Boone County School Board Meeting For March 2026

001Mhm. >> Hi, welcome everyone. We're going to call this meeting to order. Um we are missing one board member who's supposed to be walking in any moment right now. Uh so, we'll just move forward. So, we have four of us here currently and expecting the fifth momentarily. Um move on to agenda item two. If you would, please stand for the national anthem performed by video by R.A. Jones Middle School. And if you would uh please remain standing for the pledge to the flag by the students from Long Branch Elementary School. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, um going to move on to item four, which is

002good news. I'll turn the meeting over to Dr. Housewald. >> Yes, thank you, Chairman Parks, and thank you, Board. Good news item one, Break the Mold. We will um The Break the Mold Award winner for March is Boone County High School business teacher, Ryan Bassford. Mr. Bassford brings his corporate American knowledge and experience to the classroom. He believes students should be better prepared on how to conduct themselves in the business world, as well as how to handle their personal business with ease once they graduate from high school. We're going to watch a video, and then we'll ask uh our recipient to come up. >> There's a bucket for interest. There's a bucket for the principal. >> While not required, high school business classes are essential for building foundational, real-world skills in financial literacy, critical thinking,

003and leadership. >> They come in with a very rudimentary knowledge of how the banking system works. Uh so, we start there and build up. We get into investing, and they see all the pros and cons and the risks that's involved with that, and then into credit and how credit can be a great thing and help you for your future, but if not managed the right way, how it can be a real detriment to the options you have moving forward. >> I turned 18 about like a month and a half ago. I actually opened a credit card. And a lot of the information that he he taught us like, you know, never carry on a balance and, you know, pay off your credit card in full on time. You know, that really helped me. >> Ebrahim

004has taken personal finance, business, marketing, and digital literacy, all electives. Ryan Basford's students enjoy his classes because they see how they can apply the principles he is teaching to their own lives. >> I really try to use my resources to um think engagement first. What can I do that will make the kids not just look up at them at the board, but also make them get involved as well. That's why you see I have kids stand up. That's why when I'm teaching, I'm rarely ever sitting. >> He's had simulations where the students had to create um uh what their own food truck and talk about what that business would look like. They had to draw the food truck, they marketed the food truck, they did elevator pitches for their their business. Um we displayed their

005drawings um for their food truck in our front lobby. >> One time I was in there and there was a lesson on logistics and he was talking about the price of a a particular product and how so many things go into that. The kids really were beyond normal engagement because, you know, he had that real world experience. >> Mr. Basford says he knew he wanted to become a teacher one day, but to be the best and earn the respect of his students, he felt he needed more experience in corporate America. He spent several years working in logistics before he pursued teaching. >> I kind of thought back, all right, who were the most impactful teachers that I've had and all of them were in my last 2 years at Eastern Kentucky where I had business

006professors that all spent time out in the real world actually doing the work and decided, we're going to take that knowledge and bring it to college students. >> Mr. Basford is the kind of teacher where when you first meet him, he is like he's not really it doesn't really come across as a teacher. He's more of a friend or an ally or someone that really understands type person you are. He's engaged in all of his classes. He cares about what he teaches. >> Mr. Basford wants his students to be well-rounded and ready for the world when they leave high school. And that means knowing how to dress in the real world. >> He helps me create um what we call the Boone County Business Closet and he court helped me coordinate uh suit coats and

007dress shirts. >> For example, um when our students are FBLA students were going to competition, um he made sure that ties were donated. And then he had a tie tying um activity. >> I did a little tie tying class before school one day and I had all the uh all the boys in here for FBLA and I showed them how to tie a tie step-by-step. They tried it, I helped them fix it and it was a really cool experience. Um that was a really special memory. >> Ryan Basford's plate is full. He is the business department chairperson at Boone County High School. He is the mentor to the student-led Hope Squad. He and another colleague spearheaded getting the high school athletic association to recognize boys volleyball at Boone County High School. He is now co-coach

008and very proud of their team. >> It started out a little bit rough, but every set these boys played, they got better and better. So it just goes to show the kind of students we have here that they're gritty. They are going to They're not going to let the first obstacle take them down. They got beat up in the first set, they came right back out the second set, made it closer and they won the third set. So I love to see that happen. >> He has amazing classroom management. He offers me a lot of suggestions and tried and true classroom management type of skills that I think have helped me with some of my most challenging students. Um his patience and his compassion for all students is incredible. And they don't even know I'm

