001up. The world of the world. pap. Uhoh. >> [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. Do Heat. Heat. Good evening everyone. I will now call this regular meeting of the County Board of Education order. Miss Jackson, good evening to you. Will you please take role? >> Good evening. Amanda Ferguson, >> present. >> Amy Green, >> present. Tyler Murphy, >> present. >> Monica Mundy, >> present. >> Penny Christian, >> present. >> Thank you. >> Uh, thank you, Miss Jackson. I'd like to welcome everyone joining us for tonight's meeting, both in person or on our broadcast. Our uh, first order of business is board member Monica Monday, leading us through our observation, a moment of silence, followed by the pledge of allegiance, and a reading of our mission statement. Board member Monday. >> Thank you, Chair Murphy. Good evening.
002Good evening, everyone. Tonight, we would like to acknowledge the tragic death of Gary Carrian, who was a member of team FCPS for nine years, having served as a bus driver with the district since 2016. Our hearts remain with his family, friends, and all those touched by his passing. Please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. Now, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. The mission of the Faget 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. Chair Murphy. >> Thank you, Bo Mundy. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to adopt the agenda for tonight's meeting. Is there a motion? >> Chairman, I move >> board member Monday. >> I motion that the board
003add an item to the action portion of tonight's agenda to consider and vote on a resolution in support of collective bargaining for district employees. This topic has been of continued interest to staff and community members, and all employees should have the opportunity to vote. >> We have a motion by board member Mundy. Is there a second? I'll second the motion. >> A second by board member Ferguson. Uh the question is on adding language to the action portion >> of the agenda. Board member Green. >> I'd like to make a motion to table that addition um for for several reasons. Uh collective bargaining is an employee initiative. >> We have to vote on the first motion first. >> Chair Murphy. >> U board member Green. >> Um it is an employeeled initiative and there is a
004work group that is about to start that is employeeled. So it would be ill advised for us to jump ahead of that process. >> We have a motion to table. Would that constitute then a substitute motion, Miss Chhatfield? >> Well, since we're talking about the work group, so who's who's making up the >> Just a second. We're not debating the main motion. Let's we because we have multiple motions on the floor. I go ahead and vote on the first one and that would in effect table. If it does if it doesn't succeed, if it does, then you could make the motion to table. >> Well, so I still have a question then about who's involved with the workg group and how that came to be. >> Does this relate to the motion? >> Yeah. Well,
005she's saying that that that's why she doesn't want to support it. So, I would like to know more about the work group. >> Okay. Superintendent Ligins, do you want to I believe that was addressed in a communication to the board, but >> it was >> not to the community. >> My understanding is there I had a request for there to be a work would I support a work group and I said yes and my understanding is they've established one. >> They who? >> A group of employees. We have a motion. A motion by board member Monday and a second by board member Ferguson. >> One group and you know that's a lie. >> We have a motion by board member Monday. >> Hold on. I've been called a lie. Um it is a group of
006employees. I have absolutely nothing to do with the the work group. I was asked by an employee if it could be started. I don't know who are members of the work group. I don't know anything about the work group. So, it's okay if I release the email that you sent to the board about it to the public since I asked you to clarify that to the public and you don't respond to my emails. So, is it okay if I release that email? >> Well, you've never asked me permission before to release my emails, but I don't mind at all. >> Okay, great. >> We have a motion by board member Monday, a second by board member Ferguson. Uh, any uh further discussion on this matter? >> Chair Murphy. >> Board member Mundy. >> I just
007want to be clear that this motion isn't to impede any employees or their abilities to organize. This is in support of all employees being able to do just that. >> So, are you asking for the action item? >> You're asking for action to be taken on a resolution that was the resolution that was shared to whom? >> The resolution that was shared to all of us by Kentucky AFT-120 and that I also shared. And if that isn't suitable, I would be amendable if you are to placing this on the agenda for November. and I'll work with the board attorney to get us a resolution um that we can vote on for our planning meeting in November to talk about and then we'll vote on it in the action meeting in November. >> I will add
008it's the same resolution that was brought forth to this board more than a year ago. >> Okay. >> Uh board member Green >> Chair Murphy, thank you. So um the same resolution that was brought forth in May 2024 was authored not by an employee of Fyet County, not even a resident of Lexington or FA Kentucky um and is also edited by a singular board member. So I'm concerned about looking at an item that um is not representative of the entire employee base. And so um I am not comfortable with this specific um document. >> So who's the singular board member that edited it? Um, board member Amanda Ferguson is on the metadata. Has it has being edited? >> I didn't edit it. I didn't write it. I submitted it to you all and you rejected
009it then. [snorts] >> Thank you. Is there any other discussion on this? At this time, I'll The question is on adding this item to the agenda. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? >> The motion fails 32. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Is there a motion? >> I move we adopt the mo uh the agenda as presented. >> Motion by Bormer Green. Is there a second? >> Second by Bormer Christian. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> Motion carries. 32. We like to open our schoolboard meeting celebrating our talented students in high quality arts instruction. At this time, I'll invite FCPS fine arts director Katherine Lther to come forward to introduce tonight's performance spotlight. And in the
010world of fine arts, uh, we've had some FA County schools have had a great weekend. Lafayette Pride of the Bluegrass band earned their historic 25th state championship, 25th in 2025. Paul Paul Lawrence Dumbar third place in 5A. And then Tates Creek and Henry Clay did an excellent job as well in the competition. So with that, I'll turn it over to Miss Law. >> Thank you very much. Uh, we'll learn some more about Lafayette band in a couple uh, months when we hear a performance from them. Um, at this time, uh, we also had students perform at Keeland. They sang the national anthem in my old Kentucky home, and they were very wellreceived, middle school students all the way up through high school. Uh, so we were very well represented uh, this weekend in the arts
011community. Tonight, I'm excited to introduce the uh, world premiere of Morton Middle School Symphonic Band's performance of Legacy of the Land. Our directors Brian Angel and Chip White Camp are actually with students back at Morton for their fall concert right now. So, they could not be with us. Instead, we have our wonderful principal Tuana Jones who's going to tell us a little bit about their program. >> Good evening. I would like to let you all know that um we have done an excellent job with my council and my teachers with creating opportunities for all of our students in the area area of art and we have several programs. We have a performing art program um arts program that is led by Devin Landis. Uh he is a part-time um with Morton and part-time with the
012district. We also have a dance um program this year. Um and that is with Charlies Odell and she comes um in the afternoon for a part-time position. We also have as we stated a wonderful band and orchestra um longstanding commitment to our building and they've done extremely well over the years in um KMEA with distinguished ratings. And um we also have a wonderful art program that is led uh by um Miss Terry Miller uh where we have been able to offer um art one which is high school credit this year. So, um I know with um positions being um cut and things, the good thing that I would say has come out of it is the partnership that we have with the arts department um here in Fyet County. And um it also allowed us
013to be creative with our resources. And so um we added a few things like I said dance and um we brought back a coral experience that is uh a partnership between UK and United Voices um that is led by Dr. um Priestley. Um he comes in and he works with our students um with um the support of Devin Landis who is a former um student of his. Um as far as our ban again um Mr. Um Chip White Camp and Brian Angel are currently preparing for our fall performance at the Singleary Center. Um this afternoon we have about 146 students who participate in our band um and various things whether it is our jazz band um our symphonic band as well as our concert band if I'm correct about that. Um we have been very
014um blessed to have about 85% retention um when it comes from our sixth and seventh graders staying in the band um over the last few years and as I stated before uh we continuously bring home dist a distinguished rating each year through KMEA. I will just say last um spring when we had um the legacy of the land um performed um at Transennsylvania, it was a piece that was written specifically for Morton and um the composer was actually present to see the performance. I do remember that board member Amanda Ferguson was there so she can attest to how well our students performed um that evening and how proud we were of them. So at this time I'll turn turn it over uh to um Miss um Lawler with just a little more information. >> So
015our students are experiencing vibrant learning experiences by actually meeting a composer that wrote a piece specifically for their school. That is quite an honor. Back in the 1930s, there was a band director at Morton named Claire Grundman, and he went on to become a well-renowned, award-winning composer of uh Kentucky 1800, a piece that is well known throughout the region. Many middle school and high school um students have played it. This piece that you're going to hear was inspired by that um as a nod to the legacy at Morton Middle School. You'll hear the um the piece in which the composer came and workshopped with the students, taught them about the composition pro process, taught them about what it means to be a working musician and a composer. So our students were really learning from the
016ground level up. It took several years to write this and they were able to uh experience the culmination of that. You're going to hear the tune, very familiar tune, very appropriate for a night like tonight called On Jordan's Stormy Banks or the Promised Land if you're familiar with that. It's going to be your earworm for the night. And so you'll hear an opening alto saxophone that represents the Kentucky sunrise. Then you're going to hear that traditional southern shapenote tune, Promised Land. And then you're going to hear you'll hear um some some sounds there that'll um uh conjure up Keeland and the Kentucky Derby. And of course, our beloved Morton Mustangs. This piece is now available on um for purchase uh worldwide as Morton's own legacy. And in the liner notes there's um the names of
017the uh band directors and the school that was involved. So everyone who plays it will know about Morton Fate County Public Schools and their directors. So this is conducted by retired um uh director um I forgotten his name. Todd Chamberlain. Thank you. Um he's not been gone that long. Um but uh yes he was conducting it. And now we do have um Chip Whiteamp and Brian Angel. So, please enjoy Legacy of the Land performed by Morton Middle School Symphonic Band. Hallelujah. I will [music] Heat. Heat. >> [music] >> Everybody. Are you darling? Heat. Heat. >> [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> And that [applause and cheering] is one of our contributions to 250 Lexus equin money. [applause] >> That's awesome. Thank you all so much. [applause] And it means so much to have a [cheering] custom composed
018work and then for the students to have the opportunity to perform it as well and perform it so well. So, thank you so much for sharing that with us and for all the work you do to support our students. Thank you. [applause] >> I'll turn the agenda over to Superintendent Ligins for the superintendent report. >> Thank you, Chairman Murphy. Uh before introducing our first report this evening, I'd like to welcome everyone in attendance tonight both in person and online. Uh in schools across uh the nation, October is recognized as principal appreciation month. Uh school leadership is second only to the classroom teacher uh and the instruction that is uh really related to um school success and how it impacts student learning. And so, uh, we can certainly say that we have some of the best
019and brightest leaders and school principles here in Faget County. And so, I would like to begin by just having a special tribute to them as we um have our um final October meeting. So, if we could, we have a little video tribute. >> So, we're going to have you go up Every day before the first bell rings and long after the last student leaves, there's a leader at the heart of every school, guiding, supporting, inspiring. Fyet County's principles are more than administrators. [music] They're visionaries. They set the tone, build the culture, and lead with compassion and courage. They turn challenges into opportunities, ideas into action, and classrooms into communities. Their leadership reminds us that education isn't just about lessons, it's about people. Because of their dedication, students dream bigger, teachers feel supported, and our schools
020thrive. You don't just lead schools, you lead futures. To every principal in Fyet County Public Schools, thank you for your vision, your strength, and your heart. Thank you. I am a bit biased, but I think we have the greatest principles in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. So, please, if you see a principal or speak to your principal, please make sure you thank them uh today and every day. not only throughout October, but they they work hard each and every day. Um, next on our superintendent's report is our recognition of October's Kid Champion Award recipient. This time, I'd hand it over to Tracy Bruno, chief of staff, to lead our celebration. Good evening, Superintendent Ligins and board members. I'm here to announce our October Kids Champion Award winner. We're excited to continue our partnership with Fork Bank
021uh the proud sponsor of the FCPS Kids Champion Award. Thanks to their generous support support, each monthly honore will receive a monetary prize for outstanding contributions to our students and schools. We're equally excited for the donation from the 16 ways foundation. This month, we are thrilled to celebrate Miss Sherry McFersonson, a dedicated English teacher at Lafayette High School as the October kids champion. Mrs. McFersonson, Mrs. Mrs. McFersonson's unwavering commitment, compassion, and willingness to go above and beyond make her an invaluable member of the FCPS family. The nominator shared the following. Mrs. McFerson has an innate ability to know what her students need. As an English teacher, she embraces culturally responsive approaches. How many educators do you know who can use Tupac to expose students to contemporary literature? Sherry understands that every child is unique and
022sees them for who they are. Sherry has served as head chaperone for Lafayette band and is currently adviser for the Lafayette times as well as student Y sponsor for KYuna. In all of these roles, I have seen her nurture kids who have felt like they didn't belong, support them when things got hard, and fight passionately for them to have all the opportunities they deserve. As a result, her kids are loyal, respectful, and more importantly, academically successful. One thing I love about Sherry is her preparation. At the end of every school year, the first thing she does is restock her class library. She asks any and everyone what their kids are reading. It is a diverse library that allows her students to see themselves in various experiences. Many people see Sherry as a quiet soul who
023flies under the radar. While while that may be true, what I see is a phenomenal educator of 27 years who has dedicated her life to the children of County Public Schools. She reach she teaches with joy, advocates with fire, learns with discernment, and loves with her whole heart. Please join us in celebrating Mrs. McFerson's incredible impact. We invite you to watch the special video created by the FCPS creative media team highlighting her story and the difference she makes each and every day. >> Good morning. How are you? >> Wonderful. >> Hello. Hello. How are you? You are this month's kid champion. So, this is all for you. >> There you go. That's for you. We have one more thing for you. >> Since you're a champion, we have your championship belt. >> That is great.
