LAWRENCE BOE PASSES DOUBLE NICKEL TAX – AGAIN; SUBJECT TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER

Lawrence County Board of Education Special Meeting 

July 24, 2023

LCHS at 6:00 PM

By Sarah Gauze

BOE Public Relations

The Lawrence County Board of Education held a special meeting at Lawrence County High School in the library on July 24, 2023, at 6:00 PM. Board members Jim See (Chairman), Maddlene Roberts (Vice Chair), Barbara Robinson, and Susie Rice were all present in person.  Ms. Garnett Skaggs was absent due to illness.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. See.  The first order of business was the student/staff presentations, where The US Department of Labor Apprenticeship certificates were presented to LCHS students by Mr. Brian Gupton of Dataseam.  The LCHS students included Alex Brooks, Trey Hall, and Charles Smith.  

In communications, Superintendent, Dr. Robbie Fletcher, discussed the new turf football field.  Both the LCHS football team and the LCHS soccer team will be utilizing the field this fall season.  

In student learning and support services, some claims and orders of the treasurer included needed materials for handwriting and Edge Elastic.  Dr. Fletcher explained the LC School District felt it important for students to continue to learn to handwrite.

In the consent agenda, there were several membership and subscription purchases.  There were renewal membership dues for the KASS and KASA.  Other items included a MOA between LC Schools and UNITE Service Corps/Operation UNITE.  

There were also several fundraisers approved.

In construction/building and grounds projects/updates, the LCHS Vocational Education Center (LAVEC) renovation and expansion bid packages 1-12 was discussed in detail.  The only packages that did not receive bids were #2, #5, and #6.  The Codell Construction Company feels they will not have a problem finding companies to complete the projects.  The LC Board approved Phase 1 to the Codell Construction Company for the bid packages of #1, #3, #4, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, and #12 in the amount of $5,445,966.  The board also approved the rebidding for those packages with no bids.  

In other action, the LC Board approved the following tax levied by the Board per KRS.132.017, to be placed on the November General Election ballot for consideration by the voters of the district.  

“A double-nickel tax with matching state funds will allow the school district to build a new Louisa West Elementary School and make repairs and upgrades to Blaine, Fallsburg, Louisa East, Louisa Middle, and Lawrence County High School.  This only impacts real and personal property.  It does NOT impact other taxes, such as utilities tax, motor vehicle tax, sales tax, etc.

Specifically…

Are you “FOR” or “AGAINST” the Lawrence County Board of Education’s levy of an equivalent tax rate of 12.4 cents on each hundred dollars ($100) valuation of real and personal property to raise funds that would be dedicated to major renovation of existing school facilities, new construction, transportation needs, and related debt service?

Are you:

________FOR        _________AGAINST

*NOTE:  At the time of the special board meeting, property value assessments had not been released to district officials.  Based on the latest assessments, the double-nickel tax rate will drop from 12.4 cents on each $100 to 11.8 cents based on the information provided by the Kentucky Department of Education.

Other actions also included the LC Board approval of the application and agreement for the Use of District School Buses (06.5 AP.2) as requested by the LC Fair Board, waiving Policy 06.5 Use of Buses by Outside Groups, doing so under an interlocal agreement, and the district accepting liability insurance provided by Maverick Insurance. 

The board approved the 2023-2024 adult price for breakfast at $3.05 and the adult lunch price at $4.65.  The price is based on the state-mandated minimum price from the KY Department of Education.

The board approved a Declaration of Emergency for the K-8 Arts & Humanities Teacher at BES for the 2023-2024 school year.  They also approved to Declare an Emergency due to Critical Shortage for the math teacher at LCHS and at LMS for the 2023-2024 school year. 

The acknowledgment of receipt of the Superintendent’s Personnel Action/Update was approved.  The LC Board meeting was adjourned. 

The next Regular LC School Board Meeting will be held on August 21, 2023, at the LCHS library at 6:00 PM. All residents are always invited to attend the Lawrence County Board Meetings to become aware of the issues affecting our students and schools. The meetings may also be viewed virtually through the public viewing link. A copy of the most recent Lawrence County Board agendas & meetings may be found on the current Lawrence County District webpage at www.lawrence.k12.ky.us.