009listening, but they're like, "Mr. Basford's the goat. You know, he's the greatest of all time." >> Mr. Basford, thank you so much for everything you do at Boone County High School every single day. All of the staff really appreciates you and more than the staff appreciates you, all of our students really appreciate everything you do. So, from the bottom of my heart and everybody's heart at Boone, congratulations. You're so deserving of this award. >> Mr. Basford, congratulations. I've known you for 75% of my high school career. I'm so proud of you for winning the Break the Mold award. You're doing great. I love you, buddy. >> We'll use that. >> He has been like a best friend to me. He's always there for me. And I'm going to miss him. Mr. Basford, >> I'd like

010to congratulate you on winning the Break the Mold award. You definitely deserve it. You know, all all good things it definitely comes to you. You're definitely going to be one of the teachers that I will be missing when I graduate. So, yeah, that's that. >> Basford, you know I love you so much. It has been such a pleasure to work with you so far and I cannot wait to see what our future hold holds here. We have definitely impacted Boone County and we've done a lot of great things. I probably would not be the teacher I am today without your guidance and your help and a safe place to ask questions. You truly are my teacher bestie and I love you so much. Our students love you so much. Thank you for inspiring me. Nobody

011else is more deserving of this award and I'm so excited for you and I can't wait to celebrate with you. >> Thanks, Ryan. Your dedication to Boone County High School and our students is um much appreciated. Um we're very thankful to have you here at Boone County High School and our students are lucky to have you. >> Come on up, Mr. Basford. We're going to do some photos. >> Congratulations. >> And if we can have family come up and do a photo and then colleagues if you have one up here then we'll give you the microphone. So come on up. Come on up so let's flank on both sides here. We'll get a few of you over here. Mr. Basford we'll have you do introductions after the photos. Chad will balance. And if you want

012to do introductions and then we'll give you the microphone. >> Uh-huh. Our instructional coach Stephanie, my my dad, my mom, my little girl Edie, my little guy Peter, my beautiful wife Maddie. Chris and his whole gang. >> Sorry. >> Oh it's mine. Don't worry it's >> It's not important. >> That's all right. >> Um Jordan Zucchini, uh Stacy Black, Principal Dustin Harrell, and Miss Chelsea Kay. >> And then, if you'll stand there, if you'll come up to the mic so the people at home can hear you also. Well, well, I say a few things. >> Okay. Um this is an incredible honor. Um I've been at Boone for 5 years, and it truly has changed my life. Um and I can thank everybody who's standing behind me right now. Um from my co-workers who inspire

013me to be a better teacher. Um to administration that pushes me to uh continue to, you know, keep on the right path and keep bettering myself. Um to my my parents who raised me the right way. And to my wife who supported me as I made the change from corporate America to public education. Um It was a it was a tough road, but she stood with me every step of the way. And um to my students, one of whom is here. You guys are the reason why I love to do what I do. You guys are the reason why every time I sit down and lesson plan, I think to myself, "How do I get them engaged?" I know how important this stuff is, and I love seeing you guys buy into it. And I

014love seeing you guys raise your hands and ask questions and challenge me and challenge each other, cuz that's what education should be about. And so, just thank you all very much. >> All right. Well, who wants to follow that? If you So, I I've said this before, but whenever I I try to get into schools as often as possible so that I am reminded of the great work we do and and the reason for the work we do at the district level. I know I was at Boone County High School last week maybe, I think Miss Lake. And so, we we met on something and then I I go to leave and she knows I'm going to say I I can't leave without visiting classrooms. So, I think coincidentally, um Miss Mr. Baston was one

015of the rooms that we went in and you know, we go in for a little bit. We try not to disrupt too much. We watch the lesson and then we leave. But, he was he was lecturing on on the percent on the breakdown of credit scores and the percentage that makes up that score. And when Stacy went to leave, I said, "I think I actually need to listen to this." So, I stayed a little longer. So, you don't just educate students, you educate the superintendent. So, it's great. Congratulations, Ryan. Good news item two, we have a CTE video. Uh career technical education. One of the fastest growing sectors in today's economy is science, technology, and healthcare. The Boone County School District is heavily invested in several career and technical education pathways to prepare our students

016for both college and careers by combining academic knowledge with technical skills and real-world applications. Once again, this month, we will focus on another pathway and that is the biomedical pathway at Conner High School and we have a video. Kind of start >> Remember, we're comparing the DNA from the crime scene to the people of interest. >> At first glance, you might think this is a college class and you'd be half right. It is a college-level class offered as a career and technical education elective in high school. This is the biomedical program at Conner High School. Students in Luke Parker's Principles of Biomedical Science class are working on a DNA separation method to test DNA samples from a fictitious crime scene. >> What we did today with the gel electrophoresis, that's a lab technique that I