024>> So, you're October's kid champion. It is um sponsored [music] by Fort Bank and we really do appreciate all that you do for our kids. Are you guys excited that your teacher is a kid champion? [cheering] >> All right. So, yeah, we all everyone's here to celebrate you and what you do for kids and so we we [music] just appreciate you very very much and uh wanted to to surprise you um interrupt class a little bit and have a little bit of fun. So, >> uh very surprised. I was like, [music] what is happening when all the people came in and then I saw the superintendent and I started to see my colleagues and I realized what was happening. >> Uh it's going to make me cry. thinking about her. Um, she has been [music]
025such a helpful colleague uh the entire time that I've been here at Lafayette. >> Miss McFersonson is a five-star general. >> I always knew going into teaching that for me it wasn't about I want to teach English or I want to teach journalism [music] or whatever. I wanted to teach teenagers. >> She's just like kind to all of her students and she really makes you like want to go to class every day. >> I really like her teaching style and the way she leads her class. She wants to push us and she wants to help us. Even though it's like an English class where like you read and you write, she really helps us like with our speech too. Like we have to like talk in class. >> Uh even in the activities after school,
026she leads a thing called student Y where she helps our school grounds be cleaner than uh they were. >> I love this school. I love teaching. I love the students that are sent to me. Uh even on their tough days, I still love those kids. >> She is loved by her students. She is respected by her students, which goes a long way in the world of education, [music] and they know that she's got their back and that she's there to support them in everything that they do. >> She is so consistently here every day showing up for her kids. >> I consider teaching my life's work. And to see that in a positive [music] way because sometimes, you know, daytoday you don't know if you're making a difference. You don't know if anybody's recognizing what
027you're doing is important and valuable. She is someone who when you think about someone who advocates for students, who places them first, who does what she's asked to do and does so without complaint, um, Miss McFersonen is [music] the example of that. I can think of no one better that deserves this honor. >> Sometimes kids don't know what they've got inside of them until somebody says, "Hey, I see that in you." And so, it's amazing to be recognized for that. I am a kids champion. >> Congratulations, Miss McFersonen, for dedication of service to our students and community. Congratulations. >> [applause] [applause] >> Miss McFerson will now come up and take a picture with the And thank you board and congratulations champ for a welldeserved rec uh recognition. Uh next under the superintendent's report I'd like
028to ask FCPS safe schools coordinator Sarah Pickerin to present a recognition of work happening across the district in the area of positive behavior intervention and supports otherwise known as PBIS. Good evening board members and Dr. Ligins. I'm here this evening with my chief Deei Newburn. My name is Sarah Pickering. I work in the Department of Student Support Services and we are honored to be here with you today to celebrate our schools and their dedication and hard work in implementing PBIS. PBIS is a framework that directly fosters the traits as you can see here in our portrait of a graduate by establishing a culture of positive behavior which in turn develops the skills that we see listed here. And as you all know PBIS framework touches all of these areas within our strategic priorities. Um however
029we are looking specifically at student achievement and unity, belonging and student efficacy. So PBIS otherwise known as positive behavior interventions and supports um is a framework that helps schools to create positive and predictable environments where students feel both safe and welcomed. By proactively teaching and reinforcing these positive behaviors, schools can reduce disciplinary issues, increase instructional time, and ultimately foster an inclusive and productive learning environment. The Kentucky Department of Education offers a state recognition of fidelity that acknowledges schools both in implementing and sustainability with PBIS. Schools can achieve recognition at three tiers, three levels, which are bronze, silver, and gold. KDE outlines the criteria annually, and it includes factors such as um data collection, team implementation, and researchbased interventions across all three tiers of PBIS. So before we jump into sharing the amazing schools who have
030achieved recognition status for the 2425 school year, we want to share that there might be schools who are not on this list. And as you know, PBIS is a continuous improvement process. So as schools are brand new, as schools are working to maybe rebrand their PBIS expectations, it is a work in progress and one that our schools are deeply committed to and we're very proud of that. We are also very very proud to share with you that we have two district student support specialists who are assigned to each of our schools and programs to help support that work on a daily basis. So with that being said, we are thrilled to jump in and show you our list of schools. What you see first are our schools who have achieved bronze fidelity status for the
031school year. Up next, we have our schools who achieved silver status for the 2425 school year. And look at this list. How exciting. We are thrilled to share with you our schools who achieved gold status for the 2425 school year. And I'd love to share special mention. You will see that we have schools with an asterk next to their name. Those are our schools who have achieved and maintained gold status since the 2122 school year. So, ever since we returned from COVID, these schools have worked incredibly hard to maintain gold level fidelity status. Yes. [applause] Yes. We are joined tonight by eight schools and we are so excited to celebrate those schools. But just a quick review of the data. So out of our 70 schools and programs that applied last year for fidelity status,
03237 were awarded gold, 15 of our schools were awarded silver and 10 of our schools were awarded bronze. And that is 88% of our schools here in Fate County who achieved some level of PBIS fidelity status. So our eight schools, we are thrilled to share with you all. We have eight schools joining us here tonight. Our first group of schools are our schools who are newly awarded fidelity status since the 2122 school year. So these schools have been working incredibly hard. We are excited to share Brian Station Middle School, Brian Station High School, and we are represented with Brian Station High School having Meredith Ramage and Tesa Livingston with us here tonight. >> [applause] >> We would like to recognize the stables and Haley Hall is here recog with us tonight in recognition of the
033stables. Our second group of schools we're excited to share with you all are our schools who are firsttime gold status recipients since the 2122 school year. So this evening we are joined by principal Wes Downing at Brenda Cowan Elementary School. We are also joined by Amy Smith and Adam Lane at George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys. [applause] We do not have representation here this evening from East Side, but we wanted to be sure and add them on our list. Even though they are now absorbed into the hill, we want to honor the work that took place at East Side last year as well. We are also joined here tonight, Locust Trace. We have a representative. Mr. Mark Sims is here. [applause] And last, but certainly not least, we are thrilled to be joined by
034Tates Creek Elementary School. We have Principal Carrie Paul, Holly McCaulay, Ameilia Miller, and Maddie McFersonson here tonight. And that concludes our celebrations. Are there any questions? >> Thank you so much. Any questions, board members? >> Green. >> Thank you. Thank you all so much for bringing this um forward to us for the whole community to really see what's the amazing things happening in our schools and the intentional focus on that positive behavior and increasing at the end of the day increases that instructional time which helps our students improve their outcomes. When I was a firsttime parent coming into the school system, this was like new language to me. And so I really remember getting the flyer at the front door and trying to figure out what this means. Do you all have any structures where
035you um share beyond just kind of the information that families get at the very beginning? Do you go out and share with like the PTAs or offer like family nights to where families can ask those kind of questions about what this structure means? >> Yes. So we have had a strong partnership with PTA at the district level and also worked with the state PTA to present at um parent opportunities for learning over the years. We also work with our face team, our family and community engagement team, our multilingual ambassadors and try to deploy to schools when they're hosting things so that we can be a part of that share for positive climate and culture. One thing that you'll notice about PBIS is it's a framework. So we would we don't want it to be a
036cookie cutter. Every school does the same thing. So our specialists, one who is um trained in mental health and one is trained in behavior. It's a part of the interconnected system. So both of those employees are able to deploy to the schools that they service to support parent learning, staff learning as well as working um to provide interventions for students within this framework. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Board members >> Murphy Monday. >> Um thank you guys for being here today. Um I know that this system has had a big positive impact on lots of families and I think one of the key pieces is that um families are involved in the process and I wonder if you could just give everyone an example of how you include families in this process um with
037the students and your teams. >> Yes. So at the school level there is a requirement that you have family members as a part of your school level team and that family members should be a standalone not also a staff member. We love employees and the the children that my child is also a Faget County graduate, but we really look for there to be um diverse perspectives in terms of how your school can build that positive culture. So there is a requirement that a family member is a part of that team. Here at the district level, one thing that we do is we invite family members to participate in the different committees that we have. So for example, our student code of conduct committee, parents will receive a survey, but we also invite parents to join
038that committee. So that even at the district level, parents can have voice on how their students are provided a positive culture even when it comes to discipline. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> Thank you both very much. We appreciate your work. >> Thank you Sarah and thank you board members for your investment in um our district supports for PBIS. Next, I would like to invite Adam Lectivi um our executive director of special education to update us on the services provided to our students with special needs. Mr. Le Good evening board members and Dr. Ligins. Thank you so very much for an opportunity to share some information about the office of special education. Special education has through threads through our portrait of a graduate through lifelong learning as well as a big piece in our
039strategic priority for student achievement. We encourage and promote individual student growth based on unique individual circumstances based on evidence-based programming and educational experiences. Tonight I would like to highlight some current status of special education services within Faget County, some trend data and supports. As a district, there are currently 14% of the enrolled students meet criteria for special education services. services in Faget County and across Kentucky and nationally are strongly regulated by the federal and state government. That begins with the notion of childf find. Childfind is the process of identifying children that some individual has a concern for their development. That could be the family, it could be a teacher, it could be an administrator, it could be any community member. They identify that there's a concern and then we initiate a process through an admissions
040and release committee team which includes educators and family members. That process then begins the evaluation process and it results in determination of eligibility. Once a student is identified as being eligible for services in Kentucky, we develop what's referred to as an individual education plan. One of the key pillars of an individual education plan is least restrictive environment or LRE. LRE is simply put, it's inclusion. It's educating the child to the greatest extent possible with their similar age peers. uh in general education and as the LEA the local education agency it is incumbent upon us as a school system to ensure that we're meeting the student where they are at the at the point of instruction. So, IEPs are developed, as I mentioned, through a committee process, an ARC. ARC's meet at least one time annually,
041and it's a collaborative process. It involves the family, the parents, the guardians, and educators as professionals. And they sit around a table and they look at children individually. That's the key here. based on their relative strengths, relative weaknesses, any evaluation information that's provided to the school system to consider as well as any data from assessments in Kentucky. Children can qualify for special specially designed services in one of 14 different areas. This table has a lot of information on it admittedly, but I think it's really important to highlight where we are and what trends we're seeing as a school system. And this is common uh across Kentucky. When I talk to my colleague director um associates, they they are conveying the same trends that we're seeing here within Faget County. So the 14 disabling conditions are
042outlined on the left hand side of the table and then the way you read the top of the table is by school year 17. This starts with school year 201718 and it goes through school year 2024205. And the reason that it does is because the one date that everything is derived on in special education for funding purposes etc is December 1st on any given year. So December 1st 2017 is how you read that particular column all the way up to December 1st 2024 on that date. how many students were eligible for services in any of the 14 disabling conditions. I've highlighted two specific areas. The first one is autism. And I've highlighted this area because as you will see since 2017 18 until last December 1st we've had a stat statistically significant increase in the
043number of students that are qualifying in that particular eligibility area. I've also highlighted the total number of students which is the white uh row at the bottom of the table and this shows post pandem post-pandemic data uh as well as prepandemic data and you can see prepandemic up until school year 2021 2022 we were having a pretty gradual increase and then the pandemic hit and we saw a dip in 2020 in 2021. But since 2021, since school has been back in person in session, we have grown 850 students that are eligible for services in Faget County. The color code system on the right hand side of the table is low incidence to high incidence disabilities and this these are categories based on the Kentucky Department of Education. And this is the variable that factors into
044the seek add-on calculation for funding purposes. Breaking the data down further from school year 22 23 to last school year. This this particular table highlights demographic information from uh gender racial breakdowns e nonl and preschool. And I've highlighted the one statistically significant area on this table as well, and that is individuals that are receiving services through special education and also receiving services through English language support. And that number has gone up pretty uh consistently and drastically over the past uh three child counts as well. All of that to say, um, I'm very proud to lead a, uh, premier special education department. I can't say enough about our teachers and PAR educators that support our students that have exceptionalities. And this particular slide highlights the level of support. Thank you board members for your continual support
045for students with disabilities. We have over 500 certified special education teachers in Faget County. Those are both learning behavior disorder teachers and moderate and severe disability certification disorder teachers. We have over 600 PAR educators that support our students with exceptionalities as well. And we could not do the work. The students would not be making the progress individually that they are without these classroom supports. So I'm very thankful for them and everything they do day in and day out. This slide is again direct supports on the left hand side to students. So uh all of the individuals that you see by job uh category are direct supports to students with exceptionalities. Those range from those that provide therapy services, counseling, behavior intervention, sign language interpreting, nursing for students with medical significant needs that require nursing services
046and compliance supports um to ensure that Faget County remains in compliance with the law. And all of the individuals on the right hand side of this slide are district supports that help our teachers that make sure our option six teachers are prepared to teach. They model, they coach, they're in classrooms with uh teachers and students every day. And I couldn't do uh the work for Faget County without the administrative support that I have. So we we have 40 elementary schools that are supported by two associate directors. All of our middle schools have an associate director and so on. All of that to say, I'm weaving the through thread back together. Without those staff members, we would not be able to be in compliance with least restrictive environment. And so this chart summarizes that even though
