001papa. Uhoh. >> [music] >> Happy birthday. Hey, hey, hey. Are you ready, Dio? Good evening everybody. I will now call this regular meeting of the Faget County Board of Education to order. Miss Jackson, good evening to you. Will you please take role? >> Good evening. Amanda Ferguson, >> present. >> Amy Green, >> present. >> Tyler Murphy, >> present. >> Penny Christian, >> present. >> Monica Mundy, >> present. >> Thank you, Miss Jackson. I'd like to welcome everyone joining us for tonight's meeting both in person and on our broadcast. The first item on our agenda will be uh board vice chair Amy Green leading us through our observation moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance and a reading of the district mission statement. Before I hand it over to Vice Chair Green, I do
002want to acknowledge um that since we've last gathered in this space, our community recently lost a warrior for social justice with the passing of Porter General or PG People Senior. During PG's more than 50 years of service as the president of the Urban League of Lexon Faget County, he engaged other community advocates and district leaders to dismantle a system of busing that placed the brunt of court-ordered desegregation on black students. To address the disproportionate number of black students receiving special education services. To expand breakfast services to all schools. To diversify curriculum materials to ensure that all children see themselves in the books they read. and the history they learn. To empower greater family involvement, to find homes for students facing housing insecurity, to improve graduation rates for our black students, and to expand pathways to
003college, to provide scholarships to make college more affordable and attainable, and to hire more teachers and leaders of color, including the system's first black superintendent, Vice Chair Green. >> Thank you. PG was a founding member member and the first chair of the FCPS Equity Council established in 1994 to drive change and advised the school district on issues of fairness and opportunity. During his nine-year tenure, the council partnered with district leaders to eliminate color-coded lunch passes, identifying students who receive free and reduced lunch price meals. Modifi to modify student attendance policies to accommodate students who miss school for Jewish and other non-Christian holidays. He helped to end the custom of female students serving as little sisters to male athletes and running errands for them. He helped address the substandard building conditions for our students for of
004a school for students with special needs and advocate for the rep prioritization rep prioritization of building projects. So schools serving high concentrations of lowincome students are on par with students in more affluent neighborhoods. Fyet County Public Schools is a better school system today because PG Peoples devoted his time, his talent, and his tenacity to addressing uncomfortable truths, opening one's blind eyes, demanding necessary change, planting seeds of wisdom, awakening the conscience of our community, establishing the imperative, and coalacing action for the benefit of all children. Please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. If you are able, please stand with me for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and
005justice for all. Thank you. The mission of Fyet County Public Schools is to create a collaborative community that ensures all students achieve at high levels and graduate prepared to excel in a global society. >> Thank you, Vice Chair Green. Our first order of business is adoption of the agenda. I'll entertain a motion to accept the agenda as presented. >> I move we accept the agenda as presented. >> A motion by Borman Green. Is there a second? >> Second by board member Monday. questions on approval of the agenda. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. We'd like to open our schoolboard meetings celebrating our talented students. And tonight, of course, is no exception. I would like to invite FCPS fine arts instructional specialist uh Rachel Lo to
006come forward and introduce our student spotlight for May. Good evening, board chair Murphy, members of the board, Superintendent Ligins, and guests. My name is Rachel Lash, and I'm an instructional specialist in the fine arts. I'm honored to speak with you tonight about a new partnership with Stone Street Farms, Keeland, and the FCPS fine arts department. I am also happy to introduce our guest, student artist Elen Thomas, and her art teacher, Emily Huff from Lafayette High School. In February of this year, Gemma Freeman from Stone Street Farms reached out to the fine arts department with an idea to include student artist during the Best Turnedout competition prior to the Keeland races sponsored by Stone Street Farms on April 11th. In the world of horse racing, best turned out isn't about who runs the fastest, but about
007the heart of the stable. It celebrates the most immaculately groomed horses and the talented, hard-working grooms who are responsible for care, discipline, and overall well-being of the horse on a daily basis. During our discussions, a shared vision emerged to showcase the voices and talents of our emerging young artists. Our common goal was to highlight the importance of arts education and the deep connection between the local economy, our beloved horse industry, and the unique culture of central Kentucky. This resulted in the creation of an art competition that challenged our middle and high school students to interpret the following themes in their preferred artistic media. Best turned out, Kentucky horses, or the year of the horse. Our students express their chosen theme through drawing, painting, even in crochet to capture the beauty, dedication, and tradition of Kentucky
008horse racing. Their original works highlighted shiny coats, braided manes, polished saddles, and even the dream of a pink horse. They all did an excellent job of capturing the theme and feel of horse racing and a day at Keeland. What makes this experience even more remarkable is that the top five student winners didn't only create artwork inspired by horses and tradition. They became part of it. The winning students teachers received a $300 donation from Stone Street for consumable art supplies to be used in their classrooms. All student submissions were on display in Keeland's new Ivy Room during an exclusive Stone Street Farm celebration on April 11th. Each student and their family members were invited to enjoy a day from the reserved grandstand seats. As a part of their prize package, each artist was assigned a specific
009race. Then they stepped inside the paddic to evaluate the horses alongside industry professionals. The student personally selected the best turned out horse and presented the award and honorarium to the groom in the winner circle before the race. As an added surprise, after watching the exciting race from the winner circle, each student presented the Julip Cup trophy to the races winning jockey and owner. It was so exciting to see Faget County Public Schools represented in the program and on the Jumbotron throughout the day. Now, I'm going to turn it over to Elen to share about her experience and inspiration. When I first heard of the opportunity to submit my artwork to Keeland and Stone Street's art competition, I immediately knew I had to participate. It was great to share with the community what I enjoy doing.
010I'm extremely grateful this competition recognized all my hard work leading up to the event. My inspiration for the painting was the lively energy around Keeland on race days and how unique an event it is to Kentucky. Anywhere you are doing a race, there's an ancient and exciting spirit all around for everyone waiting to see if their horse will win. I captured this energy through my signature usage of bright colors, including as many as I could in my painting. I also added whimsical elements to this painting, such as the horses running wearing derby hats and running without jockeyies. To my surprise, my painting was sold for $500. This has given me much more confidence that my art can reach our community in ways I could have never expected. I have been a student in the Scappa
011program for two years. I have witnessed many doors open for me, especially in visual art. I would like to thank Emily Huff, Rachel Loch, and Katherine Lther for organizing and exposing me to multiple great opportunities within the arts community. They truly care for each and every student who shares a passion for art and helping us grow in skill, cultivating a creative environment. I can't thank them enough for everything that they've done, especially with this particular competition. Thank you so much, Elen. For the students, this was more than an art contest. It was an unforgettable opportunity to see how creativity can open doors, connect communities, generate income, and place artists at the center of one of Kucky's most treasured traditions. Thank you to Gemma Freeman and Stone Street Farms for providing this incredible opportunity to our
012students. Crossgate Gallery for professionally framing and installing the exhibition. Keenland for welcoming our students and their families so graciously. and to Amanda Pope with Whisper Hill Farm for supporting our young artists by purchasing their work. And to all of our student artists and their teachers for sharing their talents and love of the blueg grass with us all. Thank you. >> Thank you. you uh Miss uh thank you Miss Lo for being here and sharing this with us. Um Elen, you're a freshman correct at uh Lafayette. So uh is this what's the trajectory look like? I know that it's still early in your high school career, but is art something that you're hoping to pursue beyond high school? >> Yes, I am hoping to pursue this after high school. >> Very good. Very good. Uh any
013other questions, board members, or comments for our student artists? Is this your painting here? >> Yes. >> Okay. Awesome. I thought that's what they said. That's very fun. >> Thank you. Thanks for sharing. >> Goodbye, Sher Green. >> Thank you. I I echo board member Ferguson's comments. This is beautiful and it's so creative. So, I love the Derby hats on the horses that you really incorporate the human experience along with u the horse element. So, it sounds like you had a fantastic experience, very unique. What is something that maybe you learned through all of this that you're surprised um that starting with an art competition, but maybe you learned something different? >> I learned how to create something very special in such a short amount of time because I had learned about this two weeks
014before the deadline. So, I created this entire painting with within two weeks. >> That is extremely impressive and a fantastic life skill. I will tell you that many times surprises pop up and we still have to produce. So this that knowing that this is extraordinary that this is what you produced in only two weeks. So thank you again for sharing and and share with all of the students that participated um our appreciation with for their art. >> Chair Murphy >> um thank you so much for being here. I just want to say I love the whimsy of it like you mentioned. I love the derby hats and that there aren't jockeyies on there. Um, I think it just shows what your imagination can do and produce. Um, and I'm not very familiar with an art
015process like this. Um, was there anything in particular that or that you do with your process or that stood out to you as you were um, making this painting? You gave us a few pieces, but looking at it now and seeing so many details like the diversity in the stands um, is very thoughtful. So, I don't know if there's anything else you'd like to add. Um, mainly just adding as much color as I can. You don't see that a lot with paintings and I love anything color. So, mainly just that. >> I love it. And I'm sad somebody else scooped it up, but it's beautiful. [laughter] Beautiful. Excellent. Well, thank you very much. We expect to see many more fine pieces of art uh from you as well. And Miss Lo, I just do on
016a point of personal privilege have to say I had the chance to stop by the student art showcase at the Living Arts and Science Center. And Miss Huff, you had several students uh who were recognized that night as well. Uh and just at every age range uh from from elementary all the way up through high school. Um the pieces were absolutely stunning and incredible. Um, and I had the chance to talk to a young artist who did a um a coliseum, a design of a coliseum on cardboard and uh and talked about his inspiration for it and so forth. And so it's just it's incredible not just seeing the artwork uh but hearing uh your inspiration for it as well. So, thank you all so much for sharing your talent with us. >> Thank you.
017Thank you for your support. Thank you. >> Let's give him one more round of applause. At this time, I'll turn the agenda over to Superintendent Ligins for the superintendent's report. >> Thank you, Chair Murphy. Uh before introducing our first uh item this evening, I would like to add my own welcome to all of those who are joining us here tonight as well as online uh in our community update for May. We are excited to hear more about our collaboration with the University of Kentucky Department of Authorology. Uh it is my pleasure to invite Miranda Scully uh the executive director of public engagement to introduce our guest members. Good evening board members and superintendent Lian. Tonight we spotlight um the University of Kentucky Department of Opthalmology who is a previous Golden Apple Awards winner. Recognizing that
018many families face scheduling and transportation challenges, UK brings a fully funded mobile eye clinic directly to our campuses. What began as a pilot program for students with IEPs has blossomed into a district-wide initiative. By providing on-site screenings and free glasses, they ensure our students have the visual tools necessary to succeed. Please join me in work in welcoming Mary Con. Kennales and Lily Hopkins with the UK Department of Optomology to share more about this incredible impact. Hi guys, good evening. My name is Lily. I am the designated registered nurse for the Galasano Children's UK Healthcare Mobile Clinic. Um, my name is Mary. I'm the dedicated registered medical assistant with the mobile unit. And this mobile clinic is a multis-pety pediatric mobile clinic. Um, meaning that it hosts multiple different types of clinics, whether that's cardiology, general
019pedes, adolescent medicine, allergy, and one of them being opthalmology, which we have a partnership with Fate County. And just wanted to give some updates now that we're at the three-year mark on what we've accomplished so far and what we plan to do in the next school year. So these are just a few pictures of what our mobile unit looks like um where we perform those um eye exams. Um on the left hand um picture that is one of our opthalmologists with a um one of our resident doctors um getting the equipment that we use um to perform those eye exams on the students. And on the bottom side is the exam room that we have our students in. Um, and they really enjoy it. We do have a little um, band-aid scavenger hunt. Um, that
020is a plus um, for the students as well. All righty. So, this is looking at our growth from when we began our partnership in May of 2023 with our first school, James Lane Allen Elementary School. And in our first school year, we started with five schools as you can see there. James Lane Allen, Mary Todd, Glendover, Julius Marks, and Lancetown with the next year adding William Wells Brown Elementary into the rotation. And now we're looking at nine schools in total for the 20 26 to 2027 school year. So, we have definitely um grown since we started in 2023. And here we have our student demographics. Um, as you can see, um, 43% of our students are females and 57% are males. Um, we've had a total of 202 students on our mobile unit. Um, receive
021that free eye exam. Um, and on the lefth hand side, you can see the ages of the students um, between the ranges of 5 years old up to 13 years old. And um we've mainly seen about the 8-year-olds and the 9year-olds. And on the insurance part um self-pay, 70% of our uninsured students um have received um free glasses through our um funded grant program. and we're just happy um to provide a total of yeah all 202 students um receive classes and free eye exams. All right, so this is a review of how many students we've seen, how many of those students needed glasses. Um it breaks it down to how many students seen per school. Um, so one of our limitations are provider availability. Our opthalmologists are donating their admin time. So they're here for
022a few hours. Um, typically on Wednesdays, we come out a few Wednesdays a month to different schools on that list. And we're able to see seven students in a few hour block. This is a full eye exam. Um, they're able to get the glasses ordered and dropped off to the school if that's something that they need. We see a lot of kindergarteners that need their um initial eye exam for school enrollment. So, we've been able to help with that barrier that some families have been facing um to get their kids signed up. As you can see, in the first year, we saw 33 students. Um and then 2024 to 2025, we almost doubled it seeing 60 students with our most recent year being 109 students. So we are slowly growing as we add more students
023into the the mix, more schools and we just streamline our process more. >> Thank you. Do you guys have any questions? [clears throat] >> Thank you both for your time and thank you for the partnership. Yeah, I was talking to um a colleague in another district um just last week about a student who uh broke their glasses and it it caused some complications with getting uh the student the services they need. And and I was just thinking about this program that we have that allows and addresses situations like that for so many of our students here in Faget County. So, it's something that is not often thought about. Um, but it is certainly a need and so we appreciate, like I said, that that partnership and the we're glad to see the access being expanded
024and we hope it continues to grow. Uh, any questions or comments, board members, >> chair, >> board member Green, >> I just like to extend my gratitude for the partnership. Um, you talked about the giving of time of admin time. I'm sure it's a lot more beyond what is scheduled of their time and your time as well. And so you're just an example of a community partner that values our students and is willing to de donate their time, talent, and treasure, as we talked about earlier, to provide for our students holistically. And it's what makes Lexington so unique. And so, thank you all for taking the time to share with us the impact that you are making. It's growing. We can see the difference. I remember in 11th grade when a teacher suggested I get
025my eyes checked um and all of a sudden trees had leaves and think, you know, things like that. and it makes a world of difference. So, the fact that we are able to have a partner like you all that really can like um Chair Murphy said create that access to learning by by breaking down these barriers. So, thank you all so very much. >> Thank you, Chair Murphy. >> War Monday. >> Um thank you guys for being here. It's a true example of reducing those barriers for our students and families and meeting them where they are. Um, are you seeing repeat customers as students each year or are you pulling in new students as well? >> Yes, that's a great question. We've actually seen quite a few um kiddos back on the bus from a
026previous year for their follow-up um because some of those same barriers they faced the year prior are still present and we're able to provide that follow-up and update their prescription as needed on their glasses which has been really nice um that continued relationship with those families as well as add new kiddos to the schedule since we've grown our provider availability adding some new providers into rotation. >> And thank you so much. I was wondering because I saw the percentage of glasses provided go down, but then I wondered if that's if you were seeing some repeat students. So, like you said, reducing those barriers. Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? Board members. >> Yes, >> board member person. >> Yeah, I also wanted to thank you for being here and [clears throat] it's good