017didn't do until I was a sophomore in college. These are freshmen in high school. >> So, are these going to contract >> The program offers four rigorous courses that were once reserved for college students: Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, and Biomedical Innovation. Together, these classes are transforming the way students experience science, turning classrooms into laboratories of discovery and curiosity. >> I have students who want to be a mechanical engineer with a focus in uh biomaterials and prosthetics. A lot of students want to go and be uh physician assistants, physical therapists, doctors, nurses. >> The program was designed with a bold vision: Give high school students authentic exposure to the field of biomedical science before they ever set foot on a college campus. >> Having a class like this just helps students

018like kind of understand maybe what they're wanting to do in the medical biomedical field, and then getting them ready for, you know, some of the things that they'll end up doing in college. >> There's like case studies that you do, and you follow them for multiple weeks or months at a time, and you stick with the patient, and you work to solve whatever ails them. We had like mannequins in class that were like spurting blood and whatnot. We practiced tourniquets and splinting them. >> I decided to take the first two classes my sophomore year, and I really liked it, and I thought the teacher was amazing. Um Mrs. On is wonderful, and so I was like, I'm going to take the next the the third and fourth classes my junior year because I thought they

019were I enjoyed them so much. >> In Human Body Systems, there were more we kind of worked on other devices as well, and we just thought of different ways to help people. So, in college, I went to study mechanical engineering and make medical devices for my career. Being able to learn about it and seeing the things and doing the hands-on labs and activities sort of solidified to me that this is what I want to do the rest of my life. >> The biomedical field is enormous. And so, the students might be thinking that they have the choices of a doctor, a nurse, or something like that. But then they take this pathway and get exposed to a biostatistician, an entomologist, and all so many that they have never heard of before. >> There's two like

020projects that you do from the pathway. And so, I designed my own emergency room. And then the last project is an independent research project. And through that, I got to write my own literature review. I made two academic posters and things like that. And I got to present that in front of people. >> Every course in the program emphasizes experiential learning. On this day, the students were learning about electromyography. The labs are not demonstrations. They are immersive investigations. >> What they were doing was testing their grip strength and muscle fatigue. So, they were trying to design an experiment to overcome muscle fatigue. >> A loaded into the gel. B loaded into the gel. >> In Mr. Parker's class, the students are studying mortuary science. >> First day that kind of starts content, there's a crime

021scene. Like there's blood, there's a body there. We find out she had a heart attack. So, we do dissections in here. >> That's an anatomy table. It has full cadavers and digitized cadavers. When we dissect, you can have a digitized model up there and along with the lifelike model from the actual cadaver. So, students can have a direct comparison from the two screens. >> Because biomedical programs require specialized equipment, consumable lab materials, and updated technology, they are dependent on state supplemental CTE funds, formerly known as LeyVaC. The funds help schools offer these programs by purchasing equipment, paying for certifications, and expanding student opportunities. >> LeyVaC helped us purchase a lot of things including the table, and we also got a full new set of binocular microscopes along with all of our lab materials. >> Any

022class that is building practical skills that the kiddos are going to be using in the future deserves funding. >> Career and technical education allows the Conner High School Biomedical Program to function as a high-impact future-focused pathway that prepares students not only for college, but for meaningful careers in science, medicine, and innovation. >> Wow. Thank you. As you can see, uh each and every month we spotlight these, just the robustness of of the programs we offer our students and how we prepare our students is exciting. I do want to point out, I believe I saw Mr. Parker come in. I don't know where he sat, but is Luke Parker you can't you can't hide. So, uh um he was spotlighted in the video. So, if you want to stand up, I mean he's doing amazing work

023at Conner, and uh I would have been remiss not to You can't sneak in on me, but uh nonetheless, thank you for being here, and what a celebration um and for for Conner High School and for the many, many students and our staff that's contributing to CTE. Uh next good news item three, uh we're going to I'm going to briefly discuss the Anne Frank exhibit. Ballyshannon Middle School is hosting the professionally curated exhibit Anne Frank: A History for Today. They also have an Anne Frank Museum showing the history of the Holocaust connecting the past to the present. It is open to the public next Thursday, March 19th, and Wednesday, March 25th at Ballyshannon Middle School. Um we want to make sure that we communicate this really impressive and significant event that's open to our community.

024It is completely student led, and so we also would like to um introduce briefly our students. I see some of them in the back. They were they gave me the tour last night, and so if you will come up to the front and we'd like to just recognize you and maybe ask you to introduce yourself. So the students, if you would just come up front, please. We want to introduce you. And while we are while they're introducing their project and their program, we're going to get first a photo, but we have a PowerPoint that is kind of showing off some of some of the things they're doing. So And then I'm going to ask a couple of you to talk tell us about the about the event that's open to the public and why it