047we've seen significant increases in our child count over the last three to four years, we still are making sure that children are included to the greatest extent possible in the general education setting. 85 to 87% of all children with exceptionalities are in the general ed classroom, 40% or more during the school day. And I think that's really something to be proud of uh as a school district. So again, thank you board members for your support in that work. To wrap up, I just wanted to uh highlight some of the trends that I have pointed out. Autism continues to be an area that we are looking at intently. But I will say that when we ran December 1st, 2024, our number of students that are receiving services in the area of autism is almost directly in
048alignment with the CDC statistics that were put out earlier this year, one in 31 individuals. Um, so we're we we have very strong best practice evaluation components that support that process and we feel very strongly that we're identifying those children correctly for services that they need. We are seeing increases in significant uh medical needs and low incidence needs. So that would be our moderate and severe disability program. And I've included a table at the bottom of this slide on the lefth hand side that highlights what we've experienced at the elementary level for moderate and severe disability programming. We've had to add 15 new classrooms over the last five or six years because our numbers continue to increase significantly. So, um, we we are very fortunate that we've been able to do that and hire those
049teachers and those pair educators and extra support staff to implement their IEPs. You may be sitting here thinking, what can I do as a board member? So, the right hand side includes some um fundamental things. Number one is funding. Funding continues to be a topic of conversation. funding at the federal level and the state level. Uh the federal level has never fully funded special education services at 40% when they passed public law 94142 in 1975. And so we are still far below that particular threshold workforce development. So advocating with KDE and legislators in Frankfurt about different paths to certification and not only that but funding for training once individuals are hired within the school system. So providing the support that they need to allow them to get um the education and experience that they that
050they need to provide services for students with exceptionalities. And the last two bullet points are really policy um advocacy areas and they focus around policy changes for more discretion and LRE placement decisions. Uh sometimes the law is very restrictive in what schools and ARC teams can decide and so having more flexibility to meet students needs uh at the point of performance would be very helpful. Again, thank you so much for an opportunity to be with you this evening and I'm happy to take any questions that you may have. >> Thank you, uh, Mr. Licky. And you, um, made a point that I was going to make, and I, again, I feel like a broken record because I make it every time we talk about this issue, but that IDEIDA was intended to be funded at
05140%. It's never reached that level. In fact, in the last fiscal year, it was about less than 12%. So that's about a $39 billion shortfall. And in Fyet County, that would be about a $17 million funding gap if IDA was fully funded uh by the federal government. Um do you and there's been a lot of conversation about some of the events happening in Washington at the Department of Education, particularly uh the staff in the office of special education being targeted. Um have you heard from your position any additional information about that? Do you is there anything that we know or anything that we've communication we've received that we could share with our families on how that might impact our work here? >> I haven't heard directly from the Office of Special Education Programs, but what
052I would say, we have received questions from families and community members. The law is the law and the law hasn't changed and regardless of what happens, we are still obligated to provide special education services until that changes. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Board members, >> Chair Murphy, >> board member Mundy, >> thank you so much for being here today. This is one of the topics that I get asked questions about the most um and so I just have a few questions um related to your presentation. one, thank you for pointing out the statistical significance as well as kind of what the board can do. Um, I I appreciate that. Um, I did notice there's only one district aiologist, but speech and language impairment was consistent has consistently been one of the top special education
053eligibility um, categories. [clears throat] And I know there are other categories that would need an aiologist as well. I wasn't for sure if you um have a partner or refer some of those services out cuz that was when I read that I I felt like it was a lot for just one person. >> So direct uh most speech and language services are a direct service with a speech and language pathologist. They don't require service from an aiologist. We do have one aiologist and we're unique in that way in Kentucky. There's only one other public school system that I'm aware of that has an aiologist on staff. And so we're very fortunate to have that, but we provide the services that students are required to receive. >> And I'm sure families appreciate having that aiologist in
054the school system and being able to meet those needs without having to have that referral. Um, as well, >> does this data include preschool? >> It does. And um I know on that very last slide you kind of showed us how um there has been the rise in MSD programs. My specific question is like has the staffing support increased to pace the rise that we've seen and that you showed us in those tables? >> It absolutely has. Yes. So, uh, if you go back six years ago, seven years ago in Fyet County, the elementary schools didn't all have MSD programs within them. A lot of uh, transportation was happening across the city from a district neighborhood school to another school that had a program. That gap has closed because of the increase in students that
055are requiring that support. There are only five or six elementary schools in the district right now that don't have that individualized programming. Every middle school except for one has it and every high school, A1 high school has MSD programming. >> Thank you. You're welcome. And also thank you to all of the teachers and parent educators and staff that support special education. I've know many of them um just in my everyday life and um they have a passion for it. I've met plenty of them as I've taken on this role and I don't think our district would be what it is or our students would get the care without them. >> I agree. They are terrific. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Board members. >> Chair Murphy. >> Board member Christian. >> Hi. >> So, I'm
056looking at adv advocacy and I'm looking at programming options and policy changes to allow for more discretion in LR placement decisions. We know that traditionally and consistently if we just just looking at state testing you'll always almost always and it's not just fy county almost every district right we will have uh if we're going to use the colors will be in the red let's say when it comes to our babies when it comes to special education when you speak of programming options and when you speak of policy changes what can we do or what are you forward thinking right because at some point while We need to celebrate. We know that there are some huge gaps when it comes to learning and what that learning looks like in terms of assessment and accountability with special
057needs. So, what are we talking about with programming options and what's out there that we could maybe look at as a model for what could work? So something that a lot of individuals don't realize is that children that to to your assessment question, children that are eligible under the criteria of alternate assessment, they are not actually counted in high school graduation rates. And that would be a uh key leverage point of um policy change that would have to be at the federal level as well. But it's it's unfortunate that individuals that uh require that level of support and service that they are not counted in the overall graduation completion rate and they certainly deserve it. the public system. If you consider um the system before they get to three years old, we have invested 21
058years in most cases in those individual children and their um their services and their outcome. And so acknowledgment of that would be a key pillar of policy change. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Thank you, Adam. Uh in our community partner update for October, we're excited to spotlight the hands-on learning experience uh our students are having through a collaborative with Seedleaf. Uh Michael Adams, come forward and uh introduce your presentation, please. Good evening board members, Superintendent Ligins, and everyone joining us. I'm Michael Adams, program manager for external partnerships. I'm here to highlight an outstanding community partner and recent Golden Apple Award winner, Seed Leaf. I'm joined by their executive director, Miss Christine Smith, a train a trained geographer who has been um done doing incredible work supporting garden
059programming uh programs within our district. We also have three students with us who Miss Smith will introduce shortly. For 16 years, Seed Leaf has partnered with our schools, providing everything from garden installation and outdoor classroom maintenance to food literacy, composting support, and culturally affirming harvest preparation lessons. They have helped thousands of students and teachers leverage their campuses as a living lab to teach critical skills in food, nutrition, gardening, cooking, and sustainability. Seed Leaf's deep involvement has been central to the success of our um schools outdoor classrooms for over a decade. They have met the surging demand for these spaces which are now used by over 85% of our schools to enrich learning, develop food literacy, and foster community engagement. Seed Leaves continue uh Seed Leaf continues to be our systems go-to gardening expert, supporting our
060sustainability action plan and addressing food insecurity. They are a vital and integral partner. It is now my pleasure to introduce CE Leaf's executive director, Miss Christine Smith. >> Hello. Thank you so much for having me this evening. I'm quite honored to be invited here to speak about our work. Uh, as Mr. Adams has said, uh, Steve Leaf's been around for many years now, and we've had the privilege of working with several elementary, middle, and high schools in Faget County. Uh, and one of the things that we uh our heart swells with is just how dedicated teachers are to getting their kids as many different opportunities for learning as possible. And uh what I advocate for uh every day when I'm speaking to teachers is having robust outdoor classroom spaces. uh when we see a community
061garden that's working and by working I mean that teachers are able to bring their kids out and teach skills and teach uh some of the things that you all highlight of unity and belonging this work force workforce training component that all comes through an outdoor education uh where gardening is central it is amazing it is also amazing to see the amount of food that comes out of these spaces is when they're well-maintained and used by classrooms, that food is able to go home with families. Uh if the campus is open to the community, they also become these robust community spaces as well where food goes out. What you're seeing up there is just our work with Miss Susan Patterson last year at Booker T. Washington Elementary where we had her class, several classes of hers
062come out and we got to experience uh you know measuring in between vegetables. What do different root systems look like? Why is Johnson grass such a nuisance in our community and in our farm spaces and if you're a farmer you are well acquainted with Johnson grass? Um, and just all of these things that help to educate kids about the landscapes they live in, how uh the work of their hands and a little bit of planning could have a huge impact on, you know, the food that goes into their bellies and their community and how these spaces are really sort of um illuminations of what they're learning and their indoor classroom curricula. Right? when you get to see insects, when you get to look under rocks, when you get to understand how sunlight is act interacting
063with plants to help in uh encourage growth, you're able to go outside and see these things. It makes a really big impact in the classroom. We are so honored to uh be partners with different schools. Uh George Washington Carver uh Prep is a great example of where Seedleaf has been able to embed ourselves within the school and the school culture. Uh we're there uh multiple times a month uh doing engagement with kids and helping with garden programming. Uh this year what we're doing is a little program called Seedleaf and Friends where we bring in basically our community partners that we work with to give presentations. So um Shaker Village came last week. Uh this coming week we'll have Botonist and uh our friends from Flora Cliff Nature Preserve and in the following weeks we'll have
064the Celledo Wildlife Nature Preserve come out and also do presentations uh through our work. And on that point, I will say that one of the sort of uh final things that we're really proud of is just how closely we work with other community partners doing this work. Thanks to the sustainability action plan that we're getting to see uh get operationalized throughout the district, we're seeing trees, we're seeing gardens, we're seeing so much exciting outdoor education work that um you know that we want to see continue and in that we partner really vigorously uh to make sure that kids get this well-rounded experience. So um we work closely with food chain. Uh we work closely with uh trees Lexington. Uh these are some uh groups that you've seen on your campus if you are a school
065administrator. Geommancer is another group that is doing really great work. Um specifically for Seedleaf, we partner with food chain to do a program called Bluegrass Urban Farms. This gives kids the opportunity of a well-rounded agricultural education where with Seedleaf they do gardening and with food chain uh they get in and see their aquaponic system and they learn how to manage that aquaponic system. I'm really proud to say that we have three kiddos uh who are in that program who will be speaking tonight. Mr. Javin White, Cameron Carr, and Caris Francis. And so I'm going to stop talking and turn it over to them. All right, we'll bring up the students. Come up. >> Oh, I think it's already Okay. Can you hear me? Yeah. Okay, it works. All righty. Hello. I'm Haven White and I
066guess yeah, I'm just here to tell you my experience working at Sea Leaf and mainly just mainly just buff and buff in general. It's really It's really fun. It's also and official. I Yeah, I'm I'm I'm outside more. be able to get all the I I'm able toble to um move around and and exercise and also and also and also just get all my nutrients needed of of of because otherwise I'll be shut inside my room. Yeah. And I'm yeah I'm able to to work with my um with my hands more love my hands and I'm able to make more friends friends always which a force always for someone one like me who has a stutter as you as as you have heard from me speaking that's very important I'm able to speak clearly leave
067when I'm comfortable with people I know. That's pretty much Yeah, that's pretty much all I have to say. >> Um, I'm Cameron Carr. I'm a senior. Um, working with Sea Leaf has gave me the knowledge how to grow in an urban area sustainably. and the knowledge I got from uh going to Locust Trace to the tech school, I can use that knowledge and pit it into this program and further my education in environmental science. And um I just like working with this Buff program because I also am interested in aquaculture and I got to work with food chain a lot during the summer for the past two years. And um I really like it. It's very hands-on. is very gives me the knowledge I need to go into a workforce in this field. And having
068um a teacher as a boss gives me the knowledge not just to have to get the work done no matter what. I get to learn from my experience and I get to um I get to learn on the way just not having to get the work done no matter what. Um, I'm Caris Francis and I'm uh I go to Southern Middle and I really like the seed leaf program because I get to work outside with my hands like Javin said and uh like I normally don't really go outside unless it's like for school or if I like have to because I like I like being inside. and my dad called me a vampire one time. [laughter] But aside from that, uh I get to go outside more and I learn stuff that you normally wouldn't
069learn in school, like how to use a um weed weed whacker. And uh I've also learned how to space plants evenly and just how to garden better. >> [applause] >> Thank you all very much. Be careful about telling your dad you're not a year's a weed whacker because then they'll have you out in the out in your yard doing that. Uh we appreciate you all sharing uh sharing your experience with us with seed leaf. Um any questions or comments board members? >> Chair Murphy >> Burmer Monday. Thank you guys for being here today. I too love to garden and I too have been called a vampire, but I will come out um to get those slugs and things off of my vegetables. Um so thank you guys for being here. I do have one question.