027to see the number of schools and therefore the number of students increasing that being served. I'm just curious. You said it's a full eye exam and I know the the main goal is vision screening, but have you identified other problems in some of your students and then what what referral sources do you have for that? >> Yes, that's another excellent question. So, we're able to do the full um dilating eye drops and that portion of it, but we've had a few kids that um they're worried about maybe they had increased pressure in their eyes or other testing that we could not do on the mobile clinic. So, for those kiddos, we connect them with the home clinic and then we can use their resources such as their social workers to help um arrange medical transportation
028if that's necessary. So, we have made some referrals back to the home clinic for kiddos that need a little bit more advanced care than the bus can provide. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Any other questions, board members? >> Thank you both very much. >> Thank you guys. Thank you. >> Thank you all so much for your time. At this time, uh, I would turn the meeting back over to you, Chairman Murphy. >> Thank you, Superintendent Ligins. Uh, do I know we have some guests in the audience. Do we want to go ahead and hear the presentations on K1 and K2, the pilot agreements, or are we good to move on? >> I'm fine with moving forward with the pilot agreement if you'd like to do that. Okay. Because my understanding is they're still working
029on the list for me for public comment. So, let's hear those presentations since we do have guest here for those and then we won't vote on on >> Actually, we do not have guests here for that. But we do. Our chief of staff is here if you have any questions about those. >> Okay. >> Items. >> I thought one of the same gentlemen from the planning meeting was here for one of the proposals. I saw him there. >> I thought I saw someone. Oh yes, there he is. Yes, from Midland if we have any questions. He's not prepared to present over again. It's the same presentation in the agenda that was presented on May 11th. >> Okay, very good. Any questions, board members, on the uh pilot agreements that were shared during the planning meeting
030and the follow-up information that was provided to the board. >> Chair, >> board member Green. >> I do have one on the Midland project specifically. Um we talked about providing um set aside for discounted apartment for the ed um teachers at the first years I think one through five and so I was wanting to talk about what is the process first to let people know let let teachers know and educators know that this will be available and then if that capacity that is offered is reached will there be an availability to increase that capacity for educators? I can say that um to in order to let folks know uh new teachers know we will um have a process set up through our human resource department and our onboarding um as people are hired to give
031them that option and Mr. Shapiro has stated that if the set aside is exhausted they are more than willing to expand those offerings to more teachers. >> Thank you. And just to cover what that offering is would um Mr. Shapiro or you be able to discuss how you've come to that discount. Mr. Shapiro, if you're >> How's that? Okay. Um, thanks for the the question. Yeah, we're happy to to talk about that. The the way we created the program was we took a look at the um first year salaries of um teachers and then we took a look at our rents. Um and our rents are uh largely work workforce uh level rents. Um so they're designed for um folks between 80% of AMI and 120% of AMI. This is the v the majority of
032the the apartments in Midland Station. Um, so we took a look at uh our sort of standard rent for a one-bedroom and uh took 30% of that um which would be and and then we match that up with what a teacher would be able to afford. Um sorry there there were 30%. That's the general rule of thumb is that folks are rent burdened if they're having to spend more than 30% of their income um on uh on their rent. And so we took a look at the 30% of the income of a firstear teacher and then looked at our rents and we saw that we it would be helpful for us to provide a $300 discount. Um, and that would bring the um that would bring the the the bring it below the 30% threshold
033for someone's first year teachers gross salary. And so we decide to um offer that to to five people. It's our um five teachers to to start. It's our hope that um that this is a program that's used and that um we're happy to talk about expanding it as well. We think teachers would be amazing tenants, you know, in in Midland Station. and we'd love to have as many of those as as we could hold. But that's how we came up with the formula. >> Thank you. Chair Murphy, I have another question. >> Um I had discussed this um project with multiple community partners and one raised an idea that they asked to share that in your um communal spaces that maybe the I think the bluegrass community foundation is going to have some space. >>
034That's potential >> potential. But if they're in any of those community spaces, um, and an idea they presented was to have an a like a tutoring space, an open space that maybe students and educators could have a safe space to meet for tutoring services or for study groups or things like that. So, I wanted to make sure that I shared um that idea and I can connect you with the people that made that suggestion. But >> yeah, we'd love we'd love to talk to them. All right, that's great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. >> Anything else to add, Mr. Bruno? Okay. Very good. And we will vote on those in the action uh portion of the meeting, but at this time, I think we are
035prepared to move forward with the public comment portion. Um, next item on our agenda is public comment. Fate County Board of Education policy 01.45 states 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 of the public unless deemed an emergency. At the beginning of the meeting, members of the public who have signed up prior to the meeting are invited to speak on items that are on the agenda. If guest or public speakers uh wish to share documents with the board, they will be asked to place them in a basket located near the public speaker signin area. Props will not be permitted on the dis and
036uh Miss Jackson will distribute any submitted documents to board members um during the meeting. Speakers will not be allowed to make any disparaging or critical remarks about individuals or employees of the district. Uh instead, those issues are processed to the district's complaint procedures, which afford the individuals to whom comments or complaints are directed the opportunity for response and due process. Furthermore, members of the public are encouraged to model civil and respectful discourse and conduct. This is not intended to be a time for debate or direct engagement. The board will take the public's input into consideration uh when making final decisions this evening. [snorts] The total time for public comment and action meetings on matters appearing on the agenda is typically limited to 30 minutes. The time allotted to individual speakers at the discretion of the
037chair depending on the total number of speakers and the lateness of the hour. However, in considerations of others opportunities to speak, individual speakers will be limited uh to up to uh two additional speakers yielding time to them. And those yielders need to be present in order to receive that yielded time. Uh, at this time I will call you forward. I don't have an exact number for you, but I I know we are going to go over our 30-minute time, so I'm going to ask each speaker to keep their remarks to 60 seconds or less. And of course, if time is yielded, I will indicate that when inviting speakers up to the podium. Our first speaker this evening, uh, and if I mispronounce any names, please forgive me, is uh, Kina Adams. Is that correct? Is
038that pronunciation correct? >> What? Sen, I'm sorry. Sen Adams and uh Brandon Payne has yielded time is is Mr. Payne here. Okay, so that will be two minutes and following Miss Adams will be Phil Morgan. Is this on? Okay. All right. Um All right. Good evening. My name is Dr. S Adams. I'm the parent of an SPS graduate, a graduating senior, an upcoming junior, and a soon kindergartener. I also am a local business owner, and a member of the student district support team that whose position was recently eliminated. Dr. Ligins, I want to uh start by saying for the past year, I've defended you in many spaces because I truly believe the criticism directed at you is rooted not in your actions, but in who you were, and I could not stand for that. However,
039the lack of accountability in the situation that we are in is nothing more than disappointing. I understand the importance of delegation and trusting your staff, the concerns are raised for more than a year and leadership has a responsibility not just to trust but to verify. Um, had those concerns been addressed sooner, the impact of the situation may have been less severe. We have been told positions were cut because they did not directly impact students, that's simply not true for our department. Since April alone, we've trained more than 4,000 staff in classroom management, behavior management, trauma-informed care. I have a longer list. I'll keep it short. But in other critical supports, we have provided over 1500. Was [music] that two minutes? That wasn't two minutes. >> That was not Yeah. Added an additional 60 seconds. >>
040Um we have provided district-wide initiatives across um tiers 1, two, and three. And our help, our our work ensures students are ready to learn and staff are prepared to teach them. Um during the question and answer, we were told there was not yet a figure. However, now $11 million is supposed to be saved. This raises important questions. If the projected savings were known, why were they not shared with them with the public? If they were not known, how are these decisions affecting 120 positions made without clearly communi a communicated financial target? The sequence of events creates an appearance that these cuts may have been driven more by optics than um a transparent datadriven plan. Questions remain. How many positions were already vacant held by employees planning to retire? How many schoolbased members will ultimately dis
041be displaced? And separately, if specific figures regarding the alleged financial mismanagement since 2008 cannot be provided, why mention it at all? Broad claims without supporting data appear more like deflection than explanation. We truly need you all as leaders to be willing to answer difficult questions openly and honestly. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next our next speaker is Bill Lear and Mr. Lear has time yielded from Richard Gaines. Mr. Gaines is here. Uh oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Morgan and then Mr. Leer will be after Mr. Morgan. >> Hi every one minute though. Um hi, I'm Phil Morgan. I am a uh parent. I am a taxpayer. I'm a small business owner that pays a lot of taxes that goes into this school system that is being mismanaged. Um, I noticed this this time that you
042guys have made it harder to sign up for the public. Um, you're now asking for agenda items. I've got some breaking news. Everything on that agenda is tied to the financial mismanagement of this. >> Thank you, Mr. Morgan. [applause] Uh, our next speaker is Bill Lear, uh, who has had time yielded. Mr. Leer, you'll have two minutes. >> My name is Bill Leer. I could say the same thing about myself. As the gentleman said, my direct involvement with the public schools here goes back to 1956. Um, I have been involved in educational issues all of my adult life, including my years as a member of the General Assembly. Um, it represent the 79th district. More to the point, in recent years, I've been a part of a group of business leaders and faith leaders that
043has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the leadership of the Faget County Public Schools to deal with tough issues, including tax issues, t tax issues for substandard uh school buildings and issues for public safety in the aftermath of the unfortunate wave of school shootings that we saw we've seen across the country. We have viewed the current financial issues with dismay, but we have gotten engaged. And and to borrow to borrow lines from one of my favorite movies, Apollo 13, we have a problem. The the way to deal with it is work the problem. And I'm here today to tell you that the people that are working the problem are the right people. I've known Kina Co for decades. She knows what she's doing. She has the skills, the diligence, the commitment, and the independence. I congratulate the superintendent
044and the board for putting her and her team in place. I know some of the people that that they have got from the private sector like Michael Foley, one of the best CPAs in in Lexington for 50 years. Hunter Stout, CFO at Keeland. They are digging into this. They're giving you answers. I would keep them in place, not not run away from them. Embrace what they do, what they the superintendent and the board come up with and let's fix the problem. That's our position on this. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Leair. Our next speaker is uh Jabz Caribelloo who has had time yielded from uh Destiny Clark. Is Destiny Clark here? And Cameron McDaniel and Ruth Okay, you'll have three minutes. >> Thank you. The last time I spoke at this podium, I spoke
045about the theater concept of suspension of belief. Last month, I told you Dumbar students were being asked to look at rain soaked classrooms and believe that we were a priority. But today, the district is asking for a new kind of delusion. We are being asked to look at empty libraries, overworked staff, and stripped down hallways and believe that students won't be affected. We are being asked to believe that a school is just rooms and textbooks rather than the teachers, custodians, librarians, and counselors who actually keep it alive and thriving. You aren't just asking us to ignore the crumbling walls anymore. You're asking us to ignore the people inside of them. I can't even effectively advocate for FCPS students education because the financial state of this district is currently incapable of supporting its staff and students.
046Last month, at the direction of the chief financial officer, the district announced cuts to staff. The the district's justification for these reductions was that no students would be affected because educators were spared. Not only was that untrue, as many untenured teachers across the district were cut, but it fundamentally misunderstands how a school operates. The superintendent didn't just trim the edges, he created a compounding crisis for our support staff. He gutted essential uh district level supporting positions. And those responsibilities didn't magically disappear. They rolled downhill. Uh district library and media support staff who used to handle the necessary behind the scenes labor of barcoding and cataloging books um has fallen now into uh has fallen onto our school librarians. But at the same time, the superintendent has slashed our librarian summer work days and added to
047their mandated tasks. In a recent email to staff, the superintendent stated, "I would fail in my duty as your leader if I ignored reality." The reality is that cutting the hours of our librarians, cafeteria staff, custodians, and administrators is actively degrading our school environments. The reality is that you cannot cut a worker's hours, adding to their workload, and claim that students aren't affected. The reality is that a poll commissioned by WKYT showed that 93% of participants believe FCPS leaders should be fired over the district's financial failures. The reality is that the superintendent's delayed self-imposed pay cuts is a performative PR stunt in which he waited until public outcry became deafening to shoulder a fraction of what he has asked staff to lose. The reality is that he earned six times the average employee salary while
048doing a fraction of the heavy lifting. Even with a self-impo imposed pay cut, FCPS students, we demand better for our education. We demand better because this district prioritizes bureaucratic optics over operational reality. We demand better because a limited and uh because a pay cut isn't you know what y'all need to remove the superintendent and that starts tonight. Thank you. Our next speaker is Leanne Seabor. Miss Seabour. Our next speaker is Leanne Seabor. [cheering] [applause] Leanne Seabour is our next speaker. You'll have one minute. Followed by uh followed by Ray Daniels. Good evening. I know that it is not easy admitting you were wrong. But you all are only hurting our students and our district by continuing down the path of financial ruin because you all do not know how to balance a budget. At this
049point, your mistakes don't look like mistakes and more like criminal activity. You try to sneak in a tax to cover up the money you all have lost and blown through. You rush through Dr. Lian's contract renewal, probably knowing that you don't actually have the money to pay him his salary. Besides two of the board members, all y'all do is nod and vote yes. The board member representing my district, who is not here, Penny Christian, has yet to respond to one of the many emails I've sent her since she was elected. Dr. Ligins should be fired, as well as anyone who has had a hand in the financial decisions of this district. >> Thank you. Ray Daniels is our next speaker. You'll have one minute. >> [applause] >> Okay, got one minute. Uh, my name is
050Ray Daniels, former board member. Uh, I just really want to address the board. I appreciate you guys for your service. First of all, what you guys do is very difficult, very hard. Uh, but you hold the power to deliver us a balanced budget. We have to trust and believe in everything that you guys do. The process is pretty simple. You guys have one employee. That's that gentleman sitting right there. You can ask of anything with the district and get any analytics, any numbers, any drivers, any facts that you need. We need you to unite this community and get the devices out of it. We need you guys to present to us a balanced budget that will alleviate the stress of what we've been through and set a path forward that we can all believe and
051trust will work. And that's what we're asking for. That's what the business community is asking for. That's what the faith community is asking for. We need you guys to take the lead and direct the district and deliver us a budget that we can believe and that we can count on. And we believe you guys can do it. We trust that you can do it. We have confidence that you can do it. Thank you for your service. >> Thank you, Mr. Daniels. I'm going to ask members of the audience to please be respectful while people are speaking at the podium. Uh our next speaker this evening is Lindseay Deppenrock. I should have two minutes. >> Can you give me the name of your >> Hello, O'Brien? >> Let me Oh, yes. It's down here. Okay. Is
052Carla O'Brien here? Okay. Thank you. Two minutes. I'm here this evening to keep you informed about how the cuts to the library program are affecting our students. Now, two weeks ago, a shipment of these new books arrived at my school. When I unboxed them to get them on the shelves, um I scanned them their barcodes and they were not yet in the system. This is an atypical occurrence. So, I reached out to our library and instructional resources team, the LIR team to see how to get their records into Destiny Discover and ready for checkout. In the meantime, the books sat on my desk and a student walked in. He saw them and moved through them and he asked, "Can I check one of these out?" I had to say no. With the reduction of our
053LIR team for the 2627 school year, those ladies have been feverishly working to rep prioritize book orders and book processing to set our school libraries up to be as excess as successful as they can for August. And our new book orders were placed lower on the priority list. These cuts mean that school libraries have lost a huge resource of getting books efficiently onto the shelves and into the hands of students. Last year alone, the LR team LR team processed 20,353 books. Now that librarians work days have decreased and our workload has significantly increased will be the ones to process the books from now on. Students will have to wait longer for books that satisfy their needs. The cuts to librarians work days and the elimination of the LI team are already affecting our current students.