025is so important. So I'm going to let you all volunteer. I don't want to put anyone on the spot, but we're going to ask a couple of you to to speak, okay? >> Someone will come to the microphone and tell us perhaps a little bit about the event, where people can get more information, and then if someone would like to talk a little bit about why this is such a significant event, why this is so important. Who would like to go? They're all leaders, so they're all They're just They're being diplomatic. Okay. Okay, they're going to come up here. This is It's too high? There you go. >> Um so, I'm Juliana Bingham and and um I This is really an honor to speak on behalf of my uh peers and really Kentucky because this

026is We are the first people to host this. So, we got stuff shipped from the Netherlands uh from the Anne Frank House itself. And from then on, we went into 2 days of training with um professional museum workers from the University of South Carolina's Anne Frank House. Uh their names were Mario and Diana. They not only gave us knowledge, but they gave us genuine passion for these stories, and like that was really really cool for us, and we really felt the honor of that. And um the thing that really moved me the most during this entire thing was Anne Frank herself because she was 13, our age, hiding in an attic, watching the world fall apart all around her, yet she even through all that, she chose kindness and hope, and still saw the good

027in people. So, I feel like we us people, we should do we could do that as well. Like, we can choose hope, we can choose kindness. Cuz even through all of that Holocaust, she chose to do so. And this really exists because some stories should really never be forgotten, uh such as Anne Frank, because her story is very, very motivational and inspiring, to say the least. And yeah, we are really, really honored that we get to share this with you guys. And so, on behalf of my peers, uh I want to thank Mario and Diana, the Anne Frank House, Mr. Daily, and um um I'm so sorry. And this board for recognizing us. >> Woo! Woo! >> We have uh certificates uh to thank you all to recognize the hard work you guys >> Naomi.

028>> Um while those certificates are being handed out, um I this is incredible, and you will be missing an actual once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if you're not able to make it. It is extraordinary. This exhibit has never been in the state of Kentucky before, and it likely won't be again. I do need to thank a few people, that's the only reason I'm up here. Um I first want to thank the Strange family, the Lusk family, and the Williams family. Um they are from our community, and they donated all of the financial support for this event, which was extensive. Um I also want to thank the Daughters of the American Revolution, um Carolyn Wolf, our school board member, and our Ballyshannon PTSO for helping with a lot of the other things to put this event together. And I

029really have to shout out our students for making this student led entirely. Every single bit of this was created by them and is led by them. I stay off to the side as much as I humanly can. Um I also want to point out the fact that this is the most accessible exhibit that I've ever seen. It has English and Spanish. We have had a former Valley Shannon student record an audio guide where you can scan and it's read to you with a professional voice actress. And we also have the entire exhibit in braille because it is really really important that every single student has the right to learn especially about their shared past. So. >> They can you see it? >> It is open to the public on Thursday of next week from 5:00

030to 7:00 p.m. And then we do have to close the exhibit up and it will be shipped across the world to another school to do this as well. So. >> night. >> We had one last night was our opening night. There was something else going on around so traffic was a little crazy but you are all invited. It is completely open to the public and I hope to see you there. >> All right, let's give them a round of applause. >> Thank you all so much. I had an opportunity to attend the event last night and all of them were our guides. They each had stations. The amount of knowledge and information, individual exhibits, the way they portray hope and the way they educate was very impressive. You saw in the photographs of the power

031point their buttons and so of course they they didn't have words on it, they just had patterns. And those buttons are a are a a component of the cover of Anne Frank's diary. So, all these little hidden messages and the students are well-versed in this and it was really an interactive event and very moving. They did amazing work. So, thank you so much. And with that, I conclude the good news for the evening. >> All right, we're going to move on to agenda five. I'll turn the meeting over to A.J. Wyckoff for the student board representative report. >> All right, thank you, Mr. Parks. Hello and good evening. I've had a very eventful, but also very exciting day that I'm looking forward to sharing with you guys. But first, the council update. So, I didn't

032get to personally go to the meeting because I was at Indoor State. However, I'm very excited because the process of electing the 2026 to 2027 student board representative began. Starting with an engaging lesson from my AP government teacher, Mr. Proctor, student nominations began and I couldn't be more excited with the promise of the potential candidates. Ava Crawford, Adeline Wade, and Tara Ratkish. They all bring so much promise to the position. I'm very excited to see who will be representing the students of Boone County next year. This morning, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to CASB, a national school board association, and serve as one of the seven student board representatives during a Q&A session with superintendents and board members from so many different states. I had a lot of fun doing this as

033I got to voice my opinions and experiences on a variety of topics including where our passion for our position comes from and the general process of getting elected to the school board. It was a very neat, inspiring, and informative experience and I really enjoyed getting to spend the day with Dr. Hasvold and my dad. In addition to this, Boone County Schools has been awarded the 2026 Student Board Student Voice National School Board Association Award. Sorry, that was a lot of words. Which I cannot overstate how well deserved this is. Boone County Schools was the first school in Kentucky to start a student advisory council and beginning with Kim Taylor all the way to me, they made it easier than anyone for students to be heard in the decisions that impact their daily school days. A