070Of everything that you have grown, what has been like your favorite vegetable or fruit that you have enjoyed eating? Because I think that they all just taste much better when we grow them ourselves than when we get them out the store. Um, my favorite thing to grow was a Swiss chard. Uh, my grandma, she loves cooking greens and when I gave her some, she was like, "These are better than regular greens at the store." So, she was pretty excited. >> Um, my favorite thing to grow was actually the flowers because I love seeing them bloom and uh, yeah. >> Uh, let's see. my favorite thing to grow. It's kind of difficult. I grew a few things, some of which were um a pain to grow. They didn't like existing when I'm not around. Uh especially
071Yeah, especially my strawberries. >> Yeah. >> Then why I took care of them? I swear to God. Anyhow, so I guess guess my favorite thing to grow was again difficult because I because I worked in both soil and in the aquaponics farm. So guess my favorite thing to grow was lettuce. It was just easy, simple. It didn't take me having to be there every day to keep alive. Strawberries did not like living. We appreciate that. [applause] One thing I always like to ask when we have students here is uh from your experience, what what would you like someone who is new to Faget County or who has not been to FA a FA County public school before, what would you like them to know about our schools? That's a really good question. What do I
072like to know? I've not thought this far. >> You're fine. Take all the time you need. >> Okay. Do you guys have any Do do you guys have any ideas? >> Uh for somebody new to come to County, I would say that our schools are very good at pushing students out there if they really don't get out there because um I'm not the type of person to really do something unless somebody says it's going to be good for me. So doing these different programs, even though I love it, I wouldn't do it unless somebody asked me to. So these programs out here in Faget County push students out there to learn more about things they're interested in. >> Couldn't say it. I couldn't say it better myself. >> Um I would want them to know
073about how great of teachers that we all have because my teachers, they keep pushing me to try my best. And I also like all the clubs and everything like all the programs we have because they're really great. >> Yeah, I guess for me uh we have an option for everybody really. I mean like we don't just have I'm speaking for myself. We don't just have um farming as far as I know. We have a lot of a lot of other clubs. It's been a while since I've been in uh I said it's been a while since I've been in a a public school. Cool. But yeah, we Yeah, I'm sure there's other clubs out there that that kind of just like that that might that might intrigue everybody to try to try something new. And
074who knows, it may even it may even what they might do in the future. Sure. for one know I might this just might be my thing. My job might be just to grow a plant that's not a strawberry >> or to fine-tune those strawberries. You'll get there. You'll get there. Uh and the last thing is what um what can we do to support y'all? >> Fund us. That's that is literally the that's the the hardest part with any non nonprofit organization. We need funding because because since our focus is not to profit out of people like every other company in the universe, um it's hard to just make it's just hard to just make to make to make enough money to to kind of just like get the to get the equipment or we need
075get the land what we And to be able just have like and to almost get to be almost get to get employees to kind of just like to just to kind to just go out there and to teach us and make things because as I think all of you guys know that farming is dying out. It's becoming extinct. It's pretty much an endangered species. And the whole point of food chain and Sea Leaf and all the other and all the other uh organization and clubs that Christine has uh mentioned and the whole point of those is to pretty much just is to is to head through the knowledge out there there and as we all know and as as we all know with life we can't like do anything without the money to them to
076sell because everything costs money. That screen behind you costs money. The microphone you're talking through is cost money. Even that name tag, it costs money. So like, yeah, we need funding. So So if you guys can if you guys can just fund us, that will help us out a lot. Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Do you all have anything to add? Do you all have anything to add? >> Anything to add? >> Mhm. Oh. Um, I think you should add more farming programs into the school because uh the the only thing I could remember from actually learning at school at about farming is from third grade where we like grew this tiny little seed in a bag. And that's the only thing I remember that we ever did. And when whenever I used
077to think of farming, I used to think about like just digging in the dirt and just like uh just not really doing anything, just growing stuff. And uh like they like some books used to like uh that I read used to despic farmers as like poor and it's way more than that. And it's really fun. And like to see something like that you put into the ground grow, I think it's just really cool. I think a bunch of people would actually like to do it if they saw that for themselves. >> We certainly appreciate you all. Any more questions, board members? We appreciate you all so much for being here. We appreciate you sharing your input with us and we appreciate all that you do. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank
078you all so much for that. [applause] >> That concludes the superintendent's report. I will now turn the meeting back over to you, Chairman Murphy. >> Thank you, Superintendent uh Ligins. Next on our agenda is a time for public comment. Uh Fate County Board of Education policy state uh 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 or the public unless deemed an emergency by the board. 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. Uh speakers will not be allowed to make any disparaging
079or critical remarks about individuals or employees of the district. Instead, those issues are processed through the district's uh 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. And this is again not intended to be a time for debate or direct engagement. However, the board will take the public's input in consideration when making final decisions uh this evening. Um at the end of the meeting, members of the public who have signed up prior to the meeting are invited to address the board on any topic of district related concern that is not on the official agenda. This time we have a total I believe of uh 37 but that is not
080everybody for so 28 and there are some yielders in there and I will try to factor that in when I call folks up. 28 individuals who have signed up to speak on uh matters on an agenda topic and I'll ask each of our speakers to come forward to the podium and keep their remarks to three minutes or less. Our first speaker this evening is Isaac uh Looney and following Mr. will be Noah Cornet. [clears throat] Good evening. My name is Isaac Looney. I'm a taxpaying resident here in Faget County. I've been attending these board meetings for the past several months now and I got to say I'm pretty disappointed with the behavior I've observed from the board in that time frame and based on how many people are consistently showing up to these meetings each
081time I don't think I'm alone. So following the last board meeting in in September, a joint statement from state representatives regarding loss of confidence in FCPS leadership came out where these reps commented on how the community clearly does not trust the current FCPS administration and proceeded to call for an independent forensic audit to reestablish trust. While I'm thrilled to see this support from these representatives, I'm a little disappointed that it's had to come from them rather than the board itself. So here I am once again on behalf of everybody here and behalf of this community asking for an independent forensic audit either in place of or in conjunction with the internal audit that I know we'll be talking about today. I'm also asking chairman Tyler Murphy to do his job as board chair and introduce
082the resolution for collective bargaining. Now more than ever, the democratic process is essential to maintain trust in this administration. And to prevent these issues from continuing. I suspect that's why it got shot down at the beginning of this meeting. The community demands solutions, not excuses. And finally, I want to take a moment to thank board members Amanda Ferguson and Monica Mundy uh for listening to the public feedback and standing with this community. Your contributions to this board are appreciated and I want to ensure that's recognized in the midst of all this craziness. That's all I have today. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Looney. Our next speaker is Noah Cornet. Following uh Mr. Cornet, we will have uh Katie McClur McClung, I'm sorry. Cat McClung. Hello. Uh as some of you know, I am
083Noah Cornet, a proud public school graduate and a resident of Lexington for the last 10 years. Before moving to Lexington, I came from Eastern Kentucky from a family of mine workers. mine workers that were represented and protected by the United Mine Workers of America. Their right to collectively bargain with the mine owners allowed them to demand fair treatment, safe conditions, and a living wage. That was in 1978 when that was going on. And here I am in 2025, sadly having to demand a right that every worker in this country should be able to take for granted. the right to collectively bargain with their employers for a better life, for dignity, and for respect and security, especially at a time when our public schools have never been under a worse attack. So, I'm not here today
084to discuss the recent revelations about the superintendent's lavish spending or about Chair Murphy's possible conflict of interest in sitting on the KEA and NEA executive boards while fighting to disallow an open vote on who will represent the teachers and staff of SCPS. As a side note, I do find it very interesting that when someone refuses to have a vote, it is typically because they're worried they're not going to like the result. But I digress. I'm simply here to demand one thing. Let them vote. Let our educators and our staff who we trust with the lives and education of our children have the freedom to decide who will represent them. So place the resolution for collective bargaining on the agenda. Chair Murphy, do your duty and let them vote. And while you're at it, you can
085fund that external audit to find where the money went because it might be able to help pay with all those lawsuit fees that you're about to have to pay. Thanks. Our next speaker is Cat McClung. Following Miss McClung, we'll have uh Steven Dorsy. All right. So, my name is Cat McClung. said this before. I live, work, and pay taxes in Lexington. I am here yet again to support an external forensic audit, which many community members have requested over several months. I am also here to ask Chair Tyler Murphy to do his job and put forth the resolution so that teachers and staff may get a collective bargaining agreement as they deserve. We've spoken so much about the budget issues, but what should not be overshadowed in this moment is the right for teachers and staff
086to be provided fair compensation, improved working conditions, job security, due process, and stronger professional standards. I also want to point out that earlier tonight, we recognized a teacher for the amazing job that she did with kids advocating on their behalf. And when she came out here, I wasn't sure how much that check was going to be for. Not that I expected an exorbitant amount, but a $100 is nice and recognition is nice, but I bet you the books that she bought to stock up her classroom at the beginning of every year probably cost more than the $100 of recognition. Probably also all of the supplies that she gives for her classroom every year cost more than that. So, I just want to point out that recognition is nice. That's so nice of you to do.
087They all deserve so much recognition. We've heard so much from all the kids here tonight about the 10 million different ways they should be recognized. But what is better is actually advocating for teachers and staff like her to get the collective bargaining agreement they need so that they can have a better life to provide for those kids so they can get an education. and I yield my time. >> Thank you. Our next speaker this evening is Stephen uh Dorsy. Following uh Mr. Dorsy, we have Laura Hartkey. >> Can you clarify switching spots? Yielding time or just switching? >> That's fine. Thank you. Hello. Good evening. My name is Sarah Green and I am a 23-year veteran teacher. I teach middle school and this year I'm teaching civics. I've worked 16 years at Crawford Middle School,
088now Crawford Middle School Leadership Academy. As a civics teacher, it is my job to teach the democratic process to our students. It is my job to teach them the process and it's also my job to make sure that they know that they have a voice. This is what I instill in them every day. They understand the processes and they understand that their voice is valued. However, Mr. Murphy. Unfortunately, this board has chosen to silence the voices of hundreds, if not thousands of of your employees. The ones who are in the classroom every day, the ones who are loving on our babies. We are the ones who are in the classroom every day. And it is unfortunate that you have chosen to not open up the a democratic process of a vote. I tell them the
089value of a vote, that every vote counts. And so I'm asking you tonight and every board member to allow our staff to simply have a vote if they would like to collectively bargain for their contract. Our superintendent collectively bargains for his contract. So, I really am not understanding why it is that our staff that we love and appreciate and pour into these kids every day, why we are not allowed to vote. Please do your job and allow our staff to vote. I yield my time to James Woodhead. Thank you. Our next speaker is Laura Harkkey. And after Miss Harky, we'll have Colin Harris. I did not have intentions to speak, but I came up here to do a fact check. Tyler Murphy, you have had that resolution in your hands. I personally made sure of
090it for almost two years. It is not a fact that there is some teacher-led workg group about collective bargaining. That would be FCEA who Dr. Lian says he didn't give that to. However, a news article from Spectrum in August says differently. You are simply blocking this vote because you're afraid of who would win this vote. You are interfering with a democratic process and lying to the public about an established work group that the only people who know about that are you, the superintendent and FCA members. So, if you'd like to put together a workg group of stakeholders, explain to me where labor is, where is the AFL, where is central labor, where is AFT, and tell the folks in this room who is actually in that work group. I yield the rest of my time
091to Deb Girth. >> Thank you. Our next speaker this evening is Colin Harris, who has yielded been yielded time from Thomas Stinson and Jeremy Jenkins. That's nine minutes. Thank you very much. My name is Colin Harris. I'm a Lexington resident, voter, and taxpayer. I spoke here at the previous board of education meeting after learning about the massive budget shortfall that this board has created and attempted to cover up. After seeing how much of a public uproar this mismanagement has led to, and after seeing that there are now bipartisan calls in the state congress for a full forensic audit of this institution, I was sure that it was a done deal and that I would see an announcement of such an audit any day now alongside Superintendent Lian's resignation. So, imagine my surprise after realizing that
092not only has absolutely nothing meaningful been agreed to on this front, but it appears the board has continued to try to sweep this gross mismanagement under the rug. I thought a $16 million budget shortfall alongside hundreds of thousands of questionable at best spending on the Faget County Public Schools credit card was enough of a scandal on its own. But the more I read into this story, frankly, the more amazed I am that the decision to undergo a full audit is still in the hands of this board. So, just for the record, since it hasn't been discussed as in detail tonight, I'd like to recap. Between 2023 and 2025, Demetrius Ligins has taken 29 trips all around the country totaling more than $66,000 of taxpayer money, including a $7,000 trip to Australia of all places. We
093know of dozens of instances of Ligins and other board members dining at high-end restaurants for $50 to $100 a plate. We know that not only Lianigans, but also Deputy Superintendent Barber have put pressure on the FCPS budget director to cover up this budget deficit since at least May, and that they have retaliated against her for attempting to bring it to light by placing her on leave and stripping her of oversight duties. And amidst all of this, FCPS has paid over $100,000 to a lobbying firm to lobby for a tax increase to fund the massive deficit that they created. After this tax increase was deemed illegal by the Kentucky Attorney General because of inadequate public notice, they pivoted to just have that lobbying firm do damage control for them to salvage the reputation. And this is
094just what we know about with them obfiscating and trying to cover this up. Before I go any further, I just want to make it clear that I've recently learned that the way these meetings are recorded only shows a few rows in the front of the room, giving an impression that there aren't that many people here. And I want to make clear that I do not see very many empty seats at all. I see at least 80 to 100 concerned taxpayers that were pissed off enough about this to show up and sit through the past hour, hour and a half of the board patting themselves on the back in order to show that we aren't going to stand for this. All of this paints a really grim picture to put it lightly. This is no longer