054Next year, the effects will be even greater regarding the access to new and relevant material. These cuts are widening the achievement gap, perpetuating the system of halves and have nots. Please keep asking questions specifically about our library programs that enhance student instruction, access to information, and to materials that help them discover who they are as learners. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Abby Pelffrey. You'll have one minute. Uh Kim Wooll Kim Woollen will be our next speaker. >> Hello. I stand here before you today as a parent, community member, and taxpayer in the city of Lexington. I'm here to call for the resignation of Superintendent Demetrius Ligins. I do not come from the financial world, but I do have 20 plus years of business and leadership experience. In no other company would
055this type of leader still have a job. We've watched the money continue to be squandered on unnecessary things such as pricey trips, fancy lunches, buildings we don't need, lobbyists, PR firms, and additional audits. I've witnessed firsthand important programs such as art being taken out of elementary schools, less and less teachers every year, and now 120 FC FCPS employees are without a job. Why, you ask? Because the incompetence of the superintendent. At the end of the day, the budget is his responsibility and the buck stops there. We are in a financial crisis to the tune of $110 million. There is zero trust. It's time for change. Ligans must go. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Kim Wooll. You'll have one minute. Following Miss Woollm, you'll have Don Webb. Well, I feel like I'm a broken
056record here. You guys should be used to hearing what we're all saying. $23 million. That is what Lian's overspent since 2023. Not to mention that $400,000ish salary that this man makes. You're paid a lot of money to run this district or supposedly run this district. It's time for you to go. You are not wanted here anymore. We want you out of this school district. You are bringing us down. >> That's all I got to say. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is C is Don Webb. [applause] Uh is Alice Hilton here? Okay. You'll have two minutes, Miss Web. >> I'm sorry. Repeat that. >> Cassandra back. >> Cassandra Vogel. >> Yes. >> Okay. I had her as a separate speaker, so I will yield her time to you. So, three minutes. >> Thank you. My
057name is Don Webb. I coordinate the Tates Creek Coalition over over in the Center Parkway. We serve all the Tates Creek High School um feeder schools. And um one of the conc concerns I had was the one of the total departments that was eliminated from the district which was the family and community engagement team. This is a team that really helps our underserved families and our atrisisk students. And I'm really concerned about what's going to happen to those students. And with that, I've actually asked three diff I've had three different administrators that have told me three different things. The first one when I asked what's going to happen, who's going to take over the work, the first one was the family resource center people at each individual school can do it. Um that is they
058are already overworked and the work falls outside of their primary job duties. The district level face team currently provides critical support to the F FRC staff in schools. Many questions and concerns from families and community partners require district level coordinations and answers that individual schools cannot provide on their own. Without district face support, schools will likely to see a decrease in new programming and outreach efforts. Due to loss of district support, schools may have to reduce or eliminate these types of events. Schools that work collab collaboratively are far more effective effective than schools operating in isolation and solos or silos. That will be the case if we do not somebody at the district level working with that. A key concern moving forward is determining who will provide the coordination and collaboration support previously handled at
059the district level. The next answer I got was what do you what we do not know but we'll figure it out as we go. This is not a good answer. um how and when who is currently in charge of figuring this out? How many students and families will be inversely affected by these changes? The other one the other answer we've received the work will continue but there is no plan district leadership has been able to produce for this work to continue. Some of the many programs that the district face team now does will totally not have anybody overlooking with overlooking them such as the AllPro Dads program. um and the end of year event. Stuff the bus that brings essential school supplies to vulnerable students. Cuts and curls which allows kids to have haircuts so
060they look good when they come to school. Um Whiz Kids which is the yearly program to get kids ready for kindergarten. Community back to school rallies and coordination between outside agencies and school ACT SAT prep courses. Um, we seek clarity as the Tates Creek Coalition on Fyet County's plans to support these students and safeguard the progress they have made. Specifically, would like to know who will be responsible for implementing these initiatives and what the detailed plan entails. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next our next speaker is Larry Moore. Following Mr. Moore, we'll have Karen Pendleton. I have already shared with the board an email that had some most of this data in it, but I'm going to share it here too. Before you approving the tan and the tenative budget, the public deserves clarity
061on the district's cash flow. The re the resolution states interest rate will not exceed 5% but the board has not been shown an amateuration schedule at the maximum rate without knowing the total interest cost repayment date or whether the interest accumulates of revenues deferred. The board cannot make meet its fiduciary duties. You were told a short-term loan is necessary to meet payroll. That raises a serious question. Why is FCPS deferring tax revenue at a time it needs to borrow money? Deferring revenue may be a community gesture, but during a rating crisis with two Moody's downgrades and a review for third timing matters. Has Moody's been informed of this borrowing loan? [music] >> Thank you, Mr. Moore. Our next speaker is Karen Pendleton. After uh Miss uh Pendleton, we'll have uh Clark Williams. >> Good evening.
062I graduated from Faget County Schools in 1982 and somehow they managed to balance the budget and to get things done as far as I understand. Um I had an excellent education. in the buildings were wonderful. It was great. I really feel like Dr. Ligins needs to be fired over his lack of fiscal, you know, fiscal lack of concern over how we the people's money is spent. I don't like I was I was really upset when I heard y'all were trying to raise our property tax rates again. I feel like my property taxes are already way too high and I'm I'm about to retire and I need to be able to pay, you know, to stay in my house. It's my house. So, if you all need to respect our tax dollars and how they're used
063and use them appropriately and I think he's overpaid and he hasn't been doing his job, unfortunately. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Clark Williams. Following Mr. Williams, we'll have Heidi Thompson. FCPS has hit historic academic milestones. That's true. And there has not been nearly enough focus on that reality. As one who has an accounting degree and background, I'm one of those who will say that FCPS must shore up, absolutely must shore up both his financial position and reporting. And it appears from what has been presented in recent weeks that necessary steps are being taken, but emotion, divisiveness, and headline grabbing rhetoric will not get us there. And with God, all things are possible. But right now, if Dr. Ligins did resign, as some are calling for, the district's climate is in no way conducive
064to attracting new leadership that we would want or need. And in order to change that reality, we must work with who we already have to move the district forward for our children. This is not optional if the main thing truly is the main thing. >> Thank you, Mr. Williams. Our next speaker is Heidi Thompson. Following Miss Thompson, we'll have Mark Russell. My name is Dr. Heidi Thompson. I've worked in this district for almost 25 years, including the last 18 years as an elementary teacher. I'm incredibly angry and deeply disappointed the district is facing these financial challenges. We were told these financial problems date back to 2008. The district overspent the general fund by 59 million this year and $ 38 million last year. Those decisions did not happen in 2008. They happened under the current
065administration. [applause] Inside our schools, teachers and staff are expected to follow strict spending rules every single day. This year, I personally spent more than $300 of my own money for a family STEM night because Title One funds were not approved. Teachers do this every single day. Why are teachers paying out of pocket while central office overspends by millions? It's time for the people who led this district into financial crisis to step aside. >> Thank you, Miss Thompson. Mark Russell is our next speaker. Following uh following Miss Russell, we'll have Hannah Rivera. >> I'm Dr. Mark Russell, a former teacher in Faget County Public Schools and taxpayer. I'm here to remind the board of education and the general public the checks were written by Fyet County public schools to a Texas software company for roughly $200,000.
066These amounts were not approved by the board of education or the superintendent and they bore the signature of the director of finance. The incident begs the question, who is in charge here? Is it the director of finance or is it the superintendent of schools? Finally, there's nothing wrong with a school renting space in a building. And this is from the Herald Leader today. Uh, but when that building is a church and when the pastor's wife works for the district, >> Mr. Russell, >> with disrespect, >> Mr. Russell, please do not make comments about personnel of the district. >> I mentioned no names, but when that building is a past, >> you have to ask yourself about conflict of interest. Public trust in Dr. Lian's ability to lead has reached a low point. >> Thank you.
067Our next speaker is Hannah Rivera. [applause] >> Is Don Perkins in the audience? >> Yes. >> Okay, you will have two minutes, Miss Rivera. Hello, I'm Hannah Beth Rivera. I'm here tonight as a mom whose daughter will begin at FCPS in the fall. I'm also here as a mom who is running for the 93rd House District because our current representative, an employee of SCPS and a union member, has failed to represent her constituents on this issue, failing to call out those responsible for this mess, but only asking for vague resignations. So, let me be very clear in what I'm asking. Superintendent Ligins, Chair Murphy, Vice Chair Green, and Member Christian should resign. The decisions or lack thereof of these individuals will echo through my child's entire K through2 education. There is no repairing trust or
068rebuilding fences. And I would bet that there is much more to be discovered in this disaster than we even know. I worked many years in higher education. I know the culture and the games that you play. You think that money falls out of the sky for those here in high administration positions while our classrooms run dry. But money doesn't fall out of the sky. It falls out of my pocket and out of those people's pockets. So again, please resign. Let competent individuals with character moves FCPS forward for our students, our teachers, and our community. And lastly, I want to end by saying thank you to those who are trying to change this situation, specifically Kiera, Matthew V, and others here tonight who are speaking up. We can fix a budget spreadsheet with the right people
069at the helm, but we cannot fix the character character of those who got us here. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Philip Jones. Mr. Jones, you will have one minute. Following Mr. Jones, you'll have Sheila Carmarmac. My name is Philip Jones. I am the father of one FCPS graduate and three current students. I am sure sure you began your service with intentions to make a positive impact on young lives and ensure they learn valuable lessons. Though this happens in the classroom thanks to our teachers and support staff, it is not happening with district leadership. As long as Dr. Liggins remains superintendent. Students are learning that you don't have to take accountability if you have enough power. They are learning you don't have to take responsibility for your failures if you can blame someone else.
070That can be changed to some extent if Dr. Ligins admits his failed leadership and resigns. If he won't do that, the board must teach the students that even the most powerful will be held accountable by firing him. By failing to take this action, the board will continue to pass along the unfortunate lesson that making excuses and blaming others can keep you in power if you know the right people. Our kids deserve better. Dr. Ligins must resign or be fired. The one that led us into this ditch can't be trusted to miss out. >> Mr. Jones, our next speaker [applause] is Sheila Carmarmac. Following Miss Carmarmac, we'll have Tiffany Brown. My name is Sheila Carmarmac. Um, I've graduated three students. I'm a past PTA leader, community leader, and a person who prays for our students, our
071teachers, and all leadership. Tonight, I'm angry yet hopeful. I'm angry that I'm here instead of doing the many other tasks that I have to do in my roles. I'm angry that the hundred others of us who are here to speak about the atrocities in the budget shortfalls um that have occurred during Superintendent um Lian's time overseeing operations are forfeiting their time with their kids and with their families and with their community responsibilities. I am hopeful that those of us who have began begun to be uh pay attention to this issue and have begun to talk about it with others in the community will demand the resignation of superintendent Ligins for dereliction of his duties to this community. I am hopeful that this community will identify the problems that led to the over expenditures. >> Thank
072you, Miss Carmarmac. Our next speaker is Tiffany Brown. You'll have one minute. Following Miss Brown, we'll have Justin Sharer. Good evening members of the board and superintendent. I'm speaking today as a parent in the district and a finance professional. As a parent, I'm deeply deeply concerned about the state of the financial management and decisions being made. One area of particular concern is elimination of sustainability positions, roles that have historically delivered measurable cost savings to the district. Decisions of this nature raise questions about whether the full value of these positions and their long-term financial impacts have been adequately considered. They are prompt broader concerns about how other staffing positions are being evaluated. I continue to hear about cuts that are affecting students in ways that community was previously assured would not occur. From a professional standpoint,
073I find the district's financial position troubling. There appears to be an imbalance in the organizational structure, and it is important to assess whether administrative overhead at the highest level is contributing to the challenges we now face. Accountabil accountability and leadership is essential, particularly during times of financial strain. >> [music] >> I'm asking for the resation of Ligins in the board to resign. >> Thank you for your time, Miss Brown. Our next speaker is Justin Sher is uh our Michael McKinley here and Adriel Camilule. So it'll be three minutes. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the Faget County School Board, board chair, and members of FCPS. I'm speaking about the budget and finances with as it pertains to potential collective bargaining. My name is Justin Shar and I'm the proud president of Teamsters Local Union
074783 in Louisville, Kentucky and affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters representing more than 1.3 million members across North America. Tonight I am also speaking on behalf of Dustin Ryan Stetler who could not be here. He is the president of the Kentucky EFL CIO who represents more than 130,000 union members across the Commonwealth through dozens of labor organizations. The Kentucky FL and unions fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, stronger communities, and dignity on the job through solidarity and collective action. President Ryan Stetler is away on union business, couldn't be here this evening, but he yielded his time to me to allow uh me the privilege of speaking on his behalf. And let me be absolutely clear on where we are, why we are here. I'm here today in solidarity with the brave men and
075women of Kentucky 120 United Aft who is asking this board for recognition and collective bargaining rights. They are simply asking for a seat at the table. The opportunity to negotiate a collective bargain agreement that ser secures [clears throat] workers rights, fair wages, workplace protections, defined benefits, and a clear process for representation and accountability. They're here tonight right here behind me. These workers are demanding what they have earned: recognition, respect, [snorts] and the right to negotiate a legally binding collective bargain agreement that guarantees accountability, not empty promises. FCPS speaks often about transparency, accountability, partnership, and values. These those are admirable principles, and they are exact same principles that labor unions fight for every day. Those words sound good on a website. But values are not measured by slogans. They are measured by action. If you truly
076believe in this partnership, then stop treating these workers like spectators and start treating them like stakeholders. You cannot be more transparent than opening the books and negotiating openly with your employees. You cannot be more accountable than putting commitments in writing. You can you cannot be stronger partner than sitting down at the table and allowing workers to bring forward ideas to improve this district. And you cannot demonstrate stronger values than giving your employees a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their livelihoods and success of your schools. As we say in labor, if you're not at the table, you're on the menu. The truth is simple. No, no school district functions without its workers. I speak from experience, not theory. I represent nearly 800 employees at Jefferson County Public Schools. At JCPS, we have a collective
077bargaining agreement. We have faced difficult challenges together, including navigating more than a $100 million budget shortfall. We work collaboratively to address transportation problems, improve routes, reduce late pickups and drop offs, and correct wage disparities so employees could reach to succeed to exceed market standards. We [snorts] accomplished those things not through conflict but through collaboration. We sat down together, identified problems, strategized solutions, and worked together like adults with with shared goal of making our school safer and stronger and more effective for students in the community. >> Wish had more time. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our next speaker is uh Amanda Hurley. Is Nema Brewer here? [applause] Is Nema Brewer here? Okay, so that will be two minutes. >> Good evening. I just asked the board tonight to please review and discuss the 27 salary schedule
078before you actually approve it. Um, as you've already approved work calendar reductions impacting librarians, technology staff, uh, law enforcement, custodians, no changes in the salary schedule is being shown to the administrative additive schedule. That means the principles get their certified salary plus an additive some up to an additional $81,000. So your approval will definitely prioritize admin over your teachers, your librarians, your law enforcement, etc. Also, uh we had a presentation a month or two ago about the desire to have more national board certified teachers. That's awesome. I'm nationally board certified. It is amazing and and our students will benefit. However, if you approve this 27 um salary schedule, you are going to be penalizing every person who goes through the candidacy of national board certification because the new rules are not going to allow them
079to get their rank change until the following year. They will lose a year's worth of a rank change. We finish in May, we will not be able to get our rank change until the following school year. We lose out a whole year. That's abysmal. Finally, I want to know how you will repay the $110 million loan. I just want to ask that you facilitate, allow, encourage professional dialogue. Um, our questions aren't necessarily meant to antagonize, but really to understand. And we want a place at the table. Uh, we want presentations that actually show pros and cons, not things that just say there's no downside. Um, we want to be stakeholders with you and help you make decisions. In short, I suggest and I hope that you will support people who are teaching students day in
080and day out and impacting them. I'm asking for no new taxes and I ask that you figure out how to live within our district's means. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Our next speaker is uh Dvita Gatewood and I believe let's see is Chad Peeler here and James Woodhead. Okay, you all have three minutes. I stand here as the mother of former graduates from S uh FA County Public Schools who are now college graduates and uh my youngest child has special needs. I'm a former district employee, a former coach, and PTSA president. I have both experienced and watched current district leadership repeatedly fail our students, teachers, staff, and community. a stand here as an active member of multiple organizations that seek solutions to issues that impact our community and our youth. Most importantly, I'm standing
081here as a member of Central Kentucky Chapter of Kuckians for the Commonwealth. We have repeatedly attempted to prevent harm that has occurred due to mismanagement by this administration and a lack of accountability by the board chair. Unfortunately, my voice and the voices of our members of our organization have been ridiculed and ignored. I am here to say enough is enough. We demand real solutions. Our KFTC chapter has repeatedly uh asked for budget transparency, protections for our most impacted students and families and the right to a union contract for teachers and staff that are now paying for this administration's mistakes. As a housing justice advocate that has faced housing insecurity, I watched this administration and board chair mismanage McKenna Vento supports only to turn around and attempt to silence the community, including KFTC, which demanded staff
082for our homeless uh our houseless students. We urged the district to ensure that all our students receive universal free school meals only for district administration to request increased meal costs for our families who cannot afford it. most of them. Anyway, as a mother of a student with an IEP that has multiple severe disabilities, I was dismayed to see district administration attempt to target a program composed of students that receive special education services that don't thrive in traditional classrooms. I am concerned about the state of special education in this district, especially in regards to our African-American young men. How many more times does this district have to make the news for this this administration to realize we need more resources in our classrooms and less suits in these offices? My son school has special ed education
083staff has that has been there for over 25 years who aren't given the dignity, respect or compensation worthy of their education, experience and service. Neither the staff nor my son are expendable. And let me say that again. Neither the staff nor my son are expendable. to bal to balance an imaginary budget. I am tired of the district treating our staff, teachers, and students like they don't matter. Why has the superintendent been refusing to meet with organized teachers and staff? Why has the board chair refused to allow teachers and staff to have a democratic vote for unionization? Another board member seems to forget her PTSA training for the kids. Penny Christensen. This is why KFTC has endorsed the right to collective bargaining for public school teachers. Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. Our next