034lot of my impact in this county and school comes from behind the scenes and never in any club or responsibility have I felt my voice has been more valued and appreciated than serving on this board with these people. I just want to say thank you and congratulations to all these school board members sitting up here with me and I look forward to updating everybody next month. >> Uh if we may, uh we're one quick photo of the board with this The award was to the entire board, so we'll get a photo of AJ and the board with the certificate real quick. Um and uh just so that you know, it was presented to one a school board nationally um that empowers student voice through the uh student governance model. And uh when they read the

035award, um which we did not know was coming, they indicated that of course uh Boone County School Corporation uh school district is the oldest um school district in Kentucky to have recognized uh a student representative model and one of the few that has student advisory council every month um since 2001. So, if we get a photo of the entire board um and AJ, that'd be great. >> All right. Let's give one more round of applause to AJ. >> And I uh I may have been biased, but tonight sitting there today sitting there on this panel with hundreds of school board members from around the United States. Fortunately, the national conference is in Louisville today, so we were able to just run go over there and back. Um AJ was so articulate. He understands the challenges,

036the roles of boards, and how his voice uh can can really represent students. And he did an amazing job today. So um AJ, we're real proud of you and grateful for everything you do to contribute. >> So, it's the board's award. Do we hang it in our foyer out here? Is that what we're going to do with >> Oh, yeah. I think that makes the most sense. >> I mean >> Yeah. >> Just want it to be on display, you know what I mean? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I feel like you earned it, though. >> Yeah. I don't know. I feel like Ms. Rowland earned it on the side. >> to go to his college dormitory. I mean, let's be clear. >> Well, we appreciate you earning our board of award. >> Oh, yeah. No

037problem. Anytime. >> Well, we're grateful to have you and then your service to the to the people of Boone County and the students of Boone County has been exemplary and um I really enjoyed our time together on the >> Yeah, thank you. It's been an amazing year. All right. >> Item six, turn meeting back over to Dr. Houseworth for superintendent's report. >> And and I I have no additional items today uh tonight. And but I do want to add one last thing on AJ's comments. Today, he was so showed such good leadership that the award went to the board because this board empowers the students to select their own representative and to have a process that gives them voice. Interestingly today, when there was a question asked by a board member, They said, "Why doesn't

038the board pick the student?" And you know, I would recommend that. And AJ was so sharp. He said, "Well, I would just respectfully disagree. Here's the process we use, and this is how our students learn together, lead together, and select their voice." And he he just gave this elaborate response that really indicated wisdom beyond his years and why the board, who of their own will uh created this practice, these policies, and this opportunity for student voice. So, it is an entire board award, and and AJ did an amazing job today representing the board and the student body. So, thank you. And I have no items for the superintendent update tonight. >> And uh just to clarify, you you mentioned that there were nominees, right? >> Yeah. >> And then the election will be held in

039April? >> Uh yeah, it should be in April. >> And does the county send an elections team over >> Oh, yeah, they will. Yeah, we get to actually use the voting machines that um adults get to use on election day, which is really cool. >> Right. And they actually tally the vote uh from the the student uh the superintendent advisory council members. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Yeah. It's a lot how like the like electoral college is like the representatives of people, and then they pick the president uh based off of the um population. >> And that that council, if I'm not mistaken, is from fifth grade up? >> Fourth grade up? >> Yeah. >> So, there's representatives from each school and each grade level that all participate in that election? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah.

040>> It's awesome. >> Yeah, it's amazing. >> All right. Uh seeing as how there's no superintendent's report, we'll move on to item seven, uh which is the audience of citizens portion of the meeting. I'll read a brief statement. All right. Board welcomes the opportunity to hear from the community and to inform the board of your views on matters before the board. Please keep in mind the board agenda is set and by law or statute the board cannot discuss can only discuss the items that are on the agenda uh today. The board cannot legally nor would the board discuss an issue specific to an employee or a specific student in respect to privacy. These meetings are streamed live on YouTube. Please keep your comments respectful. If you have a concern and you would like a response

041from the administration, feel free to leave your information with Eric Ball. Please keep your comments to 2 minutes so that all wish to speak may speak and the gift giving a time to another person um is not fair and not permitted. So with that we we do have quite the extensive list. Um number one on that list is our esteemed colleague from BCEA, Kelly Reed. >> Thank you. Uh Kelly Reed, Boone County Education Association. Thank you for this time to speak with you. If you had money on me speaking about maternity leave tonight, you lost that bet. I'd like to speak about that but I'm not going to. I want to take this time tonight to highlight some Boone County teachers and their advocacy. BCEA spends a considerable amount of time reaching out to legislators