095a question of whether this deficit is due to foul play. That's much is clear, but rather how deep it goes. 16 million is the number that I've seen quoted as the deficit most commonly on the news. But who even knows how many more millions have been lost, embezzled, or wasted. This is our money that we have paid into this school system for the benefit of our community. And we're not just going to let you slip this under the rug. Again, we demand a full external forensic audit and nothing less. Even the highest estimates of the cost of such an audit come in lower than just what Ligins has charged to the company card that we know of and less than half his salary, which for the record is nearly 400,000 a year. More than Andy
096Basher and the mayor of Lexington, Linda Gorton, combined. One specific thing that I've learned has been cut from this budget since the discovery of this deficit is a raise for teachers and staff. a measly 1% pay increase for people that are already working some of the most important, difficult, and underpaid jobs in this country. This money is being taken out of their pockets because of this board's failure, and that's unacceptable. But they would deserve more even if not for this budget scandal. In addition to the full forensic audit, we demand Tyler Murphy do his job as board chair and uphold the democratic process by placing the resolution of collective bargaining on the agenda and passing it. They have a right to vote and you have a duty to let them. It's been made clear to
097me at this meeting tonight that there are several on this board that are willing to lie and obiscate in order to prevent this resolution from passing. But we will not let you stop it forever. In conclusion, I just want to emphasize that given all of the circumstances that we're seeing here, what we're asking for here isn't anything crazy or radical, but the absolute bare minimum, and we will not stop until this board agrees to it. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Our next speaker is Brandy uh Baker. And following Miss Baker, we'll have Heather Ferguson. Hello, my name is Brandy Baker. I have been teaching in Faget County for a little over 20 years now. And right now is the most important time I can see in my career that we need a CBA. So
098I am here basically to ask you, Mr. Murphy, to please put the resolution on the agenda for next month. We're just asking that you open up the democratic process of allowing the staff to choose who they want to represent them. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Baker. Our next speaker is Heather Ferguson, who's been yielded time from Nema Brewer. You will have six minutes. And following Miss Ferguson, we have Mr. Larry Moore. Hello, my name is Heather Ferguson. I've had three children go through the Faget County public school system and I truly believe in our public schools. I have a lot of things I would like to discuss tonight such as emails to the board that the majority have been nonresponsive which means they aren't reading them or they're just not concerned about how their
099constituents feel about the state of our schools the mismanagement of our district by the superintendent and top administration. However, my purpose for tonight is to stand up and speak on behalf of the teachers in Faget County who are hesitant to speak up for themselves due to the culture at FCPS and potential retaliation by the district. I asked for anonymous feedback from our teachers on what they're seeing in our schools and I'm going to read as many as I can in the next five minutes. I would like to rem remain anonymous when you present this evening. I wanted to send you pictures of the portables at our elementary school which house two fifth grade classrooms gifted and talented in computer lab. While the pictures do not do justice to how poorly it is with the holes
100in the walls and floor, there's a family of groundhogs living under the portables, as well as snakes that have been seen by teachers and fifth graders, mold, and who knows what else. One of the teachers had to buy her own humidifier and empties it every day, which gives you an idea of the dampness in the portable as smells of mold and mildew. The wiring is so shoddy the outlets are coming out of the wall. Again, please keep me anonymous. would like to talk about the inconsistencies about security and severe weather protocols in the port portables throughout the district. We don't have control of the thermostats in our buildings, only controlled by downtown. No ventilation exhaust fan in the faculty restroom, which she says in he she says is an OSHA violation. The buildings are a
101hot mess with the lack of repairs. can't make the repairs because the majority of the budget was stripped away. We have several HVAC units that need replacing in our building. 80° days are miserable. Teachers have been waiting for a replacement since early last spring. You would think nine maintenance technicians they could figure out how to get the air fixed in classrooms that have not had air for over a year. Gets a little old when kids are falling asleep in class because it is so hot. Please keep this going. We have to change. I am an FCPS teacher. I'm asking parents for Ziplockc bags for loose teeth, duct tape for ceiling tiles that are falling, index cards for flash flash cards for my kids. I could go on and on and on. I have to buy
102my own staplers, scissors, etc. This has been going on for years. As a 25-y year employee, I have never seen it this bad. the mistrust with the folks at JDP and three out of five board members. Being in middle management, I see all kinds of wrongdoing. It raises concern with the wrongdoing, the spending. You learn to just agree and not complain. I'm not disgruntled. I love my job, but what do I do? I do not like the wrongdoing, but there is no way to retaliate. And if I do, they come after me. We are pretending because FCPS teachers have been warned not to even post or our jobs are on the line. As an FP FCPS teacher, we are embarrassed and ashamed. We are all just waiting for a day when we are allowed to
103say what we what we think. We have all been warned to support the FCPS family. Our school got reprimanded by Ligins and the principal after we wrote Tyler about our air conditioner not working. He said we don't take this out of the house and that Tyler was too busy. Dr. Mr. Ligins didn't understand that a Supreme Court ruled teachers could contact their school board members. Yeah, you can't complain. Your principal calls you out if you do. It's terrible. You are told you must go through the chain of command. All teachers have to buy all kinds of supplies out of their own pockets to do centers, art projects, or just basic supplies for daily lessons. It makes me sink sick when I see what the superintendent is getting away with. I would like to know about
104the secret board meeting that excluded two board members and why they are excluded from multiple meetings. I feel like we owe it to the teachers and staff in addition to our students to advocate for boots on the ground serving students directly in the schools transparency and spending. Teachers and staff are out here killing it and delivering a worldclass education in subhuman conditions. Schools are asked to cut costs in impossible ways while JDP does not seem to be making any sacrifices. Everyone in our schools deserves better. I mean, literally, I have a hundred comments and I cannot tell you how frustrated and angry as a parent, as a citizen of this county, I have emailed people. I have talked. We are all here. I'm supposed to drive to Columbus for work tonight, but I'm here because
105I feel so strongly that we are not being heard. Our kids deserve better. How do we expect them to learn when the people teaching them have air conditioners not working? Classrooms not taken care of, roofs that are falling apart. I go to my son's archery meeting and there's literally trash cans all over Dunar. Could travel funds not have been used to fix that roof. I will keep coming back as long as teachers send me all your complaints. I'll come read them as often as I can. >> Thank you. Our next speaker this evening is Larry Moore. Following Mr. Moore, we will have uh Michael Propes. I'm speaking today because I believe this board is failing its core duty to act with responsible fiduciary for the district's resources. Fiduciary duty is not a ceremonial phrase. It's
106legal and ethical mandate. It demands competency, transparency, and independence. Yet, what we've witnessed is a troubling lack of financial literacy, business acumen, and strategic oversight. These gaps are not just inconvenient, they are dangerous. They leave the district vulnerable to mismanagement, waste, and manipulation. This board approved budgets without demanding clarity. You have tolerated vague financial reporting, ignored community calls for accountability, and allowed administrative bloat where classrooms go underresourced. That is not stewardship. That is neglect. There are growing concerns about outside influences shaping decisions behind the scenes. Whether through political pressure, personal relationships, or opaque alliances, this undermines the integrity of your role. Fiduciaries must be free of undue influence and fully equipped to evaluate budgets, contracts, and risk. When board members lack the skills to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, or demand accountability, they become
107rubber stamps, not stewards. And when they resist calls for a forensic audit despite mounting public concerns, it raises the question, what are you afraid of? If there's nothing to hide, then a forensic audit should be welcome, not redirected. Mr. Murphy's recent communication to the internal audit committee was signed in his name was clearly crafted by someone with advanced governance and financial expertise. If the board truly believes in transparency, then vote to authorize a full forensic audit, one that follows a money, not the process. Before the board approved the OOLT tax strategy, the district management connected with the PR firm to manage the the OOLT tax campaign. What that mean? Well, it meant that his outcome is already predetermined. Now, the OOLT tax strategy was tabled. Why is a district having to pay a $38,000 invoice?
108If a foreign audit is not authorized, Mr. Murphy, Miss Green, and Mr. Christensen should resign effectively immediately. Lexington deserves a board that is qualified, independent, and committed to transparency. And I can only hope that state auditor doesn't find any malfeasants act committed by any member of this board or district. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Moore. Our next speaker is Michael Propes. Following Mr. Propes, uh we will have Emily Morris. >> Good evening. My name is Michael Propes and I was born and raised here in Lexington, Kentucky. I went to Glendover Elementary School, Morton Middle, and Lafayette High School. and I live here still now a taxpayer. I received a wonderful public education through FCPS and it breaks my heart to see how the board has disrespected its teachers and staff recently. The room is
109full today, many of whom hear are FCPS teachers and staff wanting a collective bargaining agreement. Yet, we heard from Amy Green earlier that it does not reflect the values and desires of the FCPS faculty. So, how many teachers will it take for them to speak up before you all listen and uphold the democratic process and introduce the resolution for collective bargaining? Many times today, the board has referred to the FCPS faculty as the FCPS family, and I implore you to treat them like so. In addition, the board has known about the $16 million shortfall for months, yet no action has been taken to discover where this money has gone. We also know about Superintendent Lian's extravagant purchases funded by taxpayer money. Superintendent Lianigans, you were sworn into your position to serve the faculty, staff, and
110students of Fyet County, not yourself. It is time for the board to take responsibility for its actions by conducting a forensic audit and recognizing the AFT's right to collective bargaining. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Propes. Our next speaker is Emily Morris. Following Miss Morris, we have Benjamin Romeo. Hello, my name is Emily Morris. I've lived here in Kentucky in Lexington for about five years. Um, I'm here on behalf of the teachers and I would like to say that for a board that claims that they support teachers, you're making their lives pretty miserable and making them sit here after work when they could be at home. And the best way to support students that you claim is your goal is to support teachers. And I would like to say that we demand Tyler Murphy do
111his job and uphold the democratic process by placing the resolution for collective bargaining on the agenda and pass it. Let them vote. Thank you, Miss Morris. Our next speaker is Benjamin Romeo. Following him, we will have James Woodhead. Hello, my name is Benjamin Romeo. I'm a resident of Lexington and a taxpayer in Faget County. Over the last few months, I have come to several of these meetings and have been appalled at the mishandling of the budget. It is shameful that teachers and staff have to pay for supplies out of their own meager salaries while Superintendent Lian spends over $150,000 on trips with $28,000 spent on restaurants alone. As such, I'm here to add my voice to others here today and demand an external forensic audit to find out exactly what happened to the missing millions
112from the budget and that the school board introduce a resolution for connect collective bargaining. We demand that you let them vote, which is crucial for upholding the democratic process. We will not stop until you introduce this resolution and pass it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Romeo. Our next speaker is James Woodhead. Following Mr. Forhead, we will have Katherine Eisen as a special education teacher with 14 years of service to this district, parent of an FCPS student, constituent of this democratically elected school board, the elected steering committee representative of the Central Kentucky chapter of Kuckians for the Commonwealth, and and the elected fyet aft secretary treasurer. It is time that we model, uplift, and enshrine democracy with our actions. We have the opportunity to open up the democratic process and formally invite stakeholders to the
113table to collaboratively seek solutions to protect our kids and our communities. All workers, especially educators, deserve the right to union contract and to choose their union. Most importantly, our kids, especially our most vulnerable students, deserve a contract that can serve as a blueprint to resist attacks on public education and civil rights. Gains made toward the struggle for disability rights and racial justice are at risk of being rolled back. With public education being the great equalizer, it's no coincidence that both the Voting Rights Act and special education are being gutted at the federal level. As educators, we provide our students with knowledge to think critically and become active, informed members of a democratic society. You can empower and infranchise your teachers, staff, families, and community members to have a recognized democratic voice. Verbally acknowledging the work
114that your special education teachers are doing is appreciated. now give us the same opportunity that nearly 30,000 public educators in Fairfax, Virginia were recently given by their school board, leading to 97% of educators voting to unionize and the agency to choose the representation. Let us vote. It is time for FCPS employees to have a collective bargaining agreement now. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Woodhead. Our next speaker is Katherine E. Following Miss, we will have uh Katherine Blair. Um, hi. My name is Katherine. I am a resident taxpayer in Ling, Kentucky, and I'm a proud graduate of Palant Stumbar High School. As a taxpayer, I would prefer I knew my money went to our teachers, staff, and students and not just disappear into the ether. I would like to trust our school board with our
115money more, and I'm disappointed we are still waiting for an external forensic audit. Also, I suggest the board add a resolution for collective bargaining on the agenda. Our educators and staff should be able to have a formal voice in their compensation, treatment, and working conditions. I would feel better as a taxpayer and former SCPS student if our hardworking educators and staff got a formal say in what happens in their in their students lives. I want more of my money to go to them. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Eison. Our next speaker is Katherine Blair. Following Miss Blair, we will have Shambber Moulder. Good evening. I'm I'm here again, guys. Um I am a special education teacher in Faget County, so I was really happy to hear about um all the good things that we're
116doing. I appreciate that. I would say I think it was Miss or member Christensen if you would like to know what we could use we could use uh programs to be ordered because I don't think all of them are and we are piecing them together as we can. So if you could do that that would be fabulous. Um I do would I would like a forensic audit to help give accountability for financials. A collecting bar bargaining agreement would ensure that these funds are spent on in the schools and on kit. An external audit would ensure that an audit is done without company influence without fear of retaliation. I have been trying to get a fence for my school's playground for about seven years now. Guess what? It's under the $40,000 that the board could do
117without approving it. But guess what? I chased off two dogs last week before they got to my children. So, shame on you guys. Shame on you if you are going around spending money at Malones and I am chasing dogs off my playground. So, I am disappointed with the board vote to not hear the resolution on the CBA. This is not what democracy looks like. This is what my grandfather stood on a picket line in Eastern Kentucky for. Ka would do nothing but rubber stamp administration agenda as they have been doing. What are you afraid of? I understand that board Murphy has a preference. But you need to look out in this audience and you need to see these people in blue who came to say on a Monday night when it was raining after I've
118been working for 12 hours to say this is not right. So the least you could do is look up at me. The least I'm sorry this is the face of what has happened with this audit with this financials. This is it right here. I am the teacher on the playground chasing the dogs away from my children trying to find the right materials to teach special education uh children while you guys are having a good time up here. Shame on you. Shame on you. This is not democracy. >> Thank you, Miss Blair. Our next speaker is Shambber Moulder. And following Dr. Moulder, we'll have Deborah Girth. [applause] Good evening. I'm Shamra Moulder. I'm an educator. I'm a mental health provider, a business owner, property owner, and a taxpayer in Faget County Public School. So, I appreciate