084speaker is Jessica Cleveland. [applause] Jessica Cleveland, you'll have one minute. And following Miss Cleveland will be Ryan Davis. [applause] Okay. Um, last week at the budget Q&A, someone asked how much the cuts were going to save. And for some reason, I mean, we have a number now, but we didn't have a number then. So, I'm just wondering how we just randomly picked 120 positions without knowing how much that would save. Um, when I cut things for my budget, I definitely know how much it saves me. Um, we also were told that we're only going back to 2025, but as someone said earlier, then why even mentioned 2008? seems like a distraction and um trying to avoid accountability. Now, I'm very concerned about the status of repairs for the schools that are in desperate need, including
085uh my child's school, Dumbar, Lafayette, and various others. Um and then finally, I'd like to say, please stop turning off comments on video stream, on social media, as it silences the voices of taxpaying public and is actually a violation of the law. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Ryan Davis. is uh let's see here. Do we have uh Sarah Bealey here and Laura Harky? Okay, you'll have three minutes. All right. Um so I'm a parent and a teacher in Faget County. 120 positions, as we all know, have been eliminated as a result of your fiscal irresponsibility. Dozens of loyal, hardworking, dedicated, and passionate employees of FCPS are out of a job during one of the worst economies in recent history. And they don't really know why. Every single person facing unemployment coming July 1st
086deserves at the very least to know why their position, their work has been determined to be dispensable. How were these decisions made? I encourage the board and Dr. Lianigans to make this information publicly available. We've been told the elimination of these positions will save the district 11 million. I want to ask as you quote to quote Mr. Bruno, figure out how we're going to continue to provide these services with fewer people. Have you considered the unintended cost of eliminating these positions? We all know that it is lower level staff and teachers that will have to do more to provide opportunities and services to students. You say the district is dedicated to transparency, but you refuse to clarify and provide any real information. An additional example of your trans lack of or your transparency is to
087say that admin assistants have had five days cut from their calendar. These employees thought that would mean that they are going to work five less days. In reality, they have had three paid days from fall break cut and only two actual work days. So, they are only working two less days, but being paid for five less days. It has been a year since this board has begun losing the trust of the community um with trying to push through the OOLT and you have become no more transparent. You have eroded trust that will take years to rebuild. Additionally, over the last year, I have been coming to meetings asking the board along with many others to let FCPS staff vote on having a collectively bargain contract. Stop ignoring us and let us vote. If you do
088not value your staff, you cannot value our students. >> Thank you, Miss Davis. Our next speaker is uh Tany Coats is let me scroll up here is uh Michelle Hess here. >> Okay, you're you have two yielders. Is that what correct? >> Yes. >> Um who was the name of the other yielder? I'm sorry. >> Stephanie King. Okay, I will. Okay, I have her down as a separate speaker, so I'll remove her and yield her time to you. So, it's three minutes. >> Okay. Good evening. My name is Tany Coats and I'm both a teacher in this district and the parent of three children who attend Fyet County Public Schools. I would like to begin with a quote from a recent interview Kelsey Sodto did with Senator Don Douglas. He said, I quote, "This is
089not personal. This is not political. This is not partisan. And this is not racial because I know those accusations are coming." Over the past year, I have watched what feels like a tragedy unfolding within our district. I will be the first to admit, because I can do that, that for many years, I did not pay close attention to the decisions being made by our board and district leadership. That is on me. Part of that came from my own experiences as an employee when I raised concerns and was dismissed or discouraged from speaking openly. Another part of me simply wanted to believe that people entrusted with managing our schools and finances were asking the hard questions and holding one another accountable. Sadly, I no longer believe that has consistently been the case. I am grateful to
090the individuals who have taken the time to sound the alarm when something did not appear right. At first, I hoped there was missing context or information that would help explain the concerns being raised. Much to my dismay, this did not happen. The timeline of events, which many have already alluded to over the last year, should be enough to make everyone in Lexington outraged. Let me review. First, the renewal of a superintendent's contract six months early ahead of a scheduled round of announcements that due to national politics, we were looking at a $16 million shortfall. A coincidence? I think not. Then to make matters worse, leadership then attempted to underhandedly pass the OOLT tax on a holiday weekend only to remove it from the agenda after community outcry, which then it was later deemed unlawful. All
091the while, people had been speaking at board meetings regarding our financial state only to be dismissed as noised. Then came the budget work committee which I might add was handpicked whose members admitted they weren't given adequate information to accomplish the task tasks levied on them. Last was the right size bright future project. Faget County has a long history of great ideas tailored to align with certain agendas that they simply can't afford. And don't get me started with the nepit nepotism in Faget County public schools which has utterly obliterated staff morale. I recently too reflected deeply on the story of Nehemiah building the wall. While some may have heard a story of perseverance, I heard a narrative far more familiar to our community. Leadership overseeing a construction project, luxury travel and expansion while absolutely refusing to
092look at a budget. When payroll hangs in the balance, classrooms are understaffed, and central office staffing somehow grows by 60%. The last thing leadership should do is come down. and put pride aside and admit failure. No, instead they stay a top the wall, far above teachers, far above families, and far above community members who are accountants holding calculators with tears in their eyes. [applause and cheering] >> Thank you. The next speaker is April Taylor. April Taylor, [applause] you will have one is building. >> KatishaQatara. >> Alicia. Oh, yes, ma'am. I have that. Okay. You will have two minutes. So, I'm just going to finish the comments I had from the end of February because they're even more relevant now. What is the truth? The truth is Ligins and the bloated central office staff still have
093no integrity or accountability when claiming to provide answers for how the district is more than hund00 million short on cash. Ligans can't even be bothered to take a meaningful pay cut while overseeing the slashing of 120 FCPS staff. I've sat in schoolboard meetings and listened to district finance staff give four different definitions for the same accounting line item like the meeting wasn't recorded or people did not have ears. When will there be an actual accounting for all this money went because there would be enough money to fix crumbling buildings to fund the full set of 10 10 NI days allotted by the state and the money to keep critical FCPS programs open if Ligins and Murphy had not both failed so profoundly at their jobs. thinking no one would ever do the math and they
094would that they would get away with implementing an illegal tax increase to try to hide just how many millions they had siphoned into unnecessary things like paying Consolidated Baptist Church $225,000 while the pastor's wife earns a six-f figureure salary for a cushy admin job. Why is the school district paying Lian's car payment on a car still registered in Texas? Why is SCPS bleeding money for central office staff that did not exist before the pandemic and were paid for using COVID dollars that leadership knew were onetime funds that would not continue to cover the top heavy bloating of the district. The fact that the district budget director has had to file a whistleblower complaint and I'm going to scroll down here because I'm going to get to this. Coming from a man who can't pay his
095own Humber payment despite making six figures and having no children, the least he could do is stop union busting, stop targeting the district's most vulnerable children for program elimination, and get out of the way of democracy, and grant FCPS staff their legal right to have their union recognized and to enter collective bargaining. Our children deserve not to have numbers touted as success when our most vulnerable students are targeted because our schools are only as strong as the weakest link. and support staff, librarians, and other staff have now evaporated because the board decided to hire a superintendent that had already financially imploded a school district in Texas. These cuts will absolutely negatively impact the quality of students education. Right size, bright future, my ass. >> Thank you, Miss Sailor. Our next speaker is Matthew Vid [applause]
096with is Alex Dixon here and is Heather Ferguson here. Okay, you'll have three minutes, Mr. Vid. I'm sorry. Repeat that. Time is limited to three. >> Who did Who did you say? >> Oh, >> I think it's just Al, >> is it? Okay, let me see here. I have Okay. I have Heather Ferguson is yielding. >> Okay. So, okay. Alex Dixon is not yielding. That Alex Dixon then it says is that off the agenda? Is that correct? >> Okay. Let me note that. Okay. And then uh Alan Marxberry, are you yielding? Okay. Alan Vetnik, are you yielding? Okay, so that's three minutes. [clears throat] Superintendent Lianigans, the the the best decision you've made in your time here was hiring Kino Co, but it but it needs to be the last decision that you make in
097the in the school district. Th there this idea this idea that firing Dr. Ligins we this idea that you can't fire Dr. religions because it creates an impossible environment for hiring his replacement is is classic sunk cost fallacy. It it it is it is akin to an abused wife not leaving her abusive husband because she's afraid of being a single mom. >> This district cannot move forward with Dr. Ligins. it is impossible to do. That the task ahead of us is twofold. That the task ahead of us is fixing the finances and restoring public trust. That is the task. We cannot restore public trust as long as Dr. Ligins is employed by this district. [applause] So, so the members of the board have two choices. You have two choices. You make the right decision now
098and end this finally once and for all. Or you allow more shame and more scorn to be heaped upon your heads whenever what I suspect to be a very troubling audit report from the state auditor. Because what what happens what happens when the state auditor comes and refers char criminal charges to the attorney general? Thi think about think about the legacy your your your own personal legacy. Think about your own personal legacy because you are directly responsible directly accountable for enabling the behavior that has gotten us here today. Some of it was your own behavior that got us here today. Not just enabling behavior. It was your own behavior that got us here today. Miss Co can fix this problem. She is on the right path to fix the financial problem. But the work that
099Miss Co is doing cannot restore the public trust as long as Dr. Ligins remains employed by the district. You are trying to split the baby to choose another biblical proverb. You cannot have both. You cannot have both. You cannot fix the finances but save Dr. Ligins. It cannot happen. He must go. Thank you, Mr. Vid. Our next speaker is Heather Ferguson. Miss Ferguson, you'll have one minute. After Miss Ferguson, we will have Barbara Priest, >> not to uh beat a dead horse, but um I agree with what the majority of the public here has said. Ligins is either incompetent or complacent. Either way, we cannot move forward as a district with him as our leadership. He led us into this problem. He has not adhered to a budget for at least three years. How is
100he miraculously going to adhere to a budget this year? There is no trust at all in this district with the leadership we have. Teachers are being fired. They're being asked to work more days for less pay. You took a minimal pay decrease, but it's written in your contract that you are guaranteed percentage raise increase equal to the largest in increase in the district. So, if you give a teacher a 20% raise, guess what? Ligance has to get one, too. Does that seem fair? Does that seem like a good leader? >> And I'd like to know how much of our money's gone to Texas. And the last time I was here, you told me you had no relationship with Weaver and Tidil. their forms back to 2024 of you approving their contract to do an IT
101audit. >> Our next speaker [applause] is Barbara Priest is Moa Morris here. Okay, Miss Priest, you have two minutes. Good evening board members and Dr. Ligins. My name is Barbara Priest. I'm president of the Faget County Education Support Professional Association and I'm also a Faget County taxpayer. This is not simply about dollars and deficits. It's about people and it's about students who rely on this district for a quality education and a stable environment. It's also about educators who give their time and energy and hearts to the students every day. And it's about our classified staff, bus drivers, bus monitors, cafeteria workers, custodians, school secretaries, school registars, tech support specialists, law enforcement officers, pareducators, and other support staff members. These FCPS classified members are the backbone of our school system and we keep this district functioning
102every single day. What troubles me the most is the impact that this crisis is having. When budgets fall short, people pay the price. Positions are reduced, resources become limited, and workloads increase. Too often, those who are already stretched thin are asked to sacrifice even more. It makes me sad that our staff members are expected to carry the burden of the financial decisions that we did not make. We did not create this program problem and it is shameful that we bear the greatest consequences of it. Our community deserves transparency. We deserve honesty about how we got here. More importantly, a clear plan on how we are moving forward. We need leadership that prioritizes people and protects the students and the staff who make this district what it is. This is a defining moment for Fyet County
103Public Schools. Decisions made now will impact not only budgets and positions, but trust. the trust of employees, families, and the communities we serve, our students to serve, stability. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Priest. Our next speaker is uh Ryan Smith. After Mr. Smith, we will have After Mr. Smith, we will have uh Llaya Mackey. All right. Um, I'll echo a lot of the comments from tonight. I'm a taxpayer. I'm a business owner here in FY County. Got multiple kids in FCPS schools. I love my kids' teachers. I love my kids. I love their teachers and they're getting hosed. Um, and you know, all these taxes, I view myself as a shareholder in FCPS. Um, and as as the shareholder, you're grossly mismanaging funds. Um, I mean, if this happened in my line of business, I'd
104be fired. And I know I would be. So, when you're digging a hole, stop digging. My goodness, it's simple. Um, so cuts cuts need to be from the top. Cut the fat. Fire Dr. Ligins. Our next speaker is Laya Mackey. You'll have one minute. Hello, I'm Llaya Mackey. I'm a parent and even though my youngest is going to graduate in about a week, I still live in Lexington. I still pay taxes in Lexington that are likely going to continue to go up. Um, but I see there's mismanagement of the money. there's missing money. Um we're now needing to borrow to cover um the expenses due to the low contingency fund. Had a credit downgrade. Um classroom budgets have historically been poulry, but now they're nothing. You said that the students wouldn't be would not be
105affected. We can do better. We need new leadership. Ligance has to go. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is uh Rachel Buer. Uh is Miss Dyer is Jeff Low yielding to Is >> Yes. So that will be one one minute. This room is packed with people who are outraged at the state of our finances, and we are here this evening to demand accountability. The exorbitant salaries and additives paid to our central office administrators have been justified with the excuse that they're comparable to those in the private sector. Well, what would not happen in the private sector is a leader being able to keep their job after digging a hund00 million hole. If you want to be paid like private sector employees, then you are going to have to face the consequences of the private sector.
106It is time for those that are responsible for this mess to be dismissed. Not put on paid leave, not allowed to quietly retire. Dismissed. If there is to be any attempt at restoring trust in Fy County Public Schools, there must be a dismissal of Dr. Ligins, Tyler Murphy, Rodney Jackson, and Houston Barber. Our next speaker this evening is uh Jeff Low. You'll have one minute. And then following Mr. Low, we'll have Stacy Crest. Good evening. I would say outside of Washington DC, there's not an entity or a CEO in America that could survive this kind of financial disaster. With respect for the enormity of your responsibility, the money involved, the jobs that are affected, and most importantly, the education of our children, I'm calling on leadership here to recognize that it's time for a change.
107Specifically to the superintendent, the buck doesn't stop with you. Could you have even dreamed of saying that when you interviewed for this position? when you stood before this community asking for its support. That's outrageous. And to the three votes that dominate this board, you ran for public office. Did you tell voters we're going to be in the dark? We won't know about the district's finances, and that's okay. Please, once and for all, it is time for a change. >> Thank you, Mr. Low. Our next speaker is Stacy Crest. You have one minute. Following Miss Crest will be Jenny Ward. Good evening. I'm Dr. Stacy Crest. I am a business owner, [clears throat] property owner, taxpayer in Faget County, but most importantly, I'm GG to five precious grandchildren in FCPS. I am appalled at the irresponsible
108leadership, overspending, and lack of accountability happening under your watch. Dr. Ligins, we are all we have all heard Matt Vid warning you for months, if not well over a year, of the huge financial problems which you repeatedly denied until you couldn't. You were either dis delusional or lying to us. But either one is unacceptable. Your denial of truth, gaslighting people uh you serve feels more like an autocratic fascist dictatorship than a democracy. We have lost all of our trust. our my grandchildren, our every taxpayer, every school employee deserves better. I'm asking you as one professional to another, please do what's right and honorable and resign. To the board, you know what you need to do. Dr. Ligins, if he will not resign, please do the right thing by the people who voted you in and
109remove him. >> Thank you for your time, Mccability. And >> our next speaker is Jenny Ward. Miss Ford, you'll have one minute. Following Miss Ward, we'll have Amanda Preston. Hi, good evening. My name is Dr. Jenny Ward and I am a teacher, a union member, a parent of a student, and a taxpayer. I'm here tonight wearing all of those hats to ask the board not to approve any plans that balance the budget on the backs of rank and file employees, especially when so many other areas haven't even been discussed. Why are we cutting the days of our hardworking secretaries and school librarians, for example, without whom schools would not run when hay additives for admin here at central office haven't been touched? Some of those hay additives are $81,000, which is on top of those
110people's salaries. That is well more than the majority of people make as their entire salary in this district. And these people make it as a bonus. Why haven't these been looked at? They were certainly mentioned in Adam Eland's 2014 audit as being problematic and they were half what they are now. Why are we not looking at all the below $40,000 contracts issued by the district of various people and churches around town? Should we be going to Frankfurt to demand those laws are amended so that we could be sure that the district isn't creating paid cheerleading sections? [music] >> Our next speaker is Amanda Preston is Um, Heather Herby here. Okay, Miss Preston, you have two minutes. Okay, so I just want to go back to a year ago when this board voted 32 to increase
111the OOLT tax. It was a Tuesday meeting after a long holiday weekend and with almost zero public notice. So today, why was that tax even on the table? Because it's one of two things. Either you knew your budget was a train wreck and you thought that the tax hike would cover your tracks or you actually had no idea how bad the finances were and you just felt like raising taxes. So which one is it? Because it can't be both. And the wildest part is that that tax would have impacted students who attend FCPS and work in the county. And a year later, the stuff coming out is still unreal. Millions miscoded, accounts drained, and 20 years of bad math. Are we really, really supposed to buy that? I mean, for 18 years, no one's been
112able to balance a book. That's a bad look, too. And I I haven't heard one person ever in leadership up here say, "I'm so sorry. Not one time." And as the board, are you not upset that what got us here today was a lack of oversight and people following processes? Like that's your job. Does that not make you mad? You guys hired an investigation and then nothing happened. We paid for that. like you guys are just passing the buck. And Dr. Lianigans, you said it yourself. The buck stops with you. So, there should be several resignations, but I'm calling for yours because we can't rebuild this public trust. And before I run out of time, I will say it for y'all. I will say it for the kids. This is a tragedy and I am
113sorry because this is not how public education is supposed to be. [cheering] Our next speaker is Rob McWan. Mr. Mr. Mcwine, you will have one minute. Following Mr. Mcwine will be Judith Humble. Uh, I'm not a politician, but I'm going to give you guys some free political advice tonight. Um, one, Dr. Ligins, if I was your political consultant, I would recommend you actually look at the people that are talking to you. Um, yes, your constituent boners. That would be like something I taught my kid in like, you know, first grade. Uh, number two, for you on the board, I don't know if you're trying to protect Dr. Ligins or you're going to vote to get him out, but you have no constituency. I've been around town and I've seen the the people up tonight. Doesn't
114matter their age, their color, what part of town they come from, where their kids goes to school. They all disgusted with all of this with the incompetence and the lying and I don't know, fraud. I don't know what to call it. But there's no one on your side. So, if you want to keep your jobs, which I assume you do, don't do it for them. Do it for yourselves because you have a sinking ship here. So, you either get rid of him or you're next. [screaming] >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Judith Humble. [applause] Following Miss Humble will be Sarah Green. Good evening. I'm Judith Tumble. I'm going to speak on a slightly different topic. I'm the chair of the Bluegrass Club uh conservation Sierra Club conservation committee and the bluegrass climate action team.