042and today was our final uh face-to-face Kentucky Educator Advocacy Day in Frankfort. I'd like to thank Eric, Kevin, Share, Misty, Heather, Ian, Eddie, Sarah, Nikki, and Brian for their face-to-face advocacy in Frankfort over the past 3 months on issues like SB 124 and HB 67. SB 124 allows the use of sick days for religious holidays not covered in the school calendar and HB67 fixes some of the issues but not all. Some of the issues with the communications bill from last year. I'd also like to spotlight all of our members for their advocacy regarding HB500, the budget bill. We had members call, text, and email our legislators to pump the brakes on the most damaging parts of the bill. The budget isn't complete yet but our members will continue to advocate for what is best for

043the students of Boone County and in turn the students of the Commonwealth. Finally, I'd like to make a call of action to all of us in this room and all of the people in the Commonwealth to oppose two bills. The first one is HB829 which will remove local control and force districts to allow moral instruction during the school day. It removes the may term from the previous bill and makes it a shall. Also, SB114 which is a bill which would allow the chief executive officer of the local county to appoint members on school boards. That threshold is 25,000 students. We're pretty close. One last sentence. Um as elected officials, I have faith in the way that you carry out your fiduciary responsibilities to the district. I may not always agree with them but I have

044faith in you as you carry out those duties. I would not have that same faith in unelected appointees. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um sorry if I can't read the name. Arav Patel Hey, all right. >> Yeah, just he's going to help you. >> What? >> Thank you for being here. >> I don't know how these things work. Um, uh my name is Arav Ethan and um I was just giving you like three reasons why we should not go to all go to Camp Earnest and instead just stay at our Valley Shannon. Go to Valley Shannon. Uh Um Uh one reason why we should just stay at Valley Shannon district is because staying in your school district provides a sense of stability and continuity that is major for both academic success and mental well-being.

045Uh my second reason for just staying at Valley Shannon, we should not change school districts is because it allows you to maintain rooted connections and mentorships. It allows you to maintain the rooted connections and mentorships with teachers who already understand your learning style and history. My third reason we should not change school districts, well, middle school districts. I forgot to say that. Because changing middle school districts can be a disruptive process that can cause emotional, social, and academic stability for students. And that's it. >> Thank you. And I and I believe your brother. >> Did you say your name also? >> Okay. Um hi, I'm Anav. I'm Arav's brother and I come from Gunpowder Trails. Um I um I don't like necessarily disagree with you guys into going to Camp Earnest. But um I was

046um but I usually I was like wanting to go to Valley Shannon once I moved here cuz I learned that Ballyshannon was going to build a middle school and um I wanted to learn all about it and um I'm really honored to speak in front of you guys. Um >> We're honored you're here. >> Um let's just uh I one reason why I do want to go to Bally is um I have a cousin who still I have a um a cousin who used to live in like who you who lives in Bally right now and he told me like most about it like about Bally and like everything about it and all the stuff. Uh another reason why is um I go to Long Branch and probably the people there probably know how Long

047Branch teaches the people and um the students there. So like I'm a fifth grader. If I move to sixth grade, the sixth grade teachers will probably know how I learn. So that's why um and I My third thing is um emotionally you should like I feel like Um I don't know how to say this into words but like emotionally I really do want to go to Bally. I Um the way the first time I saw the middle school um it looked amazing. It it was humongous. Can't even describe it in words but um yeah, I just really want to go to Bally. You don't have to you can disagree with me but please can we can I go get can we all go to Bally? >> Right. Love that. Um Ja- Joshitha? Sorry if I

048said that wrong. Joshitha? Will you say your name for me so I can learn how to pronounce? it. >> My name is Joshitha Kohli. Good evening. And I am a fifth grader student at Long Branch Elementary. Thank you for giving me the chance to speak today. I would like to share how the proposed middle school redistricting may affect me. Many of my classmates and close friends from fifth grade may be going to Ballantyne next year. Because of the redistricting, I might be assigned to a different school while most of my friends go there. This makes me feel worried and sad because we have been learning and growing together for many years and it would be very hard to be separated from them in middle school. I truly enjoy being part of my school community. I

049have built strong strong connections with my teachers and classmates and I am involved in activities that meant a lot to me. I play on the basketball team which has helped me learn teamwork and make great friends. I am also part of the announcement team, the art club and the choir. These activities help me feel confident, included and supported. Moving to a different school while most of my classmates go somewhere else would be very difficult for me both socially and academically. Starting over in a new environment without many of my friends and the activities that I love would be very challenging. When my family decided to buy our home, the quality of the schools in this district was very important to us. I even encouraged my parents to choose a home here because of the strong