119Superintendent Ligins on how he's cooperated with the audit process and increased the transparency of data on the district website. This audit has been being done because of the budget that was presented with the shortfall. It ended with the district not putting forth a tax increase to support that budget. The many successes of our students, Superintendent Ligins, and his leadership and his district staff was the basis of him being awarded superintendent of the year. I'm concerned that the decreased budget that was adopted by the board will affect student success going forward. It's not clear what programs, resources, staff that was cut to the decreased budget that was adopted by the board. So in the spirit of transparency and keeping the focus on student success, it would be important to not only look back on what happened
120in terms of the budget and the audit and I understand people want to know and upset about that. I don't think we should gloss over the fact that we have a decreased budget. Therefore, some things that were being successful are not going to be funded going forward. So I would like the district to consider sharing what was cut in the adopted budget to ensure that the students in Faget County will continue to be successful under superintendent Ligins. I think Superintendent Ligins has shown what he can do and I know he'll probably be very have been very innovative on some changes that he can do to continue the success. We want to continue to support Superintendent Ligins and just know exactly moving forward how we can support the district in making sure that those resources, those
121staff members and things that were cut will not negatively affect the success in this district going forward. >> Thank you. Our next speaker this evening is uh Deborah Girth. We will have five minutes and uh with the olded time and after Miss Girth, we'll have Steven Dorsy. >> Good evening. My name is Deborah Girth. I've already shared with you that I'm a retired educator and a fan of public schools. Tonight, I want to share something else about myself. I am a church lady. Of course, she is. My church, the Episcopal Cathedral downtown, has adopted its neighborhood school, Harrison, as one of our outreach ministries. Members of my congregation volunteer there as classroom helpers. We gather school supplies and backpacks and money for supplies each fall to support the families who can't afford them. We donate
122books to students and have supplemented the library with muchneeded books selected by the librarian. Over the last few years, we have donated thousands of dollars to support Harrison School. What we are able to do is not perfect and it may not be transformative, but we see ourselves as a sort of PTA doing what we can. And we are not the only organization who helps in this way. So imagine my dismay when I learned from news reports of large travel expenses and pricey gifts just in the last six months of credit card statements and of contracts slightly managed to avoid board oversight. While a Title One school is so in need of basic supplies like Kleenex and Clorox wipes and library books that my church has to donate them, the district is spending money like a
123Fortune 500 company. This is just wrong. This is the first of three points I'd like to make tonight. that this kind of spending is unfair to students and demonstrates inattention to the mission of public schools. My second point is directed to the board specifically. It is clear from news reporting that there has been an intentional effort to keep you from appropriately overseeing the financial management of the district. emailed comments have suggested that your questions about the budget are somehow inappropriate micromanagement. At this point, it's publicly obvious that nothing could be further from the truth. How else will taxpayers know that our public funds are administered with fairness, integrity, and transparency unless our elected representatives are fully informed? Who else besides the board has the job of overseeing senior administrators? A full forensic audit is now
124necessary to restore transparency and public trust. This brings me to my third point also for board members. There are many reasons why teachers want a collective bargaining agreement. But this is where I argue that you as an oversight board with the job of focusing all efforts on a student centered mission a collective bargaining agreement with frontline worker frontline workers is in your interest. Democratic management of a public school system is a three-legged stool and that collective bargaining agreement is the third leg. You have an untapped resource of highly educated, missionotivated experts who are not at the table. When management loses sight of the mission, teachers are the first to see it. Wouldn't it have been a good idea to hear from them early instead of once things have fallen apart? When teachers are part of
125the conversation, budget transparency is a baseline requirement for negotiation. Is that why there is reluctance to bargain equally with teachers? When you negotiate with teachers in an interestbased bargaining, it is the students, the mission who win because the working conditions of teachers are the learning conditions of our students. When teachers are running out of Kleenex, so are the students. When the buildings are damp and moldy, that's affecting the students. I am arguing that all these problems are connected. Lack of financial transparency, focus on appearances through public relations instead of the real mission of public education, administrative bloat when basic needs go begging, and expert frontline educators. >> Thank you for your time. Our next speaker this evening is Steven Dorsy. And following Mr. Dorsy will be Chad uh Peebler. Hello. My name is Steven Dorsy,
126Lexington resident for two years, taxpayer and voter of school district 2. Over the past several schoolboard meetings, we've talked extensively about the wasting of large sums of taxpayer dollars, the failures of those in charge, and the frustrations of the people. Large decisions lie ahead of us that will have longlasting effects on this community. And what I do not want to get lost are the ones who those decisions will arguably affect the most. Teachers and staff of our schools. You don't get to brag about consistent truency rates, rise in graduation levels, higher test scores without taking care of those who make those tangibles possible. So, I join my voice with those of us that want accountability and democracy. This board needs to pass a vote for an independent forensic audit on our budget, and Tyler Murphy
127needs to do his job and introduce the resolution for collective bargaining. And that re resolution needs to pass to show we care for our teachers and staff as they've cared for us and the future of this community. Thank you. Thank you, uh, Mr. Dorsy. Our next speaker is Chad Peeler. Following Mr. Peler, we'll have Matthew Vid. Good evening, board. Um, at the beginning of this meeting, um, a board member alluded to the fact that the resolution proposal that was presented tonight was less legitimate than other ideas because the one presented tonight had no teacher bleeding to it. that there were not teachers who were bringing that forward. I've been here 30 years. I've given 30 years of my life to Fyet County Schools proudly. I love it. I have taught board members children. And to
128tell me that I am not a worthy person because I'm wearing the wrong color is offensive. You honored a teacher tonight. She's a member. There are images that were presented tonight of members. We are teachers. We are asking for you to just let us vote. Hey, maybe we'll vote no, but let us vote. I carry this everywhere I go. It is a minor tag. It was my papa's. He was the treasurer of the local union um for his mining company. I have union in my blood. If you choose the union for us, that's called a company union. You can look that up. >> Thank you, Mr. Pebbler. Our next speaker is uh Matthew Vid. Uh Jerry Pebbler, Don Perkins, and Barrett Ve have yielded time, so that's nine minutes. Should I wait? >> I'm not
129starting until he comes back. >> We can we can move on to the next speaker if you want to come up after the next speaker. Does the next speaker want to talk while is not in the room? >> Our next speaker is Bonnie Taylor. Bonnie Ogle Taylor. >> Uh Terry Crusher. I Mr. Ve I do not know how long he's going to be but we can you can go ahead and begin your comments. you have nine minutes and when he returns you can continue speaking but it's either that or we can go ahead with the business and then come back to this portion but >> he can't do the business he can't do the rest of the business without being here as well. So right you can't conduct the action portion of the meeting without
130the superintendent. We have uh an approval of the minutes and then uh the consent agenda. >> I'd prefer to wait until he comes back. We get two chances a month to address the superintendent. Mr. V, the other solution is we do have a second public comment time if you would like to defer to that time. >> We did not know but Mr. Vid we do have to move on with the meeting. I Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. So, there's been a lot of there's been a bunch of talk tonight about a motion to to vote on the CBA, and I have no opinion on that matter. Um there there should there's another motion that needs to be made in addition to that motion which is to consider the resignation of the superintendent because what
131what has happened is that the superintendent and the board the majority members of the board have lost the plot. You've lost the room. You've lost this room. You've lost teachers. You've lost staff. You've lost parents. I mean, th this is like a this is like an embattled football coach who's lost the fans, who's lost the administrators, who's lost the players, and who's lost the boosters. What What happens when you lose all four? They go. The coach has to go. Coach has got to go. I mean, if I if I if I could recount if I had enough time to recount the number of people that I I meet in public, we I was at a I was at a concert last week, last week at Eastern Kentucky or maybe two weeks ago, EKU, their performing
132arts center, and uh was we had five families and we had 16 kids with us all at this concert. So, the kids were like up and up and down the aisle trying to get out, going to the bathroom and all this stuff. And so I at one point in the concert I got up and left and I came back. And as I was coming back and had to, you know, squee squeeze through people, I apologized to the person that I was having to to move in front of in this in the aisle. And the lady said, she said, um, excuse me, are you involved with Faget County Public Schools? And I just smiled and I said yes. and uh and she said she said, "I just want to thank you for what you're doing." It
133was her and it was three others. Three retired I believe she was a retired principal and there were three uh three others. Two of them were retired. One of them was still an active active teacher or staff inside of a school building. And they just said, "We just we're just so thankful for what you're doing. You you guys have lost the teachers, you've lost the staff, you've lost the parents. I mean, did you did you get the Sunday newspaper? I mean, you guys have lo you guys have lost the Herald Leader. Linda Blackford, col opinion columnist for the Herald Leader calls for a clean sweep. A clean sweep, which I agree with. Say for Miss Mundy and Miss Ferguson, a clean sweep. I mean that there's just so much to say, but at this point
134it feels like none of it's novel anymore. But we but we have but we got to keep coming back and you got to keep push keeping the pressure up because guys it's it's bad out here and and you you five are the only people at this point that can provide any sort of accountability. people, the the the question that I the question that I get the most is what what can we do? Like what what can we possibly do to to to to end this to end it? And there's a couple there there's I what I say to them is that there's there's there's really two ways. There's four there's a 4-1 vote by the board to to to uh to force a resignation or I mean I guess we have to sit and wait
135for the auditor to finish her work and and I mean from what I've seen and what I've looked at I would be surprised if the auditor doesn't refer um items to be investigated by the attorney general and maybe maybe at that point something if the board doesn't act. If the board doesn't force a resignation, then maybe uh an audit would force a resignation. But we got to wait until probably April, May for that to happen. And until then, until then, there is going to be this this dark cloud, this dark cloud over the entire district. Everybody feels it. Everybody feels it in every building across the district. And so it it's just I'm just I'm personally tired of of waiting for real action because because what we what it feels like is a bunch of
136heads buried in the sand. So um beyond that, I'm going to I'm going to do a a bunch of math for you. Um because I'm nervous, guys. I mean I'm I'm nerv What did I say the last time I was here? I said, "We are at risk of running out of money." And have you looked, we're 25% of the way through this fiscal year, right? 25% of the way through. We got three months in. Have you guys Have you guys looked at the the fund balances for all five funds? Have you looked at them? I mean, they're in the they're in the Munist document, fiscal year 26. I spent a ton of time this weekend looking at this document. I mean, a ton of time. I'm I'm going to read to you guys the fund
137balances for all five funds through through through the first three months of the year. We got year-to- date numbers, period three, first three months of the year. General fund fund balance negative 23.1 million. Special revenue fund 1.5 million. Capital fund $0. Building fund negative7.7 million, food services fund negative $2 million. There's five funds and every single one of them is negative. The balances for all five. We have over spent receipts so far. I mean, are you I mean, are you guys nervous? How how nervous are you guys? I mean, this is a disaster. same time last year. We'll just we'll just talk of the the general fund at this point last year according to your according to your immunist documents. I go to general fund expenditures. Go to the bottom of the page. Uh total
138total receipts were 90 96 total revenue which was receipts plus the beginning balance $96.5 million. Total expenditures $85 million. So we had we had 10 $10.9 million left over. So, just to give you kind of a historical perspective, at this point last year, we had $10.9 million as the balance through the third the first three months of the year. Right now, it's -23 -23. And so then I looked at I looked at the the year-toate expenditures for all five fund balances and looked at uh the trend. So last year year-to date this year year to date how we were trending. So the general the general expenses the general fund last year through this time period we spent $85.5 million. This year we spent 87 87 million. And so what that means is the change versus
139last year we were up 1.7%. The general fund. Well, what did we budget? If you look at the full year budget for the general fund last year, fiscal year, we spent $687 million. The the the general fund budget for this year, not counting contingency, is 663 million. So, we budgeted a 3.4% decline for the general fund, but through 25% of the year, we are we are we are overspending that budget. So, we budgeted 3.4% decline. We have spent 1.7% more than what we did last year. So what does that mean? If you extrapolate those numbers, if you extrapolate those numbers out, so you had $687 million in expenses last year, $1.7% growth, which is what we've done for the first three months of the year. If you did 1.7% growth over last year actuals, your
140final expenditures for general fund would be $698 million. That is a different that that is overspending your budget by $35.2 million. If you just keep on the trend of 1.7% over last year, you're going to overspend your budget by $35 million. H how much is in the contingency? They tell us 26. We had $26 million in contingency, but if you keep up your expenses on pace with where you're at, you're going to overspend by 35 million, which means we will run out of money, guys. I mean, it's serious. It's like something's got to happen. Something has to happen. Thank you, Mr. Ve. Our next speaker is Bonnie Ogle Taylor. After uh Mr. Ogle Taylor, we'll have Terry Crretcher. Good evening. My name is Bonnie Yogle Taylor and I am a special education teacher here in
141Pit County Public Schools. I am not here tonight to hate on anybody and I am not here to berate anybody. I think we've had we've heard a lot tonight, but I am here to advocate. Uh that's what we do as special educators. And so, thank you to our special education director um for giving props to the PAR educators and the teachers who work with our children on a daily basis in the trenches. And so one of the things that we did talk about was that as an advocator, um I'm not going to go into a lot of statistics. Um I think we've heard that. Um but I will say that the national average for teacher turnover is about 12.3%. And so special education special education teachers are twice as likely to leave the profession. Um,
142Faget County is making some great strides with our special education kids and so we'd like to continue with the momentum. But when we lose teachers who are experienced, you can't get that back. What they have and what they bring to the table, you cannot get it back. And I would hazard a guess to say that a lot of them are leaving because they don't have any voice in their profession. we don't have a seat at the table and we don't get to make decisions regarding our jobs. Um, you all expect outcomes and uh great outcomes and I think we deliver for the most part. I think I'm a pretty good special education teacher and I think I do what I need to do for my students to grow because we look at growth. And so