115Tonight, I respectly respectfully ask that the upcoming budget include the salary for the sustainability team's energy engineer and that that position be reinstated. The fiscal performance of this position has been well documented in regard to energy savings, but much more than money is at stake. Our city government has recognized that climate change represents a threat to our community and the well-being of our next generations, including the children that you are now educated. Uh we recognize that it is important to reduce our fossil fuels as rapidly as possible. And your sustainability team has created a model for our community of how to do that. um they appear to have created a a very effective model for energy conservation and I have not seen their accomplishments matched by any large institution other than Lex Mark. [music] So
116please reinstate this valuable team position. Thank >> thank you Miss Humble. Our next speaker is Sarah Green is uh Steven Fightmaster here. Okay, you will have two minutes. >> [clears throat] >> Hello, my name is Sarah Green and I have been a dedicated FCPS employee for 16 years in this district. I also have two girls that have either gone through or currently going through FCPS schools. I'm also the vice president of Kentucky 120 AFT. on my bulletin boards is nice letters cut out that says democracy, however you use your voice. You see, I've been entrusted to teach middle school students civic engagement and civic responsibility. However, I'm here today to talk about civic integrity [snorts] [clears throat] >> and the fact that hundreds of our rank and file voices have been silenced. Civic integrity refers
117to the ethical, honest, and trustworthy behavior of citizens and officials in relation to their communities and the democratic processes. It involves putting the common good above your own personal interest and maintaining fairness, accountability, and truthfulness within public, political, and social environments. There is a lack of civic integrity in this county and the fault does not lie with our public as our public has come to this space for two years demanding accountability and answers only to be cut off, factchecked and attempted to be silenced. Our union has been told that district leadership will not meet with us for reasons that still have not been revealed to our lead leadership. We've been villainized because we choose to speak up when we see inequities in our schools. Since I have little faith in our district leadership or board,
118the majority of our board to fulfill this civic engagement, I would like to speak to my students and any other student who is watching. Do not ever ever stop speaking up and using your voice. Even when you're told you're a small minority, even when those in power refuse to meet with you or o open an open dialogue, don't ever lose faith. Even when you don't invite you into the room, you continue to keep bringing your chair. >> Thank you. >> And our last speaker this evening is Amy Soner. Amy Soner, you will have one minute. Is Amy in here? All right. Good evening. My name is Amy Soner and I'm here representing more than 1,200 community members who signed our petition and the 11 organizations that joined us in calling for the reinstatement of the
119fully county public school sustainability team. First, thank you. Reinstating the sustainability education position was the right call, and this board should know that our community noticed and is grateful. But tonight, I'm asking to finish the job. The energy manager position remains eliminated and that has a financial decision that this district that this district cannot afford. The numbers over 16 years speak for themselves. 30 million redirected from utility bills back into classrooms. Nearly 4 million in cost avoidance last year alone. Over 300 million pounds of CO2 emissions avoided and the square footage of the buildings has grown. Yet energy use has gone down. That doesn't happen by accident. It also doesn't happen in isolation. The city of Lexington has committed to a net zero emissions future and that goal is simply not achievable without the school
120system as a partner. Fyet County Public School buildings, buses, and operations are a significant part of this community's carbon footprint. The energy manager is the bridge between those two commitments. >> Thank you, Miss Soner. >> And that concludes our public comment period for this uh time. Our next item on the agenda is approval of routine matters. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the May 11th, 2026 planning meeting of the County Board of Education. Is there a motion? >> I move we approve the minutes from the May 11th, 2026 meeting. >> Motion by Green. Is there a second? >> Second by War Mundy. Questions on approval of the minutes of May 11th's meeting. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any any opposed? Motion carries. 5. I'll now entertain
121a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed. Is there a motion? >> So move. >> Motion by Bormer Christian. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh second by Bormer Green. Questions on approval of the consent items as listed. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. 50. Um at this time we'll move on to the action uh portion of our meeting. We have heard from the um two uh pilot agreements, both the Rose Tower and the Midland Station. Are there any additional questions on those two agreements before we entertain a motion? Okay. Hearing none at this time, I'll entertain a motion to approve the school payment in lie of taxes agreement uh arrangement entered into between Lexon Fay Urban County government, the
122Faget County School District and related affordable payments are to be made by related directly to the district for the benefit of the Faget County Public Schools beginning on or after January 1st assessment date following issuance of the industrial revenue bonds for the project. The payments to be made by related affordable to the district are set at fixed amounts for each assessment year as set forth in the pilot agreement. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So moved. >> Motion by Bormer Green. Is there a second? >> Second by Bmer Christian. question is on the pilot agreement for related affordable. Is there any discussion? >> Yes, m Ferguson. >> I would just like to um honor I guess and recognize Mr. Moore's email that he sent us and his um brief comments tonight that um
123why are we deferring tax when we're having to borrow money against anticipated tax revenue? Um, we we've cut days, we've cut salaries, we've cut positions, and we're looking at selling property. All which suggest an immediate need for that money. Um, so I just think this is terrible timing on these projects and I just can't support it. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> Chair Murphy, >> Bo Mundy. >> Um, I agree with board member Christian. I don't think my vote is a no forever, but it is a no for right now. I think there are just too many pending questions with our budget and while we're headed in the right direction. I mean, we're being asked to to approve a substantial loan. Um, and this just isn't a good time. Not a good time. >>
124Thank you. Uh, Mr. Bruno, I do have a question if I may. Oh, Bormer. [clears throat] >> Can you all hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. I apologize. Um, I I want to go back to what board member Ferguson says. I'm not I'm not a 100% sleep at night positive on this. Um, I understand the purpose and when board member f uh Monday says not forever. I'm kind of, you know, I second it so we can discuss this. I'm I have other questions besides just the timing. I almost I always have an equity question. I have a question about gentrification. I have a question about who's going to benefit long term, right? Uh so it's not so much timing for me as big picture and whether or not we are truly going to benefit from
125this long term and are we going to hurt anyone in the process? >> Thank you. Any other discussion >> former green? >> Um if there are are other board members that have questions, would it be appropriate to um put this on a future agenda to get questions answered? That was going to be my question for Mr. Bruno is me. Members of the audience, please. Mr. Bruno, what type of timeline is the board operating under here and is there space to receive additional information questions or to get a better trajectory right now? I know tonight we're considering a tentative budget. Once we get more certainty with those numbers, do we have an opportunity to extend the timeline here? >> Well, the timeline's really up to the board. um you know because the developers are not going
126to move forward without an agreement from from you all like Tran and the library. So it's not there's no rush timeline for for you all. She you know you all would set the timeline. >> Okay. Uh board member Monday uh what I heard you said is not now but maybe later. Is that a correct reflection? >> That is correct. I think that there's just too many unknowns right now. We're waiting on so much additional information. Miss Co hasn't even finished, you know, as she calls it, peeling back the onion. I like that analogy. Um, you know, we have to approve or we'll be discussing to approve the loan up to a $110 million loan, but we have to approve it with not even knowing the terms. I just think it's premature to move forward with
127these projects, knowing what so many of our staff have had to sacrifice. Um, and I it just it I have some of the same concerns that board member Christian has as well, but I can't even get there to think about it until I have a clear understanding of where our finances are and how we can write the ship to get to where we need to be. >> And thank you. And board member Christian, is that does that also reflect your sense is that it's a no for it's a not yet versus a no period. It is and you know some people involved may have a timeline but um our timeline you know an emergency on their part right so our we are to protect the district and protect our students and our families. So they
128may have an issue, but there are too many questions. And when I say that I have an equity issue, just like when I asked at the planning meeting what your definition of affordable housing was and this uh this program you're going to have for teachers, I just think that aside from whatever's going on with us financially, to me it is a bigger ethical and moral and holistic issue for me. >> Thank you. And board member Ferguson would does that also reflect your sentiments? >> Yes, of >> exactly. I mean, I I agree with both with what Dr. Mundy and board member Christian have said. I mean, I I mean, I hesitate to say not now, but maybe later because then is is later two months and oh, well, you said maybe later, but I just
129I have all those questions as well. >> Thank you. And board member Green, uh, same sentiments as well that a more information would be helpful and not yet. I think that's appropriate. I think as we get between the tenative and the working, we hear back from the external um audit um Miss Co finishes her peeling of the onion, we have a more stable picture of everything. I would be amendable to wait um to reconsider these until that point. >> Okay. So, we have two options here. We do have a pending motion. the what could happen option number one is you could withdraw the motion and then we could uh make a motion to table this until another time or or uh we can vote no. The implications of voting no though is that it makes
130it more difficult to bring it back. So um >> I just want to make one statement aside from the equity issues that that board member Christian brought up. So delaying this and that is completely your decision. We're accepting that that as a board we are taking fewer property taxes for these two properties in the foreseeable future because this would have been far and above regardless of the of the structure. Um this the the money we were taking on the empty lot at Midland Station at Rose Tower is much less than these proposed pilot payments. So just I just want that to be stated as well. Well, and that was going to be a question. Uh, do we know the the financial impact both present and then into the future? I think having that data might
131be helpful as well. So, if we know the current revenue being generated from the property and then the projections moving forward, that would those specifics would be helpful. >> Sure. that we can pull that out of the presentation and state that separately, but I mean it was part of both presentations how much we're currently getting and the projections going forward. >> Yeah. Um and where does this put us in line with our the other taxing entities? Uh have the other taxing entities already acted on this? >> I don't think both of them have yet. Um so we would not be the last one. >> Okay. >> At this point. And so for me speaking uh personally as well is is I also think there would be an advantage to waiting and see how the situation
132unfolds with the other taxing entities so that we're not exactly the first to make a move and that could also help in this conversation as well. >> Okay. Absolutely. >> So there's any additional information that's needed just let me know. >> Okay. Um, so board members, we would just ask that you compile specific questions, information that you need to clarify um or extract from what has previously been presented. And just from polling the board, it sounds like the consensus is option one, tableabling this. So, board member Green, are you comfortable withdrawing your motion? >> Yes, I will withdraw my motion. >> Okay. Okay. And then I'll entertain a motion to uh table agenda items uh K1 and K2, the two pilot agreements. >> Some of second. >> Uh motion by Bormer Christian, second by Bormer
133Green. Any further discussion? Questions on tableabling the two pilot agreements K1 and K2. All in favor say I. I. >> Any oppose? Motion carries. 5-0. Dr. Ligins. Thank you. Our next item for consideration this evening is the tax revenue anticipation. And I would like to invite interim chief officer, financial officer co. You can speak from your seat, Kina. I'm sorry. There's been a lot of discussion tonight about um the tax revenue anticipation note. Um I would let the board know that we received four really strong proposals. Um um our financial advisor um Michael George was really pleased with the responses that we got. We are uh currently negotiating with Oppenheimer and um we have pulled the note back to 95 million back from the 110. Um as we got closer to the end of the
134year and are able to look a little um further out in terms of cash needs um we thought that 95 million uh would suffice. Um we're um Mr. George is also negotiating with some holding banks. Um, so the arbitrage situation still looks very positive. So I would ask the board for the approval of the tax revenue anticipation. No. >> Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Co? I do believe Mr. George is in the audience as well. So if you have questions for him or Miss Co. Okay. If there are no further questions for staff, I'll entertain a motion to approve a tax revenue anticipation known in the amount of up to $95 million. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> A motion by Bormer Green. Is there a second? >> Second. I'm having trouble
135hearing you all. >> A second by Bormer Christian. questions on approval of the tax revenue anticipation note in the amount of up to $95 million. Is there any discussion? >> I would just like to say >> former person >> for the record that um a lot of speakers talked about being angry and frustrated and disappointed and I am all those things and um I do appreciate the work that Miss Co is doing and I know that we really don't have any choice but to do this. So, >> [clears throat] >> um, it's very reluctantly that that I I think we have to address this, but I wanted that to be said before we vote. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> Chair Murphy. >> Board Greement. >> Thank you. I echo board member Ferguson's statements
136that it's um with a heavy vote to have to support this, but we it's our responsibility to to move forward in the right path. Um, and I feel like this is a step in that direction. And so it's our commitment and we've made that commitment clear to the community that we are going to do what we can to put it to put our district in a strong financial situation so we can best support our students providing for the goals set forth not only by the district but by the community to ensure that we're providing a world-class education for each and every child with highquality educators with high quality resources. Um and so my vote for this will be yes. Thank you. Um, Bormer [clears throat] Green, thank you, Miss Co. Obviously, um, this is not
137a vote that anybody wants to take. Uh, Miss, uh, Co made the, um, choice very clear um, in her presentation to the board at the planning meeting. And, uh, Miss Co, just to clarify before um, we vote on this. So the the full amount of the TR will be uh has the potential of collecting interest. Is that correct? In the interim. Okay. And uh do you have um an anticipated uh timeline on we've we've moved from 110 to 95 million. Is it a true statement to say that as we get closer to that working budget in September that we'll have a more definitive uh number uh by that point? No, we we we are going to borrow $95 million. Okay. Um and this is not a situation that we can draw down as we need
138it. We investigated going that route and it actually would have cost us more in the long run. Okay. >> Um so on the advice of the financial advisor um we are drawing and we are taking all the money at one time. What we don't use will be invested um on a on a basically on a daily basis. We'll be watching the cash flow. We will only take the money out of um interestbearing accounts when we absolutely need it. >> Okay. Excellent. And we will have a a more an amount of how much we use out of escrow by the time we get the working budget >> a as we get through the into the next fiscal year. I'll be able to report on a monthly basis how much of the how much of it we're
139using. >> Okay. And that will become part of the monthly reports to the board then. Okay. Very good. Thank you. Um, so there's a motion and a second on the tax revenue anticipation note. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. 5-0. >> Thank you, board members. Up next, we have the proposed salary schedule for fiscal year 2627. Um, Jennifer Dyer did present the uh this during the planning meeting, but if you have any available questions this evening, she is available to answer those. Miss Dy, I do have a question. Um, and I believe this came up. Uh, I know that there were some changes at the state um the EPSB which is responsible for certification in the state relating to national board certification. So can you explain >>
140um that process? >> Yes sir. The standards board um EPSB um is the certification agency for the state and we go by the date for which they provide on a certificate. This year um EPSB um adjusted their interpretation of the guidelines and how they date the certificates. And so it's not just national board certification but it's any new certification. And so we have to go by the date for which standards board um indicates. So they used to backdate those national board certificates to July 1. Therefore we could provide that raise during the school year and not be prrated. They let us know in December this year that that was going to be changed. Um that also is the same situation for those that are receiving a increase or a rank change. Um they would have
141to be dated prior to September 15th for us to be able to provide that raise. So the changes in the salary schedule basically says we have to go by what the educational professional standards board dates on the certificate. >> So that date change was a consequence of the division of certification and it was not a district decision. >> That is correct. And if they change back and they do it to July one, well, we will too. >> Okay. And the $2,000 supplement though, that would that is issued by the district. That is prrated based on the date you obtained national board certification. Is that correct? >> That is correct. But um again, when they first obtained it, it was backdated to July. So people received the full s the the the full rating. Okay. >>
142But if if they keep it and they do it for the December date, then we would prrate it for the year. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Chair Murphy. Uh, Bormer Monday, >> can I ask a clarifying question? Um, and I apologize for needing more clarity because I'm not familiar with the dates for the certification. So, if they get the certification in May, it's not backdated to July. What is the date that it is certified? So, um, what they, for example, if you were completing maybe coursework and you were getting your, uh, your transcripts in August because that's when they would recognize those at the college or university level and you did not submit everything and everything didn't get signed off until September 20. Well, now they're using September 20 as the date. So even though
143you may have completed your qualifications prior to the September 15th date, if everything was not submitted to standards board and the signatures were not um signed off on, then that would impact the date. So they're doing it as of that specific date and not backdating things. >> And what what is the particular reason that we can't give individuals that pay whenever that date is? So if it is September 20th, why can't we give them the pay for the change? um in statute it says that rank changes must be determined by September 15th and then that's supposed to be um the date that you we are using. So it's in statute in Faget County. We give people all the way up until winter break to provide us the documents. Um so if even if they don't
144have everything in hand on September 15th, we still honor it as long as they give it to us in winter by winter break. A lot of districts don't give that latitude, but we try to because we know that the employees sometimes they've got to get the transcripts and they've got to get the certificate. So, as long as the date is September 15th or prior, we honor it for the entire school year. And what makes national board challenging as someone who's been through that process is national board scores are not released until typically the second weekend in December. and used to the way EPSB operated. If you ma if you obtained national board certification in December and submitted your paperwork, they would issue you a certificate that was backdated to July 1. Um, correct. That said
145that you were board certified. >> Yes. But the new requirements because you're getting your in your national board scores after September 15th. Uh EPS is changing that practice to now it would be dated December whatever date it's submitted. Any other uh questions? >> Yes, board member Ferguson. Um there were again there were several public comments referring to the administrative additive schedule um page 20 I think in both documents that we have and that this may not be completely fair to you. I don't know how much what role you had in terms of this in relation to the budget but um I guess just for all of us I mean were the to your knowledge I guess were the administrative additives looked at for reducing cutting pausing eliminating and is that allowed can you address that
146>> so um during the compensation studies that we have had over the past few years that was something that was looked at at that time and that's when that came to the board and they were approved at that time. As we talked about previously, an employee cannot make less than they did the previous year for the same job unless there was roles and responsibilities reduced. And so, um, the the way the pay structure, we are, um, all certified staff are paid off of a single salary schedule. The additive is not a bonus. The additive is for the administrative duties for that particular role. And so that's what that structure is. Um and >> so they so they cannot be paused or cut reduced without >> well they have been paused. The additives haven't changed from