050schools and the opportunities available for students. My parents worked very hard to make the decision for our future. I respectfully ask the board to please consider students like me who may be separated from most of their classmates because of this redistricting. If possible, I hope you can allow me to attend Ballyshannon with my friends. Thank you for listening to me and for everything you do for our students in our district. >> We had another person sign up, but it looks like they may have crossed out their name. Um Lila? Okay. Um Miss Wolf. You're fine. Hello. >> Hello. I'm going to get my thing up. Okay. Hello. I'm Sup Wolf. I'm a student here in Boone County. A rising issue has made itself more and more known as time goes by that affects every female

051student in the county. We lack free feminine products in our bathrooms. Most Most people who experience a period experience it roughly every 28 days, around three to seven times a year. And that's three to seven times a year. Oh my god. Whoa. Most people experience it every 28 days for about three to seven time three to seven days at a time. Uh For something so common, you'd expect us to be accommodated for it since symptoms that can go from mild to severe like fatigue, cramping, and bleeding, and more all impact our ability to learn. The proper products like pads in our bathrooms would help um give a major part of your student population a sense of security, protection, and protection while on their cycle. Especially since lots of us aren't always carrying products on us

052like how I'm guessing most of you aren't carrying toilet paper on you most uh parts of your day. Um these free products would help um girls who are embarrassed, who might have accidentally bled their chair in the middle of class, which is a situation I and many of us have experienced. Uh it also help people who have unexpectedly started in the bathroom or have had a heavier flow than expected. Uh it most certainly help those who can't afford the proper products they need, which is a really upsetting, real, and common reality for a lot of girls in our county and all around the world. So, I'm asking you to make a plan uh to possibly fill this need through policy or resolution because it would benefit all of us greatly. Thank you. >> Thank you.

053Lori Rose. Hi, welcome. >> Hello. I'm here for our neighborhood Gunpowder Trails. I live in Gunpowder Trails South Division and have a student who will be entering the sixth grade next year. First, I would like to say many of us feel that we were misled during this process. It seems that the decision has already been made while parents were led to believe we still had a real chance for our students to remain at Valley View Middle School. I have spoke personally with a representative about the scenarios and asked that the district move forward with only one option. I was told that did not happen and our voices and feedback did matter. Unfortunately, the recent developments make many of us feel that that was not the case. Um our children uh have two Sorry. Oh, the

054children have been coming home from school showing that there is only one scenario in their school at Long Branch. Our concerns about being reassigned not only are about friendships, although that that is certainly important part of our child's school's experience. We are also concerned about the academic opportunities, the programs available. Ball shannon offers honors classes, electives such as choir that Camp Earnest does not. A variety of clubs and activities that students help students build connections with their peers. From what many parents understand, these opportunities are much more limited at Camp Earnest. These are also concerns that have been shared among parents about bullying issues at Camp Earnest, the lack of major events that Ball shannon does currently offer such as field trips, school dances, and eighth grade promotions. These experience are important to parts of

055middle school and help create a positive school community for students. Our neighborhood has approximately 15 students entering sixth grade. These are students who several of them have siblings already attending Ball shannon middle school. So, when you take those numbers, there is literally six to seven students from our neighborhood that will be separated from the others in our neighborhood. Just seems um splitting such a small group of students from their established school community seems unnecessary. I'm almost done, I promise. At this point, it feels as though the decision has already been made. However, these decisions do impact our children and their voices do matter to us and our to us parents and them. We respectfully ask that the board reconsider and move the scenario to scenario one so our students can continue at Ball shannon middle

056school from Gunpowder Trails. >> Thank you. >> Uh Michelle Harkey. >> Oh, that's me. Hi. Um also from Gunpowder Trails. Mine was more of just a question based off of the previous meetings. Um Sorry, can you hear me now? >> Yes. >> Um from Gunpowder Trails also uh question based off the previous meetings that we had on current 7th and 6th graders, there was a potential that they may be grandfathered in, but it was never actually addressed whether that was chosen or not. And my question is is whether that decision will be made tonight, and if so, what form should the parents be filling out for those students currently at Battle to be grandfathered in because all that's on the online forum is open enrollment forms. And if that's the form, that's fine. And if

057that is the one we're filling out, is there something we should be listing within that form that our children are currently already there, and we want them to be grandfathered in? >> We will definitely get that question addressed when this item comes up later in the meeting. >> Okay. And then I guess the follow-up to that is the siblings of I get the incoming 5th graders that will be 6th graders. >> One of our board members will ask the question. >> Okay. Because they were talking about priori- prioritization of those children. >> me, there'll be much discussion. >> Yeah. Okay, thanks. >> Uh Reagan Rose. >> Hello. So, I'm currently a 5th grader at Long Branch Elementary, and I live in Gun- Sorry. >> It's all right. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Um I'm