143one of the things that I would say is in order to keep teachers is to allow us to vote to have a seat at the table and we can do that through collective bargaining. And so I would I would urge and implore you uh Chairman Murphy to put that on the resolution for the next meeting so that we can talk about a CBA. And I do want to thank board members Dr. Monday and um Amanda Ferguson um for for your support. And that's all I have to say. Thank you very much. And I am a proud member of AFT. >> Thank you, Miss Ogot Taylor. Our next speaker is Terry Cretcher. Hello. Um, I'm here to say, uh, Mr. Murphy, please uphold the democratic process and put the resolution on the agenda to be voted
144on and passed. Let us vote. >> Thank you. [applause] And that concludes our public comment section for this portion of the meeting. As I said, there will be a second public comment session for speakers who have signed up to speak on matters that are not on the agenda following uh the board's action tonight. Next on our agenda is approval of routine matters. some motions in order to approve the minutes of the October 13th, 2025 planning work session of the Fate County Board of Education. Is there a motion that effect? >> So moved. >> Motion by Bormer Monday Mundy. Is there a second? >> Second by Borman Christian. All in favor of adopting the October 13th minutes, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. I'll entertain a motion to approve our consent
145agenda. Is there a motion? >> I move we approve the consent agenda as listed. >> Motion by board member Green. Is there a second? Second. >> Second [clears throat] by board member Christian. Questions on adoption of the consent agenda. Any discussion? >> Chair board member Monday. >> If I could just add a comment about the audit. I did notice if anyone hadn't taken a look, there were a few just minor updates that were highlighted in red. Um, so appreciate that from the audit committee. I didn't know did anything else come out of the meeting that happened right after we met the last time with the audit committee? Board member Green, are you comfortable speaking to that as the liaison on the audit committee? >> Yes, Chair Murphy. Um, so they did bring up that the
146board members had several questions and the two additions and and read on the item. Um, they discussed and they felt like this was the best way to do that. Um, there was some that talked about in coordination with internal audit and external audit about the prior PECARD audits because there was an internal audit on that and so and the external audit group also said that they were looking at that. So that there was they were going to coordinate who's looking at what part and bring that back and share that with whoever's um picked for the external this external audit. Um >> can you also share why the board attorney addressed the audit committee and why the full board didn't know that? >> Bor green >> the board attorney was on at that last meeting >>
147at the audit committee's last meeting. >> No. Well, at one meeting he was. That's what we were told at the last meeting. Why was the board attorney there? And why did the full board not know about his participation? >> I believe Mr. Salbury is here. If he wants to Do you want to >> Well, he didn't just show up on his own. I want to know why he was sent there. >> Mr. Salbury, can you speak to that? I attended because I was informed that the chair of the committee had questions for me about uh scope. They were trying to avoid overlap uh with investigations and whatnot. And so I went and answered their questions. >> Does that answer your question? >> Not why the board didn't know that. I mean, if you're employed by
148the board, it would be nice if the full board could know what you're doing. >> Again, it was a committee that answers to the board and they asked for me to go, so I went. >> Thank you. >> Um, and the audit committee scope of work and RFP is on um the agenda was discussed at the planning meeting and uh the next steps after this, the RFP will go out if it's approved by the board. um they will receive bids, they will review bids and proposals and then return to the board uh with a recommendation for a firm to conduct the uh external audit as outlined and discussed. Uh if that if there's no further discussion, I entertain uh or all we do have oh one more Monday. >> Um just one more more comment
149than anything. Um one I appreciate the audit committee coming in for those meetings that weren't scheduled. Um, I've served on a committee before. It's a big- time commitment and I appreciate their expertise and I appreciate the expertise of the state auditor as well. Um, as they've both mentioned that a forensic audit isn't needed at the moment. Um, and I respect their expertise in that field. I do feel as a board it's our duty to leave no rock unturned. Um, and that we should be looking into a forensic audit. Um, and I do know that there have been some concerns about partisan politics, though I feel like the issues we faced has just transcended partisan politics to this point. But without us pursuing that forensic audit as board, we're just going to have to respect the
150results that come back from those that are going to look and and that are going to facilitate those audits [clears throat] and looking at the finances to that extent. And I just want to say I fully understand what a forensic audit means. Um, and I've said before, no blame on anyone's part because I don't know, right? I know what the public knows at this point. Um, but I do think if we rely on others than ourselves to make sure that that process takes place, then we have to be open to those results when they come in. >> Thank you. Uh, board me. >> Yes. I'll just share sitting and listening to the audit um, professionals discuss, they said the first step to look for any kind of anomaly is that the third point of the
151scope is the data driven risk analys. And it does a if you read point two it enables 100% transaction entry analysis um and they talked about different specific. So this is where you look at all of the data and you find the anomalies and that is what all the auditors say that is where you start. So there was no denial but there was saying this is the start. This is the correct process >> and I appreciate that and like I said I watched that first meeting. I've read through the documents. I I understand where they're coming from, but I've just talked to others that have said we can take this next step if that is what we chose to do. Um, so >> yes, and I I appreciate Go ahead. >> I just said I'll
152turn it back over to you. >> Okay. I I appreciate those comments. You know, when we handed this over to the audit committee, we submitted them uh our goals and objectives. We said, "You all are the experts in your field and in the community, and then they came back to us with this recommendation." And so as board member Green noted, the section three of the scope of work outlines that datadriven risk analysis and it says the firm uh from which we're seeking uh proposals will execute a data analysis to inform the need for and potential of a forensic engagement including but not necessarily limited to the following. And then it lists those um risk assessments that board member Green referenced, the datadriven transaction analysis um that board member Green referenced. uh and then formally evaluate
153the necessity of deeper forensic procedures based on the patterns, anomalies or risk identified. Um so I think that this is comprehensive and I would uh respect um to the point that you made respect any finding that comes back to us from that completion of that scope of work and process. Okay, there's no further discussion. I'll entertain a motion to uh or we do have a motion. So all in favor of approving the consent items as listed say I. I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> A motion carries. 32. At this time, I'll turn the agenda over to Superintendent Ligins to take us through the remainder of tonight's agenda. >> Thank you, Chair Murphy. Our action item agenda includes just one item this evening. I would like the executive director of finance and accounting uh Rottney
154Jackson to present the monthly financial report. Good evening. This is the monthly financial report for the month of September 2025. Support number graduate, excuse me. And our strategic priority, our main strategic priority at this time is organizational health and effectiveness. This is the summary report that shows revenues for 2024 25 versus 2526 the 162 versus 63 million.9. I will talk about that later in more detail and also the expenses of 83 million for last year versus 87 million this year. Again, the carry void balances listed and incumbrances accordingly. This is the revenue report um as of September comparing. You see last year there's a spike. Um this is not normal in September. This spike came because we had a bond sale the 66 million or so. It came in at the end of September that
155was reported. It originally went into the general fund. Then when we noticed where it went, it was corrected. I did not change this on the report because I wanted to reflect exactly what was there last year. So the nobody think that we just changed some information but it was corrected in the following um month for 7 days later. This also reflects the um taken at the beginning balance. You see the same spike accordingly on the expense side. Um expenses are 87 million this year versus 83 million last year. Um as I reported to you we are watching this closely. um starting as of November once November's report is done we will um be doing deeper analy analytical analysis based off expenses comparing projecting out by this time all of the expenses related to salaries and
156fringes which is our largest expense in the school district will have all of the history related to increases by education experience and so forth reflected. So, we want to make sure we have that number to go forward. Also, as I told you previously, we'll be working toward the um encumbering salaries. So, we also can make sure we adequately project that instead of guessing what that may be for those three extra checks that happened in June. On general revenue side, um here's the revenues related to it in advorum taxes. That also includes utility occupational license taxes. Um I wanted to ask the board um based on the monthly financial report they already reported up under adone taxes but we have two additional line items. So I would personally like to break them out to show utility
157tax and occupational license tax separately but I wanted to bring it to the board's attentions first to see if that's what that would like to happen. So at the end of this presentation please clarify if y'all would like it that on there or not. As far as the expenditures, you see have 87 million that reflects that we have this year and those are the categories functionals all indicated. As far as the safety tax, we have $19.5 million. The revenue related safety tax has started to come in. Um we have it all. It will reflect the next month's report. As far as expenditures, we spent 4.2 million and we have um 15.2 million remaining, 22% to date. This is our main bank account investments. The reason I bring this to your attention is because I wanted
158to reflect to make sure everybody understands how Kentucky school districts work. I talked about this last month in that there's cyclical information. So June, I'm sorry, July through September is usually the lowest months of the year. The only thing we can depend on primarily during that time is going to be um seek that dollars. Um once the board approves the tax rate, whatever rate that may be, then that's sent in and then we start to collect. That's when you see the spike of of revenue that starts to come in in September, October. This is typical across all school districts across the state. Um as I indicated to you, yes, um September is going to be bad. Expenses would exceed revenue, but we did not need a loan. We did not have to get a loan
159whatsoever. We had a cash balance that covers that. We have over $200 million that was in the bank, so that was not an issue for us. Um, we've already collected this month 70 $71 million. On average, we get about $110 million and that's as of October the 21st. So, we have 10 more days and we're getting tax receipts to come in daily related to that. It comes in at a lag. We get the notice of it and then it report. But, I'm very confident the trend that we would get to $110 million. In November, we would get about another $100 million related to that. This is just an illustration that shows typically what happens in school districts. Again, this is across the board. Um, this is just illustration again that shows that the lowest months
160that normally occurs in September where decision have to be made. And depending on where you're located, when your property tax is collected, October can be bad too. But we are fortunate enough that our revenue comes in in October. So, we not see that. So you see the es and flow is consistent with how we have again as I stated earlier that on on average for the month of October we collect approximately $110 million and on average for the month of November we collect approximately $12 million. These this money will primarily be reflected in fund one and fund 320 building fund. Are there any questions? >> Thank you. Any questions board members? >> Chair Murphy >> more money. Is there any way that we can add a little note about that spike that you mentioned early
161on in case anybody goes back and looks? And I just say that because I've gone back and looked before and there was a $10 million like typo about travel. >> Um, so unless there's something that says just just in case someone comes back and looks and they know kind of what's happening. >> Yes, ma'am. I'll get that to Miss Andre Jackson if she will do that. Um, also, um, this is sort of related before we voted on the budget that I think maybe Sunday before we got that list of reductions that I asked for. Is there any way that we can make that public? Because I don't I think the for the tenative budget that set was made public. It was in a PowerPoint, but the last set that we got that listed those was
162not made public that I know of. >> Yes. So the Sunday before we voted on the budget, we got a spreadsheet that was linked um that had kind of a more detailed list of reductions that were taken that I asked for. We had got it for the tenative budget, but it was on the PowerPoint in the we got a spreadsheet, but that spreadsheet was broken down in the PowerPoint. Can we make that public so that the public can see because one of the commenters mentioned about seeing where those reductions have been taken at a you know more school level than a mun report. >> Yes, we can certainly do that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, Jenny Green. >> Um to Mr. Jackson's question, I would like also to see those line items broken down
163singularly as you mentioned. You asked in the beginning the different taxes. >> Yes, I'll break it out from Admiral Arma. Okay. That change. >> Thank you. Any additional questions? Board members. >> Yes. >> Bo member uh Ferguson. >> I have a question. It's the um number two attachment on the report, not the not this presentation. And I I I don't know if it's possible to put it on the screen. Agenda, new board report, October 2025. And this this kind of goes back to um some of the concerns Mr. Be brought up. I don't know if you were able to listen to that to his um concerns. Um I share them. Uh I don't know if it's the historical perspective that uh causes me great concern, but this page one of this K2, it has the
164year-to- date actual through August 31st for this year, the working budget and for last year's working budget. Last year, the year-to- date actual through August 31st was 79,268,54 in the positive. This year, year-to- date actual through August 31st is negative23, million80,59 >> through September. >> It says year to date actual through August 31st is what it says. They both say that. I think it's in the agenda item. I mean, I pulled up last year's agenda item from the same meeting and it has the 79 point almost 3 million. >> Does that relate to the delayed revenue collections? >> I mean, that would be the same last year. It's a difference of over a hundred million. We >> for for August 25 versus August 24. Is that what you're saying? I mean 26. >> Yes. >>
165Year-to- date actual through August 31st 79 million. 79.3 million. And now the general fund balance and and I know some of that is from delayed tax collection from spending the budget. I mean from spending overspending our budget. Can you explain why there's a hundred,000 $102 million difference >> in expenses >> and general fund balance year to date actual through August 31st year to date actual through August 31st. It's the K12 agenda new board report October 2025. I don't know if you have that with you but it's one of the attachments that was put on our board portal. I mean, I wish I could put it up there, but >> the chart on page two, which shows the comparisons between fiscal year 25 and fiscal year 26, shows a spike in revenue. Yes, this is the
166document. >> Okay. >> It shows a spike in revenue for September. If you go to the second page of that document [snorts] >> of which document, I'm sorry, >> this one here. Right here. So it looks like is there a reason why the revenue for fiscal year 25 for September fiscal year 25 was far outpaced on >> yes that's what I was >> I mean the 162 as the revenue >> correct so one reason would be the carry forward balance that'll be 16 $17 million more than previous year the other was the $66 million related to the um >> I'm sorry >> to the um to the bond sale that I was talking about >> carry forward is what 16 million more than the previous year? >> No, I'm saying a previous year we had
167$42 million 424 $43 million. So that along with the bond sale is over 80 some million of that. Everything else is related to just internal related to acruals and reversals and so forth that would have to have taken place related to the audit. But it's partly fund balance was >> Yes. >> Severely reduced. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any further questions, board members? If there are no further questions, I entertain a motion to accept the monthly treasures report of revenue and expenses for the month of September as presented to the board. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion by Christian. Is there a second? >> Second by board member Green. Uh all in any discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? No. >> No.