147the previous salary schedule. Is that correct? Like >> I mean giving them this year is what I mean by pausing them not not increasing them but just not giving them this year. You you couldn't say principal um you're going to do the same job being a principal, but we're going to pay you $20,000 less than we paid you last year. >> But how does that not the same as reducing days? >> Well, the days you're not working. So therefore, the responsibilities that you do on those particular days are not being you're those are reduced >> because you said you couldn't >> you're not working on >> you couldn't pay them less. But there are people that are going to be paid less this year, right? This coming because >> you can't reduce pay without reducing
148workload. >> Workload the work calendar. So the work calendar so they're actually physically working less and therefore the pay is adjusted. So the 12 month >> and I assume it has to be well it's corresponding or or proportional to what's being >> the time reduced is proportional to the pay that's being reduced. Is that >> chair Murphy? >> I'm born. >> Thank Um, if I could ask a another clarifying question. So, for example, we can't say administrative level 13 and above for like additives. We we can't say we're going to reduce those across the board. But what we can do is next year say we're going to reduce the amount of days for maybe certain positions or maybe change certain ones of these positions to different calendars. and look at how that impacts the budget
149and workload and things and do those reductions >> which these positions that you're speaking about were reduced. So those were reduced by 5 days and their salary will be reduced by those five days. >> Correct. But we can say we'll reduce those by more but only for certain levels listed on this additive. We don't have to do a one or you know one or nothing adjust everybody. But if it's like a reduction in days, we can say we're only going to reduce days for x amount of people. I'm unsure exactly what the um the work calendars are are are based off of job groups. And so you would not be able to go into that and say, I'm going to reduce this >> got >> these people that are on a 12-month and make this
15012-month calendar be this many days and this 12-month calendar not be the same amount of days. >> Yeah. So, we would just have to reduce the entire group because we've done that now. Like we've reduced individuals in certain groups. So, what you're telling me is we can do reductions for specific groups, but it would just have to impact everybody that's in that particular group. So, it's not based on the levels that I see, but it's based on groups by calendar days. >> Yes. So everybody next year that's on a 240 after this year's reduction, you'd have to reduce everybody on that that on that calendar regardless of where they fall in the levels. >> Okay. One thing I would like to request is to see who all falls in those particular calendar groups. I think
151that would help me better understand um what options may be to make those adjustments because my understanding is no, we can't adjust work days now because we're past the 15th. That is um cannot happen. Correct. >> You cannot reduce pay. >> Cannot reduce. Okay. So, we can't reduce days. Um, but that can be something that's discussed for next year. And so, I think taking a look at who's in each of those groups that can be adjusted would be helpful. >> Um, so I'd like to request that info. >> And the salary schedule is separate from the work calendar. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. Okay. Any other questions on the salary schedule? >> So, so these administrators on level one through 20, they're not all on the same calendar day. I mean, same work calendar, right? Is
152that what you're saying? >> Not every single not every single position. Like for example, and >> down here in blue where it says administrative dean, elementary, district level manager, associate principal and director, executive director and chief, assistant superintendent. Could we have cut those days, their days from the 240 or whatever it is, and cut the additive or reduced the additive? Um, you would also have to look, and I think this gets into where the management would, um, piece of it. What it sounds like you're saying is that the person that is over the department would have days cut, but the employees that are in the department. So, there would not be a director or it would not be an associate director or a principal over a building for the same amount. It So, I'm not
153sure exactly what you're asking, but yes, those are two different things. is the work calendar and the salary schedule are not the same. >> I'm just asking if these somehow could have been reduced and because I think it's clear that's what a lot of people are angry about. Thank you. >> Well, what I can say is that I I heard this from several board members and we went about every single way that we possibly could and ultimately legally there just wasn't other than what we've already done according to statute. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Bo me r me r me r me r me r me r me r me r me r me rumors. >> Chair Murphy >> board money. Um, just to clarify the question I was asking, um, I was asking
154for the higher levels, not necessarily like principles or those that are in our schools. And I think part of my confusion goes back to like not truly knowing um who all serves in all of these different levels and categories and where they serve um because I've just never seen that information before. Um and so I think having and seeing who's in those particular groups um will be helpful. Yes ma'am. >> What >> it's on the salary schedule. I'm conf what what exactly are you asking to see that you haven't seen? I want to make sure I'm >> so what I'm hearing is that we can't make adjustments based on who's listed on a particular HR level um because they fall into different workday calendars. So, I guess my ask is to see who falls in
155particular workday calendars or if that's already been provided to the board. If you'll just redirect me to where that falls, I think that will make me have a better understanding when it comes to a reduction in calendar days. Because what I'm hearing is we cannot reduce administrative additives because that would lead to a need to have a reduction in work duties and you have to be paid the same same amount for at least a year. um because that's what's in the salary schedule. And so if that's not a way to continue to reduce salaries because um this is putting a cart before the horse a little bit, but um given where we are financially and what we've had to do, there's no guarantee that reductions won't have to happen again um say next year. So
156I'm trying to have a better understanding as we're moving forward where those reductions can take place so I can be more knowledgeable um about them moving forward. And it sounds like those reductions would have to come from work days which would be a reduction in the work calendar and where people fall in their groups on the work calendar is not the same as their HR levels. So what I need to see is where everyone falls particular position positions fall on the work calendar versus the salary schedule document. So I apologize for having to walk through that to understand that a bit more. Um, but I do understand we're past the 15th. You know, that those adjustments can't happen. But I I think my personal opinion, part of what's got us here is we don't think
157forward. We're we're playing whack-a-ole as things pop up and we're not thinking about what we can do in the future. And so that's just me getting information, being armed with that information as we and being able to speak knowledgeably about it as we move forward. There was a a former person >> workbook linked. It was presented at the budget meeting in early March that was hyperl from the agenda that was linked that was linked and it was was hard to find. I mean I think that's I mean I guess that's what you worked from and it's kind of hard to read. It might be easier to have it I think that's what you're asking for Dr. Mundy. Um, I mean it might be easier to read in a different format, but where it had who's
158affected by this calendar and what the consideration was, and it took me a while to find that. >> So, I'm hearing you request what each job is and what calendar they're tied to. >> Got it. >> Exactly. Thank you. >> And so, and there are different even at the administrative levels, if I'm understanding uh the question correctly, even at the administrative levels. So if someone is at administrative band 13, not everyone at administrative band 13 works the same number. It works under the same work calendar. Is that correct? >> They may not. They may not. >> Okay. So I think that that may need to be clarified as well. So administrative band doesn't is isn't automatically connected with a certain work calendar. >> Correct. >> Because they could there could be a lot of crosspollinization
159there. >> Correct. So, >> and just to clarify, I don't believe the worksheet that we had got actually had the administrative level on it. It just was like you clicked a button and it listed a bunch of job titles. And so maybe that's the link missing link, right? To be able to see, you know, between the salary schedule and that document, I'm going to need to see the actual title, their work calendar, and then where they where what level they fall in. Thank you. [clears throat] And again, just so there's clarification as well, so this the salary schedule for both certified and classified does pro uh preserve the built-in step increase. Is that correct? Thank you. Any other questions? If not, uh I'll entertain a motion to approve the 2026 2027 salary schedules as presented.
160>> Motion by Christian. Is there a second? >> Second by Bormer Green. Any discussion? Further discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries 5-0. Uh Dr. Ligins. >> Thank you, board members. Also, we have the tenative budget for the 2627 school year for your consideration. This topic was discussed extensively at the planning meeting. Uh we've included questions um from our community and board members in your packet this evening. Uh if you have any additional questions this evening, um Kina Co and Jessica Williams should be uh available to answer those. >> Thank you. Uh Dr. Wiggins, any questions? Board members. >> Chair Murphy. >> Bo. Thank you. So, um I would like to thank the staff for diligently answering my um over 50 questions in in on in person
161and um written. So, thank you for those. Um it really helped me have clarity. Um this tenative budget is a starting point is my understanding and that as we move through the peeling of the onion, the findings um from the Weaver audit, the APA audit, it will um most likely change moving into the working budget. And so I ask that as we have those conversations throughout the summer that they are very robust and bring in as much as needed. And even if there is a need to get together more often than what we have scheduled, if there's information that is timely, um I would appreciate the, you know, that information. >> Certainly, we can we can do that. And I think I committed at the at the planning meeting to let you know if there
162are any big changes that we see coming that we won't hold all that until the working budget. We'll advise you as we see those things coming. >> Thank you. And I and I will also I don't mean to interrupt the discussion, but Dr. Ligins mentioned the Q&A um that uh those budget uh questions and answers are available um at fcps.net/bfac um and we'll continue to uh collect questions. The board members have them printed as well in front of us. Are there any uh further questions? Board members for staff. >> Chair Murphy, >> board member Monday. Um, I have have questions and comments. First, I I do want to say thank you to Miss Co and her team. Um, I do think they've worked pretty hard to begin to see what's happening and and begin to
163provide us answers. I will say I've gotten more answers from Miss Co in the time that she's been here than probably gotten the whole time I've gotten on this board about um what's going on. So, I sincerely appreciate her. Um, and I look forward to what her team can continue to show us. Um, moving forward, I also want to say to the community, um, trust me, I hear you. Um, I have seen all of your emails. I've gotten so many that I'm still working on trying to to reply to them all. I mean, we had what 60 over 60 people here today to talk um about various aspects of this budget and it isn't lost on me the impact for the decisions that have had to be made um on on our staff um the
164impact that that's going to have on our students. Um because as I was explaining to someone the other day, you know, one of the reasons why our academic achievement is so great is because we're able to provide tier support. we had to let go quite a few people or quite a few positions, excuse me, that provide that very support, right? And so, one question that I've asked and I'm going to ask it again, um, is that we get provided a justification for the reductions that have been made. And then also um we get a better understanding on how some of the duties of those positions that were reduced um that still are hanging out there and and need to be assigned how that's going to be assigned and what that restructure within our district is
165going to look like. Um I think it's directly tied to the decisions we have to make budgetarily. And I think there has been a thought for some in the community that when the board asks questions, we always get answers. And that's not true cuz I was told explicitly no um to that very question. So I'm going to I'm going to ask for that again because the decisions we make when I see community members, when I have those discussions, they want to know why. And I as a board member should be able to tell them why. I have to make the decisions that I'm making tonight. And I have to vote the way that I'm voting tonight when they've lost their job, when they've lost part of their income. And that income is really important for
166a lot of people. A few days to some may not mean a lot, but a few days to many, it's going to mean a whole whole heck of a lot. Um, so I want to ask for specifically that answer when it comes. I understand we might not get it today. Um, but I am I'm asking for that. I think the community is owed that. Um, and I've had the opportunity to have um good conversations with Miss Co about how possibly we can do things a little differently. Um because I think the community has made it clear that they want more transparency. Um and I think that is something we have to listen and give to them. Um just not transparency in the way that we want to give it but transparency in a way that
167is meaningful for the community that is receiving it so that they see the decisions that are being made while they're being made. Um and they're they're able to have that. And like I've gave some of these suggestions, some of them are a year old of, you know, trying to see for our planning meetings if we can run that live stream. Um I it's an important meeting. We talk about a lot of topics. A lot of the topics we're voting on today, we had good discussion about last week as to why we're making those decisions. Um and the public wants to be able to see that. And so I'm hoping that as we're moving forward and we're continuing to get the feedback from the community, we can take some of those suggestions, heed them and and
168make some changes um as well. So >> Thank you. Any other questions? board members. [applause] >> Yes. >> Before you move, if you don't mind, >> Amanda, I would like to clarify that there is actually in the Q&A there's three different departments that were discussed where those things will be absorbed. uh with 120 different positions being um absorbed by possibly 200 or more people, there will not be one document that will say where every single duty is going. It's just um you will receive um job description changes. will receive >> please allow us to speak >> organizational um charts but that there's just not one document that will be created to say this one task is going here this one task is going there it's just too extensive of a I mean you you'll see
169it in a variety of different places but it will not be one document that says this is all that's happening >> and I think that's fair and I most definitely and would have clarified had the conversation continued without just no period that I I don't expect that. But I do think that there's some fundamental changes even beyond the departments that were reduced for the positions that were let go that's going to make our district operate a little differently. And I think even as those changes happen, I think that we should be informed of that. And I think the community should be informed of that as well. um several of those positions that were on that list haven't even had somebody in them for quite a while. So I we already know where some of those
170duties lie. Um but even outside of the the departments that have been reduced, I do think that looking and seeing how we can be more transparent in how we can share that information is worth it. Um even if it's not a document with every position and and every duty. Um, but I think our community is owed to know how are we going to be able to provide some of these services for individuals that aren't going to be here that we depend on. Um, so >> thank you Morrison. >> Thank you. Um, well, Dr. Dr. Money, you asked one of my questions and I guess as a followup to that, um, in the absence of of that explanation where the duties are going to go, will we see how how the decisions were made to cut
171those positions? Because several of our again, several of our speakers talked about that. Um, Dr. Adams put it better than I could have. How were decisions made or a couple people said, "How if there was not a target goal?" I mean, today we got the list of how much was saved in the 120 positions and if there was not a target goal, how how were those decisions made? I mean, was there a dart board? Was it rock paper scissors? I mean, I think these people deserve to know why their positions were eliminated. It was stated that it was through no, you know, it wasn't their own fault. It was not that they were doing a poor job. I mean, they just got the short end of the stick. Is that how they were chosen? Um,
172another bigger question that I have, um, I mean, Kina and I've known you a while and, um, I appreciate the work you're doing and your team and I mean, we're we're both cluttons for punishment, right? We're we're back here doing this again. Um, I would just would like to know if if it would have helped you to have any more time to to get to the bottom of things for your team to to figure out where we are. Um, at this very meeting last year when we had an OOLT vote, I asked that that be tabled and that we send the budget late to KDE and I was told it was it was we'd never done that before. We didn't know what the penalty would be. And after the fact, I checked with KDE and
173they said, "Oh, we wouldn't have done anything until like July 1." Would it have helped you to have even more time? Would it still help you to have more time to get the budget numbers where you're more comfortable? or was that considered at all? >> Well, it it it wasn't considered because this is the tenative. It had we been looking at the final working budget, I absolutely would have asked for more time. Um but because this is the tenative and we will have closed the fiscal year by the time we have to do the working budget. um we should have all the information that that we need to um to appropriately appropriately address the issues in in the final working budget. Um, I think I made it clear at the planning meeting there there's some
174numbers in here that are very soft. Um, and and I know that. But, um, that's why there is a tenative working budget because for every school district, there are still soft numbers this time of year. But I I really believe by the time we get to the working budget that we'll have um a solid foundation to build on to move forward. >> Okay. Well, yeah. I mean, that's what the the soft numbers is is why I ask, and I know your team's been under the pressure to to get everything put together. Um, and I guess my last bigger picture question is again addressed by several speakers tonight. um 2008. Would would you like to address the the many public comments I guess that asked about how we got here over the last three years versus
175how um versus the issues dating back to 2008? I mean can you can you say >> yes I can say >> what your opinion is on on how we >> I mean there there are facts um in 2023 we did a classified salary study that um that pointed out that we were only allowing classified employees to bring in four years of experience regardless of what they actually had in their field. the study recommended that we change that and we did and uh and part of that was also um we were having terrible recruiting at the time because a four-year limit for someone who's worked 15 years in another school district is not going to come to Faget County. Um so we we changed the salary schedule for for classified employees at that time. And if
176if you go back and look at the salaries between 23 and 24, you will see a jump. And then in 24, we did a certified salary study. And there were recommendations in that study that we also implemented. And you'll see another jump in in salaries overall. Um, >> and there was also a step increase, >> pardon me, >> but there was also a step increase >> for both step increases. um changed a little bit with that with that salary study. Yes, the step in increases changed, but so did um so did the starting salary for for u new teachers. We started at 50,000 and when you start at 50,000 in that salary schedule, you you've seen it. It it it has a feathering effect. And um over time the the those two jumps in the
177salary schedules um our revenue hasn't kept up with what uh we would need to sustain those over time. So, I I would remind the board that that we had a budget problem before we started what? Thank you, um, Chair I mean, um, board member Green peeling the onion. Um, and and those things that we're finding right now are contributing to our problem, but they're not the basis of the problem. The basis of the problem was were the two big increases in salary schedules and we need some time now to pause those salary schedules and and and let our revenue catch up. >> I just want to clarify one thing just so that um we're all on the same page. The four years to 20 years occurred prior to that compensation study. So it was a
178little bit before that. So there were three big um differences that changed. The board approved our hourly classified staff being able to bring in the same amount as our salaried staff which was the 20 years. Then after that we did do the compensation study and there was an increase um in individual jobs as well as an increase across the board for those subsequent years. So the board approved several a 2% a 4% and a 4%. So, there was a 10% increase within a three-year period um on the salary schedule for all jobs. >> I mean, I I appreciate the >> just for clarity, I just want to make sure. >> No, I appreciate the detailed explanation and to my eternal regret, I I voted for one of those. But um I will also say that
179we were told and and and Kina you have said that and I have said well our contingency was this and now it's now it's nothing but our contingency was never that is that fair to say at least for the last three years it wasn't what it was reported to be. >> I I I would agree with that. if we thought we could afford it because of XYZ, >> right? I mean, given what we have found in terms of the contingency and how things were reported this year and last year, which I mean, we've been trying really hard to just concentrate on 25 and 26, but some of those practices you have to assume um predate 25. And I would have to assume that that the contingencies were not as they were stated at the time.
