2025 board meeting for board portal 4-15-25

Pursuant to CIPS Policy 01.4, Meetings; the minutes of Board meetings shall constitute the official written record of Board deliberations and actions. Board minutes shall only become official after they have been approved by the Board at a subsequent meeting and immediately thereafter have been signed by the secretary and the presiding officer. However, prior to approval of the minutes, the Board may amend or correct them in order to assure they are accurate.

• 032725_MINUTES Reg Working Mtg.pdf

Pursuant to CIPS Policy 01.4, Meetings; the minutes of Board meetings shall constitute the official written record of Board deliberations and actions. Board minutes shall only become official after they have been approved by the Board at a subsequent meeting and immediately thereafter have been signed by the secretary and the presiding officer. However, prior to approval of the minutes, the Board may amend or correct them in order to assure they are accurate.

• 040325_MINUTES Reg Working Mtg.pdf

We had ten vendors bid on our custodial items. Attached are the results of the bids. The awarded items are highlighted per company as indicated on the attached sheets based on cost, quality of item, and service. 

• 25-26 Custodial Bid Results

KDE requires us to include in our calendar, the maximum number of makeup days we have used in a single year, within the past five years. The number was two for the 24/25 school year.

This past winter we used three whole days for inclement weather on the following dates: January 6,7 and 8, 2025. 

The following changes were made to the original calendar submitted to KDE.

Amended Calendar must be submitted to KDE no later than June 30^th.

January 6, 2025              Teacher Planning Day Snow Day

January 7, 2025              Snow Day

January 8, 2025              Snow Day

January 10, 2025            NTI

January 17, 2025            Schools Closed Changed to Teacher

                                     Planning Day, Schools Closed for 1/6/25

January 21, 2025            NTI

January 22, 2025            NTI

May 30 2025                   Closing Day for Staff, Schools Closed

                                      Changed Teacher Planning Day, Schools Closed for 1/7/25

June 2, 2025                   Changed Teacher Planning Day, Schools Closed

June 3, 2025                   Closing Day for Staff

June 2-3, 2025                Possible Make-up days

• 2024-2025 EOY Amended Official School Calendar BAP 1-11-24 - Copy

KDE requires us to include in our school calendar, the maximum number of makeup days we have used in a single year, within the past five years. We used three full days in 2024-2025 and need to amend the 2025-2026 to add an additional makeup day.  We also added the first day of preschool.

• 2025-2026 BOY Amended Official School Calendar 3-24-25

• 2024-2025 HHS Anticipated End of Year Dates.pdf

The Board of Education instructs the administration to contract with a qualified vendor to conduct a comprehensive compensation study for all certified and classified staff, including supplemental contracts. This will include but not be limited to teachers, administrators, and support personnel.

The consultant shall perform the following:

Review job descriptions and conduct job analysis with employees

The proposed compensation study shall be used to determine appropriate compensation for duties/responsibilities and recommendations for appropriate salary ranges for all positions

The proposed compensation study shall be used to determine:

- potential pay compression issues and alternative solutions

- analysis of compensation for extra duties, for extra- and co-curricular activities, as well as professional staff duties such as department chairs and staff development

- an evaluation of the various work calendars for certified and classified salaried positions

- administrative salary structure and criteria for determining the appropriate administrative additive for various levels of leadership

- evaluation against benchmark peers including other school districts, other governmental and/or educational entities and like-sized industry, both local and state market conditions

- evaluation to update and/or create job descriptions as needed to uniformly reflect distinguishing characteristics, essential job functions, minimum qualifications and level of education, and licensing and certification requirements

The study shall include specific matrix criteria for considering the appropriate administrative additive when determining total compensation for an administrative leadership position. Specific to the Administrative Additive:-

-Identify criteria/rubric for determining the salary level for administrators and any triggers for change in those levels (enrollment, staff, additional duties, etc.)

-School level (Principal, Assistant Principal, Behavior Coaches, Instructional Coaches, School Administrative Managers, etc.)

-District level certified administrators (Assistant Superintendents, Executive Director, Director of Pupil Personnel, Director of Special Education, etc.)

-District level non-certified administrators (Director of Transportation, Director of Food Service, etc.)

-Identify criteria/rubric for determining when a position would qualify to be reclassified as an “administrative” position based on change/addition of duties.

The consultant shall:

-Make recommendations for adjustments to assure internal equity and external competitiveness

-Perform analysis of fiscal impact of implementing proposed changes as well as a proposed implementation schedule

-Assist in developing a communication plan for any changes being implemented

-Provide documentation and related tools to the District to independently maintain any strategies implemented

-Present findings to the Superintendent Cabinet and CIPS Board of Education

-Compensation study to evaluate classified hourly positions against benchmark peers and local market conditions and make recommendations to assure external competitiveness and internal equity

-Determine adequate staffing at the district level for operational and support areas and make recommendations to assure external competitiveness and internal equity

-develop class specifications and a workforce planning tool for operational “trade” and support positions, including a measurable formula for determining staffing allocations to meet operational needs

-the study shall include measurable staffing allocation triggers/formula for the various support positions

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is hereby entered into by and between Marine Corps and Holmes High School for the continued establishment of a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). The purpose of the JROTC program is to instill in students in United States secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States (including an introduction to service opportunities in military, national, and public service), personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment. 

• MOA MCJROTC 2024-2025 Until (4).pdf

CHANGE ORDER - a written instruction to the contractor, signed by the owner, the architect/engineer, (the Construction Manager if such services are employed) and the contractor issued after execution of the contract, authorizing additional work, deletion, or revision in the scope of work or an adjustment in the contract sum or the contract time.