168Uh >> motion carries 32. Uh Super Eligans. >> Thank you, Rodney. And board members, that concludes our action items underformational items this evening. The agenda includes five written reports for review, including the running board approved contracts, personnel changes for October fall 25 map assessment performance data, school activity funds report, and the monthly construction update. This time, I will turn the meeting back over to you, Chairman Murphy. We do have a need to go into close session. Thank you, Superintendent Lianigans. The next portion of our agenda is where members of the public may address the board on any topic of district related concern that is not on the official agenda for tonight's meeting. As I mentioned earlier, I believe we have nine individuals who have signed up to speak. I'll ask them to keep their remarks
169to three minutes or less. Our first speaker this evening is for this portion of the meeting is Bradley Hill. And after Mr. Hill, we will have Miss Heather Cherry. Hello, my name is Bradley Hill. Um, I'm here again. Hello to the board. We have something in common. I am also bored. So, um, I'm here tonight for a couple of reasons. one is the the call for the forensic audit as always, but uh also I'm here to uh give my support for I want to make sure to say this exactly correctly. The resolution for collective bargaining needs to be put on the agenda for a vote. That is the main battle I'm here to fight tonight. And I I also wanted to talk some numbers, but not really um dollar numbers. Um, I'm uh you guys
170mentioned earlier a work group. I'm also part of a work group that does some stuff around town here and we threw an event a couple weeks ago and I wanted to show you brought this here so you could see the numbers that were able to turn out because I looked up some information earlier and um you got 9,080 votes, Chairman Murphy, in 2022. We got more people than that a couple Saturdays ago to turn up on a Saturday in October. And we've got 13 more months until elections. So, it's just something to think about as the public continues to come and tell you what they expect for you to do for your job. And uh they're not asking for exorbitant salaries. They're not asking for anything other than a voice, a chance to sit down
171at the table and talk. And that's that's not asking too much. That's not unreasonable. It's not something that you can't afford to give when you spend over $65,000 a year on expenses. Um drive a $100,000 electric Hummer. You know, when Cat was talking, most of the teachers I'm sitting with over there were agreeing talking about all the things that they have to buy out of their own pockets. while you guys just waste money. It's really hard to hear. It's upsetting and uh nobody in this community deserves that. They don't deserve that. So, let them get their vote. It's all they want. It's all they need. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Hill. Our next speaker is Heather Cherry. After Miss Cherry, we'll have Rock Daniels. Are you ready? Okay. Hello. Um I'm here to
172talk about the um up on the website where you have the we celebrate LGBTQ. Um I just want to bring that up because you guys just continuously continuously put those up somewhere somehow all the time. And it just reminds me of, you know, back in the day. Well, I'll do this first then I'll say that. Well, first a couple years ago, everybody had to call people by their pronouns. You had whatever the kid was feeling, the teachers had to call them by that. Well, the legislators fixed that. Then you came up with the universal bathroom. That got fixed. Well, then you turn around and you stuck a drag and inside of reading time for SEAL for third graders. And then every month, mention every month, you're still putting up a banner to every school that
173says we celebrate LGBTQ. And even though whatever that's like outside stuff, that's like celebrating a sexual choice, which is sexualizing kids. Because elementary, it's like a we call it back in the day, it's like a icebreaker. If a kid goes to the banner and asks somebody, "What does that mean?" Well, somebody's going to explain it. And it's just unnecessary. But it's like you guys continue and continue. You don't have to have any celebration here. You could just celebrate all kids. Everybody can just be participated equally. Then you turn around, you have a mentoring group in one of the schools that talks about masturbating. So all I'm saying is you just continuously continuously bring things up. And I don't understand why do you have to keep putting this out here? During the summer, all of June
174in this building the banner was up. All of July the banner was up. And here we are again. October. So back in the day, it would seem like you're trying to turn out County Public Schools. So the thing about be quiet. Anyway, all I'm saying to you is it's like a a purpose-driven thing that you guys got going on. And I'm just telling you, it's not going to work. You're going to lose this battle. I told you two years ago who's fighting against you. You're going to lose. The best thing that you can do is celebrate all kids. You don't have to celebrate anybody individually. That can be done outside of school with their families, but you guys continue to make a difference. And then you put it up there. And if I'm not mistaken,
175you're not supposed to because LGBTQ the T is gender ideology. And I guarantee you that you didn't have 40,000 parents sign off on that SB150 and they log on every day to see the website. It's not that hard. You don't have to keep celebrating a sexual choice. >> Thank you for your time, Mr. Cherry. Our next speaker this evening is Rock Daniels. Following Mr. Daniels of Leanne Russell. Hello, I'm Rock Daniels. So, uh, when you guys started the meeting, Dr. Mundy, she, uh, talked about the mission of Fyet County Public Schools, and it's to create a a collaborative community that ensures all students achieve at high levels. And so, I'm a proud parent of two children in Faget County Public Schools. Uh, my older son is a sixth grader in the gifted talented program at
176Windburn Middle School. He's got Mr. Peaveler back there. Uh, and a great, uh, principal in, uh, Eric Thornsbury. Uh, we are Windburn Warriors. Um, I'm also a member of the SBDM, uh, committee for them. Um, and I've seen firsthand how uh, heart and dedication goes into that school and the community. Now, my younger uh, son, he's a fourth grader. He's also in the gifted talented program at Metorp Elementary. And while both my boys love their schools, there's a major difference between them and that's troubling. Uh, one has athletic opportunities and the other has absolutely none. At Metorp Elementary, there are no athletics whatsoever. Not a cross country team, not a track team, not a basketball team, not even a cheerleading squad. The only thing offered is a paid after-school program where an um outside company
177comes to teach basic sports skills for a fee. It's not competitive and it's not inclusive to every student who wants to try a sport and represent their school. I understand that the state does not mandate that every elementary school has ath that every um school system has athletics, but we do have athletics in elementary schools here in Faget County. We do have teams. teams play each other regularly on the weekends and that inconsistency creates inequity. The district publicly said that the elementary athletics aren't run but as a league but instead as independent school clubs chosen at each principal's discretion. However, it's hard to call them separate clubs when 25 schools have teams that all compete with each other that function exactly like a league. Meanwhile, schools like Metaphor Thorp are left out. When I asked
178our principal if we'd be offering the athletics this year, I was told no. That's especially disappointing just because two years ago ago, my older son played on a team in an elementary school that I coached myself and we had 34 kids on the team. We didn't cut one single kid off the team and every child got to dress and play to feel a sense of accomplishment and teamwork that sports uniquely provide. Sports matter. They help children build confidence, friendships, and resilience. They bring parents together and strengthen school communities. Now, the student that students at Meth Metathp are not allowed those same opportunities. When I reached out to Dr. Tiffany Marshall as well, I was told that my child would not be allowed to even participate in another school if they wanted to. Sorry, I don't
179have enough time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Daniels. Our next speaker is Leanne Russell. After Miss Russell, we'll have Cheryl Gregory. >> Thank you. Is Miss Russell here? Okay. Christy Vulpenheim and after Miss Venheim Roy Woods. Good evening. As a veteran teacher with 25 years of experience, I take great pride in celebrating and supporting each and every one of my students regardless [snorts] of their nationality, religious affiliation, or their sexual orientation. Every student in Faget County deserves to be seen, valued, and respected. From the very first education course we take, we are taught that inclusion means all students. We are also taught that showing favoritism towards certain individuals or groups creates division rather than unity. As I reflect on the board's decision not to add collective bargaining to the agenda for consideration, it is
180quite clear that the same principles we uphold in our classrooms should be should be providing I'm sorry should guide our leadership. Listening to every voice and providing a fair democratic process shows respect for the educators and staff who serve our students each day. Fet County deserves a school board that models the very inclusiveness and fairness we teach our children. It is time to practice inclusion. Superintendent um Ligins, Tyler Murphy, and the Fit County Board of Education must uphold the democratic process by placing this resolution on the agenda for vote. Let our voices be heard. Let us vote. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Roy Woods. And after uh Mr. Woods, we will have uh Rosyn Aens. >> Thank you, Miss Akens. Danny Evers also yielded time to you, so that will be nine minutes.
181Superintendent Ligins, uh Mr. Murphy, and members of the board. My name is Rosalyn Aikens and I'm an employee of the Fairy County Public School System for the past 46 years. But tonight I am speaking in the spirit of Fanny Liu Hamer who said, "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. It is depressing and oppressing that of the negativity that has been associated with our school district." On October the 5th, the Herald leader had a headline that said Fed County staff spent $2 million in six months. The majority of the people who read that headline did not go to page 3A where it said that most of the money was spent on schools for students, which is what our school district is about and being about kids. And then funds were spent on professional
182development which helps our district to have some of the best and first class teachers and administrators in this district. In this article, it also mentioned that Superintendent Ligins went to Australia for the Global Cities Educational Network annual symposium, but it never mentioned the fact that two previous superintendents by the name of Tom Shelton and Manny Caulk both went to that uh symposium. And I was blessed this past summer to take 22 young men to Australia. So, you can go to Australia. There have been other articles concerning the salary of Superintendent Ligins because he makes more money annually than the governor and our mayor. Superintendent uh Superintendent Li um Shelton Liberman and Caulk all had an annual salary greater than the governor and our mayor. And let me add our police chief and fire chief, they
183all make more money than the governor and the mayor. Now, I know the term woke has a negative connotation, but I stand here tonight to ask you to stay awake because there is an undercurrent that wants to dismantle public school systems. It is this undercurrent that's trying to take down Jefferson County public schools and our Fyet County public school system so it can open the door to charter schools. Now, I'm not talking about what I heard. I'm talking about what I know. I received a call in March of this year from a representative of a group that the first thing I was told they have lots of money and they're looking forward to going into school districts and having schools in particular charter schools. They ran down my educational background. They knew when I started
184teaching. They knew how long I had been teaching. They knew I was the start the visionary for Carter G. Woodson Academy. They knew about the BMW Academy. They really built me up. Then they hit me with, "We are looking at you as being the one who would start the first charter school in the County Public School System." That's what they called me for. After I got myself together, I let that gentleman know without damaging my religion that he had talked to the wrong person. I am a dedicated public school teacher and I'm the mother of two children who are graduates of the public school system. After receiving that call and with all of the negativity that is taking place in our school district about dismantling our school district, it made me stop and think maybe
185somebody else in this room has been receiving those types of calls. Board members, if you would allow me to do a quick English vocabulary session with you, I pray that you will dismiss these three C's, chaos, confusion, and conflict, and replace these three C's with collaboration, cooperation, and celebration. So that we can continue to move forward as a school district, keeping the main thing the main thing, and that's our students. Now, speaking of celebration, we have a lot to be proud of in this district. The fact that in 2024, we had no comprehensive support improvement schools and we went from having 34 targeted support improvement schools in 2022 to 12 in 2024. Where I am blessed to serve at the Carter G. Woodson Academy which some of you have never set foot in. Almost 90%
186of our high school scholars are taking dual credit classes. Now time does not permit me to highlight all the great things which you saw them earlier that are taking place in this district but are being overlooked because of the negativity. Superintendent Ligins and board members, I asked Miss Jackson, I brought a gift for each of y'all tonight. Would you pass out the gift that I brought them tonight? Would you give it to him? Oh, thank you. Now, this gift, I brought a mirror for each of you to look in and I want you to look in this mirror and I want you to say to yourself, "Yes, I am here with a servant's heart and I am serving on this board to make a difference in the lives of all students who are in this
187district." I need you to look in that mirror and say, "I'm serving on this board with no hidden agenda." Last but not least, I need you to look in that mirror. And please don't forget that the decisions you make, do they reflect a willing spirit, a dedicated heart, and the belief that all 41,000 students in this school district have the right to the best education possible. Now, to those of you who work alongside Superintendent Ligins and are sitting around the room tonight, my prayer for you is that you will work alongside him. You will support him. You can be you can disagree and not be disagreeable. But most of all, I need you not to know that 1972 song by the OJ's smiling in your face. All the while, they want to take your place,
188a backstabber. This is Rosalyn M. Akens in the spirit of Fanny Liu Hamer and I approve this message. >> Thank you, Miss Akens. that concludes our public comment period for this evening. And I'll entertain a motion to make the agenda dated October 27th, 2025 on which action has been taken at this meeting a part of the minutes as if ci verbatim. Is there a motion to that effect? >> So moved. >> Motion by board member Monday. Is there a second? >> Second by board green. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries 5-0. At this time, I'll, as Superintendent Lincoln said, we do have a need for going into close session. I'll entertain a motion to go into close session KS 61.810, section 1, paragraph K, meetings required to
189be conducted in privacy by law. KS5657, section uh 6, paragraph C, preliminary discussions related to the evaluation of the superintendent. The board will reconvene in open session and if necessary taking any action required pursuant to discussions conducted in close session. Do I have a motion to that effect? >> So moved. >> Motion by Bora Green. Is there a second? >> Second by Bora Monday. All in favor of closed session say I. >> I. >> Any discuss? Any opposed? Uh motion carries 5-0. It is 9:06 p.m. We'll return to open session taking action if necessary. Who's this? >> [music] [music] >> Up. Hey. Hey. of the world. I'm the up the wall. Up the wall. W Of the world, [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> down. Do you by >> [music]
190[music] >> Hey, hey, hey. Everything. Wow. Hey. Hey. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> about. Do you feel >> [music] [music] >> Heat. [music] [music] Hey. Hey. >> [music] [music] >> Hey baby. >> [music] [music] >> Hello. [music] Hello. >> [music] >> W up. Are we good? Okay. Uh, the board left close session um at 9:25 p.m. on a motion by board member Christian and a second by board member Mundy. The vote was 5-0. Our business having been concluded, I'll now entertain a motion to adjourn this session of the this meeting of the Fate County Board of Education. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion by Bor Christian. Is there a second? >> Second by Bormer Green. All in favor say
191I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. Thank you all.