180And how much I have I I have no idea. And we really really cannot go back past 25. Um that's we we just don't have the capacity to do that. >> It's understandable. >> Thank you. [clears throat] And to follow up on that, uh, based on what you've discovered so far, again, we're pulling back the onion. Um, when those, uh, changes were approved, right? >> Yes. >> The the board, the superintendent were assured that we could absorb those. Um, but from what you've re uncovered so far is those statements or reports were not accurate. Is that fair or is it premature to say that? I >> I I I mean, because I wasn't here, I I really hesitate to to to comment on what the board was told, but um clearly um our revenue did
181not keep up with with the expenditures that were approved by the board. >> Okay. Uh thank you, Miss Co. And so, as we look at this budget, obviously um they're very difficult decisions. Uh we still need more information. I know Miss Co and her team's working on it. It's one of the reasons why in December this board approved a uh external review to provide a deep dive assessment of our internal budget and financial controls processes, departmental operations, um which goes far beyond the scope of a standard compliance audit uh and focus on making improvements and recommendations. And I know the work of that team is still ongoing. Um so I also know that this budget vote is not a vote that anybody on this dis uh wants to take. Um I also know that all
182of us have been clear about trying as much as possible to protect the classrooms. You know, even at a time when uh you know, many of our families received a letter the past couple weeks about decisions made at the state level to reduce funding for dual credit programs. We uh allocated $400,000 in this budget for dual credit programs to ensure that those opportunities would continue for our students. Um we have $2.3 million allocated for preschool. uh in this budget, we've preserved the discretionary positions um that have been allocated to all of our schools um which is about $30 million. So I think those are some those are important things that we've tried to protect and uh Miss Co on that note do have section six uh section six allocations to schools been reduced in this
183budget? Okay. And can you explain K what section six is? >> Sorry. Um well, and it's been a long time since I have dealt with allocations to schools. Jessica may need to uh step in here and help me a little bit, but um the state requires an allocation to school councils every year. there's a formula that's um in regulation that we're required to follow. I will say on the personnel end, we are above well above what the state requires us to allocate to schools. Um and section six is also on um a per pupil basis. So if a school actually gets less money next year in section six, it will be because they had fewer students um because we allocate on a per pupil basis and again we allocate above what the state requires. So
184um and and what we allocated in the current year has gone unchanged in the budget that's um [clears throat] proposed. >> Okay. And then the budget also includes the 3.1 million allocation to maintain the 10-year replacement cycle for buses. Is that correct as well? >> That's right. That's right. With KISS. Yes. >> Okay. And overall your assessment then of the tenative budget is that it is structurally balanced. It is structurally balanced given the fact that that there's it's balanced on one-time money um on the sale of um anticipated sale of of at least one of the properties that um the board approved to um to put up for sale. Yeah. >> Um, so, um, it I I'm hoping by the time we get to the working budget that we will not be relying on that
185$3 million number in an $800 million budget. That's really not a lot a lot of money. So, I'm hoping that either one of our revenue estimates or somewhere along the way we find that we've overestimated some expenditure that we can rein that back in. I would like very much for the working budget budget to not be balanced um on the sale anticipated sale >> and our contingency in the tenative budget meets the 2% threshold. Correct. >> It does meet the 2%. Yes, sir. >> And as you're looking ahead and planning ahead um your team is cognizant of that 6% figure and will continue working to get us closer to that goal. Is that correct as well? We are aware of it, but um I mean I I'm not very hopeful of being m much above
1862% at all for the for the 27 budget, but we are we're aware of the 6%. Um after we get 2025 restated and we close 2026, um we we will start working diligently on projections for the next four to four to five years. We just can't do that right now because we don't we don't feel like we have reliable historical information. >> Okay. And that Thank you. You've answered what was going to be my next question is we're looking right now at at FY27. As much as the board can see those projections and long-term trends and various scenarios as well to help in that long range planning. I think that's going to be helpful. >> Absolutely. I will sleep better at night when we can make a projection. >> You and I both. So, um,
187very good. Any other questions, board members? Okay. If there are uh no further questions at this time, I'll entertain a motion to uh let's see, where's my I'll entertain a motion uh to adopt the 2026 2027 tentative budget. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Bormer Christian. Is there a second? >> Second by Bormer Green. Any discussion? Chair Murphy, >> board member Green. >> Thank you. I know um the policy doesn't state it, but we have a procedure that states that we want to have a 6% contingency. So, I wasn't sure if it was appropriate that the board acknowledged that we recognize that this only has a 2% contingency. Um just at the time, >> I believe when um we can acknowledge that. I don't know if it requires a formal motion. Do you, Miss
188Chatfield, do you know if that can should be embedded in the motion language or you're fine because it's not in policy. You don't have to make a formal motion. Um, but it never hurts to acknowledge it, I think. Um, just to put it out there that you're aware of it and you are acknowledging that it's in procedure. Um but yeah, since it's not in a policy, policies are waved by 1.5, but procedures there's not a mechanism for waving those because the board does not actually vote on those to approve them. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Um so I do want think it's important to note on the record as I said that this budget does include a 2% requirement. I think the expectation or does include the 2% minimum. Uh, but I do think
189uh the board and everyone at this table and Miss Co and her team do have an interest in getting us back to the 6% threshold. Um, >> Murphy more money. >> Can I ask one clarification about that? Um, because I think at the planning meeting I asked about the 6% and like what amount we would need to cover salaries until um we started having taxes roll in. But the board we can change our policy to say we're going to have x% in so that if we don't make meet that it can be waved or would have to come to the board. Um cuz the procedure you know it it to me reads that if we go below that we're coming to the [clears throat] board to to have a conversation about that. But we have
190the option to change our policy to up that. For me, thinking of it as an insurance to say, you know, we're going to have this amount of money to be able to cover those salaries in the summer above whatever [snorts] our 2% 6% whatever that amount needs to be. Chair Murphy. Um I think the timing will will kind of match with our normal policy and procedure review which is in midsummer. And if it doesn't, we can bring it up. But I think there's going to be um several policies for the board to consider after we continue to see the results of the internal audit. I mean the internal um CFO uh the interim CFO, I'm sorry, and her team, Miss Kina Co. and then the external audits as well. And so I anticipate we can
191have a robust conversation about what as a board that we can do to change our policies um to ensure that we have very strong structures moving forward for the budget and finance. >> Thank you board member Green. I like that idea. I'd like to just formally ask sorry Miss Chhatfields [laughter] assuming that would be you that as we look at those changes is that something that you can go ahead and look at for us or you know make sure that that's on the list of that for that discussion. Um, yes, I would be glad to. Um, I will add, um, the the policies and procedures that will be coming to you, I believe they're going to come in July, just because the lateness, I haven't gotten them yet from KSBA. Um, will mostly revolve around
192the new bills that passed in Frankfurt. There will be a few internal corrections or addition or um, amendments that staff have made based on, you know, a practices or a department change of a name or something like that. again. Then again in the fall I started a process where we bring things that are not necessarily a law change but things we want to change. So, I say all that to say I think in July it might be too early um because Miss Co is in the middle of the phrase of the evening, peeling back the onion. And um but I will be bringing another packet in fall in which you you know and of course you could bring it any other time, but I it just seems to be easier and more efficient to bring
193them you know twice a year and not be peacemail. But I mean, you could do it anytime, but that would probably be an opportune time to take a look at that. And yeah, I can certainly direct you toward that. >> Mhm. >> And I'm fine with that being in the fall. Okay. >> Um, if that's what makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Before you put that mic away. >> So, >> I mean, you said it's in it's in procedure. It's not a policy, >> right? >> So, is >> I think the policy says 2%. I have not looked at Isn't that right, Miss Co? >> Yeah. the the policy mirrors the statute. >> So So we could change the policy to say 6% if it's only in procedure at 6%. I mean I would
194be interested right >> I would be interested in that but >> and then just if we're going to point out details less we paint too rosy a picture of this budget. I mean I I appreciate that the contingency it meets the state requirement but the beginning balance is zero. Thank you. >> Thank you. And to board member Green's point as well and one of the charges of the external review that the board commissioned in December was uh recommending uh changes to internal processes, policies and so forth. So I think having that in hand is going to be helpful and make us help us make informed decisions because obviously um we we have to move forward in ensuring that we're not in this situation again. And that includes again that we've already implemented uh improvements to
195internal processes but also uh receiving this feedback from these external reviews and then acting upon them so that we can strengthen those processes based upon um those reviews and whatever information they they find to help us make informed decisions. So if there are we have a motion and a second. If there is no further discussion, all in favor of adopting the tenative uh budget for 2627, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 5. Dr. Ligins. >> Thank you, Chair Murphy. Our final action this evening is the monthly financial report. At this time, I'll turn the agenda over to Kina Co and ask her to introduce some members of her team. >> Yes. For a few months now, you've heard me refer to my team, and I and I just have to say
196that um I have a team of three that I've been working with since almost day two, since I when I got here. And um these are three Faget County Public School employees who are superstars. Um first there's Amy Smith who's with me now. She's the acting executive director of finance financial services. Um Amy's a CPA. She's has 29 years of experience in school finance. She's been a finance officer in three other school districts. So she's well prepared to uh step into the acting role. Um in the back we have uh Jennifer Wilson who is our acting associate director of finance. Um Jennifer is a military veteran with an MBA and she's been a finance officer in two school districts. And then finally um on my team of three I have Dr. Martha Jones and Martha
197is our current director of grants management. She has an accounting degree and you caught the doctor there and she also has a superintendency. So, um my team is credentialed and and I have never worked with a team of people who work harder than these people have been working um nights, weekends, whatever it takes to get it done. Um Amy's going to walk us through the monthly finance report um with the understanding that um they've been in these roles for um or the the the appointed roles in for just a month. So um asking for a little grace here, but um Amy's going to walk you through the report. Good evening um Chair Murphy, members of the board, superintendent, and community. Thank you for this opportunity to present tonight. As acting director of finance, my priority
198this evening is to ensure operational stability and provide you with an update on our financials as of April of 2026. The uh financial accounting and benefits uh service department does fall within our uh strategic plan. we fall within the organizational health and effectiveness. As we begin, I want to first start just talking about the um restatement of the FY2025 uh financial statements. This is still underway. Um I have, as Miss Co has said, I have only been in this role for a month now. uh beyond before taking this on the priority focus was researching and reconciling the 2025 financials as we build out audit trails for any discrepancies that we found. Now that I'm in this uh role officially, we've been able to move forward with entering those adjustments directly into the system. As a
199result of these restatements, um if you look at the beginning balance on this April report, you'll notice that it is only $1.3 million. Um that reflects the reserved uh amount for the carryover purchase orders from 25 until 206. A few key findings um that I want to just highlight. There are several revenue sources that we have identified that were overstated in FY2025. Property tax was overstated by $4.3 million. OOLT tax was overstated by $3.6 million. Motor vehicle tax was overstated um by $225,000 and SEK was overstated by $717,000. Additionally, we our reconciliation revealed that the general fund was overstated by approximately $4 million for grants. In our special revenue fund, which accounts for our grants, we identified approximately a half a million dollars in discrepancies to date, specifically tied to either overspending or failure to
200request the funds from the grantor. We are currently nearing the completion of our reconciliation. The general fund reconciliation is at approximately 95%. While the special revenue fund is at approximately 80%. >> Can we go back real quickly to that slide? I just want to clarify because there was a number that you shared >> that was different on the motor vehicle tax. Is it 252,000? I want want to make sure which number is accurate. You may have just >> 252,000. Yes. Okay. Okay. So, the numbers on the slide is correct. >> Yes. The number on the slide is correct. >> Sorry. No, you're >> the others were millions. >> Okay. [clears throat] You're fine. Thank you. >> Any other questions? Okay. >> So, on this um slide, I I just want to highlight a couple of
201things. Uh this is a summary of our revenues as of um the end of April. One note I want to mention is um the ad valorum tax. This notice that the uh revised working budget was changed after the board approved the working budget um in September. Uh the difference is the uh nickel that the auditors identified that should have been reported in the general fund. But after reviewing all the board agenda items and the motions from the 2020 approved nickel, that was an incorrect statement and it should have always been in our building fund. Nevertheless, KDE has confirmed that regardless of whether the nickel was restricted or not, districts maintain the authority to set aside supplemental funds in the building funds for facilities. Please note that I have also on this form excluded the onbehalf
202payments from the main reporting uh within these numbers. Just as a reminder, on behalf payments represent a endofear accounting entry for health insurance and retirement contributions paid directly by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. There is both a revenue and an expenditure recorded here. You will see the revenue at the bottom of the screen, $152 million. because our district does not actually receive this money nor write checks for these expenditures including them alongside our active operational fund. It skews the percentage uh spent to date. So I've excluded these totals to provide a more accurate reflection of our actual cash flow and revenues and expenditures. Also note that um the very first uh line item under the beginning balance for the taxes, this is um a grouping of four of our major taxes. Property tax, delinquent, real property
203and motor vehicle. In the interest of just keeping this uh screen summary and it so that it can be scannable easily, those details have been combined but they remain fully visible in our ERP which most uh folks know as our munus report but in that financial report those details are in that report. this report or this leads me directly to our next slide where we will address some of the negatives that you will see on the actual April report. The key takeaways um is that the beginning balance or the I'm sorry that the this month reflects the impact of the restatement on the balances of the revenues. The reason we are seeing negatives in the beginning balance is because the ending balance in 2025 has been amended except for those carry forward POS. So that
204is why the 1.3 remains in the beginning balance. Um this month also shows negative monthly revenues. motor vehicle taxes. Um, we found the $252,000 was actually reported twice in 2025. The $2.4 million that was reported in both 25 and 26, that duplicate did not get removed until April of 2026 when I became um acting executive director. So because that double uh reporting was removed in April that resulted in a negative month to date for that revenue code. Uh very similarly the delinquent tax um also had 172,000 reported in both 25 and 26. That duplicate was also removed in April of 2026. As I move um forward with the next slide summarizing the general fund expenditures again these on behalf payments are uh removed from these totals so that you see a a better um outline
205of what or where we stand uh as far as our percentage usage overall. And so overall at the end of April uh we have spent 69.69% of our budget. The one outlier on this report is the district administration support and it is sitting at 95%. Uh this is due to overspending our budget for legal services um and the sheriff's tax collection fee. Can you explain the uh 4% realization on food service operation? Is that because that is a account that's reconciled at the end of the fiscal year? >> I'm sorry. Which >> food service operation is at 4.59% currently? Do you see that? It's >> Yes, I do. So, um that and I may need to get >> And if you need to get back >> Yes. I I I I I am not sure.