This change order, $26,628.39, does not exceed the approved contingency for the project. Please find attached, KDE Change Order Document with explanations for each change order.

Contingency Balance after Change Order 004: $143,527.20

• 23-062-ChgOrd-04-Emboss Signed

Employee #5948 is requesting a leave of absence (FMLA) beginning 04/14/2025 and returning 05/26/2025.  Leave will be partially paid.

Employee #6719 is requesting a leave of absence (FMLA) beginning 04/10/2025 and returning 04/22/2025.  Leave will be partially paid.

Employee #3082 is requesting a leave of absence (FMLA) beginning 03/18/2025 and returning 03/27/2025.  Leave will be fully paid. 

Employee #6075 is requesting a leave of absence (FMLA) beginning 03/11/2025 and returning 05/30/2025.  Leave will be partially paid. 

Employee #3248 is requesting a leave of absence (FMLA) beginning 02/28/2025 and returning 03/19/2025.  Leave will be fully paid. 

Employee #6554 is requesting a leave of absence (FMLA) beginning 04/04/2025 and returning 08/18/2025. Leave will be partially paid.

Employee #6119 is requesting a leave of absence (FMLA) beginning 03/25/2025 and returning 09/08/2025 (2025-2026 SY).  Leave is partially paid.

The Steelyard project is a transformative redevelopment effort in Covington's Westside neighborhood, aimed at converting a deteriorating 130-year-old industrial building at 1564 Banklick Street into 39 rental housing units. Led by Orleans Development, this adaptive reuse project will revitalize a long-neglected site, supporting economic growth, housing affordability, and environmental remediation. 

School Tax Implications: Expected to generate $490,697 in net new tax revenue for Covington Independent Public Schools over 20 years.

• [Modified Document] Agreement In Lieu of Taxes Orleans Project in Covington.pdf
• Agreement In Lieu of Taxes Orleans Project in Covington (Final 4-15-2024)(5025454.1).docx_rcvd 4.15.25.pdf
• Orelans Development_document03-11-2025-144614(5007730.1).pdf

The Director of Special Education recommends adding two positions to the special education department.  Currently, there is one full-time Occupational Therapist employed by Covington Independent Public Schools providing necessary services according to Individual Education Programs as a related service for students.  The recommendation is for a second full-time Occupational Therapist and a half-time Physical Therapist to be added as employees of the Covington Independent Public Schools.  This will result in two full-time Occupational Therapists districtwide, and one half-time Physical Therapist districtwide.

At this time, we rely heavily on contracted occupational and physical therapy services.  These are more difficult to monitor and provide less consistency than will be possible through employees in these positions.  Cost for employees would be comparable to contracted services.  Occupational and Physical Therapy services are only provided to students within the context of special education and are billable to Medicaid for recovery of a portion of costs to the district. Please see related materials for cost comparison, longitudinal student services breakdown, and Medicaid reimbursement information.

Recommended change to the salary schedule to include “physical therapist” at the same daily rate as an occupational therapist as a classified employee. 

• Special Education Staffing March 2025

Per the recommendation of the Policy Committee, attached are the first readings for policies: 

• 01.111, District Planning
• 04.1, Budget Planning and Adoption
• 04.61, Gifts and Donations
• 09.15, Student Fees

• 01.111 with Changes _First Reading.pdf
• 01.111_Current Policy 01AX111 (10).pdf
• 04.01_Current Policy 04BC1 (5).pdf
• 04.1 with Changes_First Reading.pdf
• 04.61 with Changes _First Reading.pdf
• 04.61_Current Policy 04A61 (2).pdf
• 09.15 with Changes_First Reading.pdf
• 09.15_Current Policy 09M15 (1).pdf

This June, the District’s five-year contract with AltaFiber for internet service will come to an end. A new contract has been established and is now ready to present to the Board for approval.

• FY 2026 SBDM Staff allocation 3-25-2025
• FY 2026 SBDM staff allocation formula 2-20-2025
• FY2026SBDMStaffAllocation3252025_0.pdf
• FY2026SBDMStaffAllocationFormula2202025_0.pdf

Due to funding challenges and uncertainty around future sources, we are recommending a departmental restructure for greater efficiency. As part of this plan, we are recommending filling the director vacancy and retaining the resource coordinator position to maintain essential leadership and support.

April 26 ~ Ninth District Spring Festival, 12 p.m. -2:30 p.m. 

May 1 ~ Summer Refresh: Clothing Giveaway & Career Fair, Holmes High School, 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

May 2 ~ Ninth District Fitness Fiesta, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

May 5-9 ~ Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

May 5 ~ Young Scholars Academy (YSA) Senior Celebration, 7 p.m. @ NKU

May 8 ~ Holmes High School Arts & Culture Showcase:
                -Visual Arts Exhibition, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
                -Open Dance Class, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
                -Cooking Contest & Project Displays, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
                -Band & Chorus Concert, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.              

May 10 ~ Girls on the Run, Paycor Stadium, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

May 10 ~ Cincinnati Youth Choir Vivo Coro Spring Sing Concert, Corbett Auditorium, UC, 2 p.m.-3 p.m.

May 17 ~ TEAM Foundation Golf Outing, Kenton County Golf Course, 9 a.m.

May 19 ~ Cub Zone Showcase, John G. Carlisle Elementary, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

May 22 ~ Retirement Recognition, Holmes High School Cafe, 4 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

May 22 ~ Formal Retirement Recognition during the Board meeting, Jack Moreland Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.

May 26 ~ Memorial Day, schools and offices closed

Visit EventLink.com for all spring athletic schedules.  GO BULLDOGS! 

Pursuant to KRS 61.810 (1) the Board may go into executive session.