206I I'm not sure. >> Is this not the general fund that's been >> it? It may be what is set aside to potentially cover any deficit for food service at the end of >> and we won't know what that number is until the end of the year. >> Okay, that makes sense. Thank you. So um this next slide is highlighting our salary and fringe benefits. The first sal or slide is um uh showing the base salary and also uh notice that the percentage spent to date is 72.5%. Um the um this is very close to just a raw calculation of where we are with the number of payrolls that have been produced as of the end of April. For the majority of our staff, they have received 17 of their 24 checks. Um, so that's
20770% which is very close to that 72.5. However, there are some employees who have already received 20 um of their 24 checks because they are year round. So their first check is in July instead of August. The second um before you move on, may I ask a question? You may um get to this. We one of the issues that we had last year uncovered last year was not adequately anticipating the summer pay. Um you know where some uh staff opt to get all of their summer pay in a lump payment in a lump sum. Um is that something that we're prepared for or >> Yes, we are prepared for that. >> Okay. Okay. Very good. Thank you. So the next screen is just a continuation and it is showing some percentages of our employee paid
208benefits. Um the [clears throat] next screen is our safety tax. Uh the these are numbers that I believe you're report you're used to seeing. So this is where we stand as of the end of April. That budget is 19.5 million. um our year-to-ate um expenditures and this does include any open POS as the end of April is right at 15.6. So we've spent 80% of that particular budget to date. So >> could you Amy really quickly there was a question from the board about if that included all safety within the district and it's in the packet. I can't remember the exact number, but it's for all safety. This covers about there's about five million outside of that that is not covered. >> That's right. >> Um roughly. >> That's right. Um Jessica could address that
209um better than we could, I think. But this is these are just the expenditures that are tied to the tax and there's a a large amount of money that's also spent on safety that's not part of this tax. Okay. >> Um, we could get that exact number for you if you would like that. >> Yes, that would be helpful because this screen here is simply the safety nickel. >> That's correct. Nickel. Yes. >> Uh, but this is not the total expenditures on safety. So, the excess is pulled from the general fund. >> Yes. The excess actually is $4,523,510. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. [laughter] So, um that concludes my presentation, but I want to uh just ask, do you feel like that this was um the scale that you were looking for? Are
210you looking for more information or less information? And want to just present that question to the board. Uh thank you first of all for um the information, the clarity um and seeking our input as well. So uh before I say anything, I'll open it up to questions. Uh board members, does this cover what the board requires? Is there any additional information that would be helpful as part of the monthly report? >> Chair Murphy Green. to the discussion about the safe safety initiatives. Um on this slide where you share about what the safety tax covers and maybe we could put another line down at the bottom and talk about what safety initiatives are still paid for but not out of the safety t out of the nickel um and then what funding that comes from. >>
211Thank you. We'll do that. >> Thank you. And I know that this is probably something that we just given the nature of of prior reports, we may not be able to do it um in the immediate future, but when we look at the percent expended um if we have had something to compare it to because I know that our our budget is not spent evenly divided over 12 months, right? So, if there was a a column or even like a parenthetical note where it says the percent expended to let us know if we are on track um at this compared to prior points in prior fiscal years or if we're uh over estimate. Does that make sense? >> I I I agree 100% that we should be doing that. The reason we didn't is because
212of our lack of confidence in right now in comparing to the prior year. Uh once we get the restatement done for FY25 and we feel really good about FY26, um there are lots of expenditures upfront. I mean, we we pay a lot of our insurance very early in the year and then we have a lot of back-end expenditures in and personnel because of of paying out over the summer. So, um we need to be working on a a monthly trend and whether we're hitting that trend or not. and we will be doing that once we get some pretty solid numbers. >> Thank you. >> One of actually one of the recommendations also from BAC. >> Very good. Thank you. >> But that will show not just the percentage of that of this year or whatever
213the current year's expenditure but compared to the previous year. And is that standard accounting practice to show that? I I you >> I don't think so in terms of in terms of um the budget because a standard accounting practice would actually be more um on the on the receipts and the expenditures not really the budget side but um we will be comparing actuals to actuals and then and tracking that for you as to where we will be in the 27 budget. >> That'd be great. Thank you. Mhm. >> I [clears throat] would also like to point out that if you look at the monthly report, it does include the totals through the last year at the same period. So the very first column, it says last FY period. So that actually represents where that particular
214code um was at the end of April for the last fiscal year. So it's on that monthly report as well. It's just that that report is is not super user friendly. But it but it's the one that KD requires us to to give to the >> You mean one? >> Pardon me. >> You mean Do you mean the Munice one? Yeah. Well, I was going to say I mean I appreciate what you shared, but personally I like to look at the Munas and >> it gives more detail >> and have always wanted that to be the monthly report straight out of Munas because it I mean it should tell the true story. Um, [laughter] and I don't I don't know when that was posted publicly, but I think for true transparency, if we can post
215that as early as possible for the public to review, that would be great. >> And the um fund the other request I would have is sometimes um fund transfer can be a very opaque uh line item. So, even having a separate uh it doesn't necessarily need to be a separate slide, but if it's a footnote just to clarify what the particular fund transfers were in that month, uh I think that would be helpful uh for both the board and the community. >> Chair Murphy, >> board. Um, I'd like to say I appreciate um the continued pointing out of the outliers, especially in the Munis report because those are tend to be ones that I'll pull out. Um, and going ahead and getting that understanding and the explanation as to why they may look a little
216different. Um, it's just continued help and education with, you know, board members and the community as well. Um, so I think you did a wonderful job. It is so great to get to see the individuals um that have been working behind the scenes and and doing the work. Um Miss Co, thank you again for all of your work as well. I think um what I've seen tonight is shocking. Um but I'm not surprised because you've prepared us, I feel, for that these information, this information is going to keep coming as you keep kind of pulling back that onion. So, thank you. Uh [clears throat] you've you all have asked us uh what we need as far as the monthly report goes. Um I'll repeat a question, Miss Co, that I've asked you before now that
217I have both of you here is um what do you need from the board as this work continues and as we make sure that we um address the challenges that you've identified as you peel back the onion and uh we're able to move forward and get on the right track. >> Oh, we need your patience. Um, we we we're getting close. We're getting close. I I'm going to go ahead and and lay out an issue for you that that we will try to address over the next few months. I I've discussed with Dr. Ligins. um when the things are due for the board isn't isn't always um it it it doesn't lend itself to us having closed the month before and and actually been able to balance to the bank and do everything that needs
218to be done to um to have an accurate report to you. So one of the things that we we that we might propose is that we back up a month for this for example this month we would be giving you March but March would be closed um the bank reconciliation will have been done in the past you've heard a a lot about some of the reporting was because of timing and that and that's true it's it's when you close the month or when you run the reports And um we're already running into that problem, especially when the uh dates of the the board meetings kind of creep up earlier in the month. And that happens a couple times over the next year. Um so so we could propose moving it back to the not just
219not the prior month, the pri the prior prior month, but give you any heads up that we see about the month that hasn't yet been fully closed. if there's anything outstanding or just so you don't really get any surprises in the next month. So, um that's something and we will be bringing along with what Shelley said a package of um changes that we would recommend to board policy um to be um more in line with generally accepted accounting practices and that kind of thing. And uh as a followup to a question I asked you at the last meeting um our annual audit um an RFP has been issued. Is that correct? To >> the RFP >> explore another firm. >> Yes. Yes. The RFP um I believe is due somewhere around the 14th. Um the
220responses are due and we that next week we'll be reviewing those with the audit. We've asked members of the audit committee to actually do that for us and um then we'll have a recommendation to you at the June 22nd meeting, but we won't have it for the planning meeting obviously, but for Russ and will that need to be approved then by June 30th so that they can get to work. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. We're hopeful that we'll get a firm that can start fairly immediately, but because of the lateness of the RFP, there's a chance that we're going to be on the tail end of almost anybody's schedule because if they do school district audits, they've already scheduled other districts. Um, but we've discussed that with KDE. We're we're we're all good on all sides
221with that one. >> Okay. Very good. I appreciate it. Any other questions, board members? Murphy Murphy um to Miss Co's um ask I would be amendable when the time isn't right to receive the monthly reports on the delayed schedule that is most appropriate so the the months have been closed and to your point if there is a high level uh important issue that we'll have confidence that you'll bring that to us in a timely manner. >> Absolutely. >> Yes, I'm to that as well. So if there are no further questions, I'll entertain a motion to approve the monthly treasures report of revenue and expenses. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion by Bormer Green. Is there a second? >> Second by board member Ferguson. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any
222opposed? >> Mo. Uh motion carries 40. And yes, Miss uh Ferguson who is or I'm sorry, Miss Christian who is joining us virtually did uh log off. I just need to note that for the records at 8:55 p.m. So there are currently four board members in attendance. Um we do have a quorum. So we will continue our meeting. Uh Dr. Lian. >> Thank you board members Kina and Amy. Uh that concludes our action agenda. Um, under information items this evening, uh, there are five written reports for your review, including the running list of board approved contracts, the board transfer report, the monthly construction report, the school activity funds report, and the personnel changes for May. At this time, I'll turn the meeting back over to you, Chairman Murphy. We do have a need to go
223into close session this evening. >> Thank you, Superintendent Ligins. Next on our agenda is uh public comment on items that are not on the agenda. Um, I'll ask the individuals uh to come forward. Members of the audience, please I ask members of the audience to come forward who have signed up to speak prior to the meeting um to come to the podium just as before and I ask them to keep their remarks to one minute or less. Our first speaker this evening is Kristen Nelson. Is Miss Nelson still here? Okay. Our next speaker is uh Matthew Vid. Is Don Perkins here? Is Amanda Preston here? Okay, Mr. V, you have three minutes. >> Miss Dire, Miss Nelson still here, >> Miss Co. Thank you, Miss Smith. Thank you. I mean, I hope I hope that
224you guys are like disturbed by what you saw. I'm hope I'm hope I mean, legitim hopefully you're disturbed by what you saw. Um, I mean, it's just I mean, it's it's I mean, it's crazy, but I'm just I just can't express my gratitude that we finally have somebody that's telling us the truth. that's telling us the truth of of where we're at. Um, I mean, the the the thing that's most troubling, I mean, you guys need to take a look at the mun the mun document and see the number on the it's on the it's on the very top of the page, the year-to- date number for beginning balance. There's a $27 million adjustment. A $27 million adjustment. And so, and so what we've been saying all this time, all this time is is is
225highlighted in that one single number. A $27 million adjustment to the beginning balance. I mean, it's stunning. Stunning. It is stunning. And so since I don't really have a whole lot more to say, um I'm going to use the next a minute 45 to give my suggestion to what to what the the budget what the report could include what you just showed. And it's I mean it's essentially what Miss Ferguson and and Mr. Murphy asked for. You need to see last year actuals year-to- date. You need to see you need to see this year actuals year to date. You need to see a budget number h how the annual budget was supposed to change relative to last year actuals. So if the budget was supposed to be down 3%, you should be able to see
226how are we tracking year-to date actuals year to date. Are we down 3%? Are we up 3% so we can see how we're trending towards the budget. That's what they need to see because the the 80% figure is not helpful. If you're if you spent 80% of your budget year-to- date, that figure is only helpful if you know how much you're supposed to spend year-to date based on last year actuals or historical actuals. And so those numbers need to be on the you guys need to know at any given point in the year how your budget, how your actual spending is trending towards last year, how it's trending towards the budget. That's what you need to see. Um, and that's and that that's essentially what I've presented to you guys every month year month after
227month after month when I when I would say you're running out of money, you're running out of money, you're running out of money. And the other the other very concerning artifact on the budget is that it appears to me and I know that these these these these numbers we we can't trust them, but it appears to me that you're on track to overspend the general fund by about $45 million because 21 million of it still needs to be backed out. And so I'm concerned about that, but I'm hopeful that the document is not correct, but that's a concern of mine. Thank you, Mr. Ve. Our next speaker is Larry Moore. Mr. Moore, you have one minute. So your budget problem started in September, I mean July of 22. And why is that? That's when you
228brought internal audit services into in-house and you eliminated the contract with Dean Dorton and they had rigid audits prior three fiscal years prior to that. Now that happens to be a year after Superintendent Ligins came a year and a half after you had been board chair Mr. Murphy. So you saw it. It would they were rigorous and and when they when the the internal auditor that you hired has zero zero audit experience, of course, now he was from Bo County. I don't know if that makes a difference, but he did things like check signatures, spreadsheets, cafeteria funds, that that type of audit. Look at the minutes. They they reflect. That's why you're in the position. Ursa money was flowing in. Nobody was checking anything. >> Thank you, Mr. Moore. And our last speaker this evening
229is uh Jeff Flow. Mr. Low still here. Okay, that concludes our public comment period then for this evening. Next, I entertain a motion to make the agenda date of May 27th, 2026 on which action has been taken at this meeting a part of the minutes as if copied in the minutes verbatim. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion by board Monday. Is there a second? >> Second by Green. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries 40. At this time, as Dr. Lens indicated, the board does have a need to go into close session pursuant to K61.810 810 section 1 paragraph C for the discussion of proposed or pending litigation. The board will reconvene in open session if necessary take any action required pursuant to discussions conducted in close
230session and now entertain a motion to enter close session for the state of reason. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion by board green. Is there a second? >> Second by board member Mundy. Questions on entering close session for the state of reason. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries 40. So, it's 9:28 p.m. The board is now in close session and we'll reconvene in open session and take any action if needed. >> [music] [music] >> up. Go. Up. of the world. The world. of the world. Up of the world, of the world. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. N. >> [music] [music] >> Be >> [music] >> little. [music] the Okay. The board left close session. A motion by Bormer Green, a second by Bormer, a vote
231of 40. Um at 9:46 p.m., our business having been concluded, I entertain a motion to adjourn this meeting of the Fate County Board of Education. >> So move. >> Motion by board member Green. Is there a second? >> Second by board member Mundy. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? The motion carries. 40. It's 9:49 p.m. The board stands adjourned and our next meeting will be our virtual June planning session. Thank you all.