058a 5th grader at Long Branch Elementary, and I live in Gunpowder Trails. I'm here to express how much I want to go to Battle Shannon and not Camp Earnest. When I spoke last time, I talked to a lady afterwards and asked if the decision had already been made. She told me it would not be decided until March 12th. So, I'm confused about why every day I go to school and I see a map that posted only scenario two and I'm It makes me feel like I was given false hope and about my chances to stay at the school I want to attend with my friends. One of the reasons Ball Shannnon is important to me is choir. I have been in choir for 3 years and this year I made honor choir. Camp Ernest Middle

059School does not offer choir, which means I may not be continuing in something that I have worked very hard for and really love doing. I also plan to try out for cheerleading the cheerleading squad because of the possible change. I now have to try out for two possible two different schools and if scenario two is chosen, I may have to stay on both teams until June while waiting to see if I could get to Ball through open enrollment. This is very stressful and confusing for me. Ball Shannon also offers academic opportunities like honor classes that I hope to take as I get older. They also have more field trips and activities for students. I know that to the board this may seem like just moving students from one school to another, but it means a

060lot more. This is something I have looked forward to for years just like the other students here with me tonight. A few friends and I even went around the neighborhood passing out flyers to invite people to come to this meeting and support staying at Ball Shannon. While going door-to-door, we realized there are not many I'm almost done. Incoming sixth graders in our neighborhood. We found about 10 students and many of them already have siblings attending to Ball Shannon. The students from Gunpowder Trails and Hawks Landing are asking you to not separate us and not send us to Camp Ernest Middle School? Please let us stay together and attend Ballyshannon. Please go with scenario one. >> I'm going to go Danielle. And then last name I don't know. Can't read it. Daniel Daniel What's his name?

061>> I'm sorry. >> Daniel? >> Oh. Okay. I got you. >> That's our auditor. You didn't have sign in. That's Kentucky state law. He's later. I didn't even know where you I was looking to go for you. I didn't know where you went. >> Aubrey Anderson Welcome. >> Sorry. >> All right. >> Hi, my name is Aubrey Anderson and I attend Conner Middle School. I think period products should be free across all Boone County schools. Among many problems, period poverty is one that many girls are facing meaning that they cannot afford period products or cannot access them. Along with that, periods are unpredictable and especially so during the first years of getting it. It's such a struggle to remember to bring products every day along with changing it at appropriate times in between classes. Sometimes

062when you forget them, you have nothing else to use but thin toilet paper and that can often lead to a many embarrassing situations. No one should have to go through this along with other hardships and I think you should consider making period products free to everybody. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Cole light liquid? Will you please say your name when you come up? >> Cole lights clinic. >> Oh, got it. >> My cursive isn't very good, but my print is worse. >> I hear you. >> I don't know what Where do you go to school? >> Hello. >> I go to Ignite Institute. I am in the Biomedical Sciences College. Um thank you all for having us out. I can see that there are a lot of women on the board, and

063I can see that there are a lot of women in the room. So, I'm sure you've all had similar experiences to what I'm about to talk about. To add on to what the other girls have already said, I would like to bring in kind of a different perspective. I've had many teachers and staff members, along with school nurses, say to me that they have been having to buy and provide period products from their own money to students. Um I'm sure you already know that a teacher's salary is not what it should be from just what they have to deal with in the everyday classroom. So, factoring in that with the notebooks and the pencils that they already have to buy for their students, buying period products is absolutely ridiculous. Um they are in the school

064nurse's office, but a lot of the times a girl will have to walk all the way cuz depending on where you're at, the bathrooms are not close. And I've had many experiences where I have been in a bathroom and a girl has not had a period product where she really needs one, and it might have been after school where the nurse was not even there. So, we really do need to have these products directly available in bathrooms, so when these issues do arise, we can immediately deal with them. Additionally, just like we said earlier, it is like toilet paper. A period is a natural cycle that happens every around 28 days as she stated and it is not something that can be controlled unless using birth control. And even then it's a slippery slope for

065the younger middle schoolers who have to deal with that and the older elementary schoolers. So, because it is such a natural function just like going to the bathroom normally, it would be best if it were like toilet paper. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. And uh Joetta Prost You think I'd learn you that's you by now, but I I always forget. >> Dr. Joetta Prost, yeah. Uh Hebron, live down the street from Thornwilde and I just came because I heard these young women were going to be speaking about this topic today. And I just want to say, my goodness, girls in middle school, even in grade school, need period products. And um they don't need the embarrassment that not having those causes or can cause. It's just a such a simple thing to

066to reduce stress and anxiety and potential embarrassment. So, I hope that you'll just do the right thing and make those available and even in the grade schools because um girls start menstruating these days in uh fourth and fifth grade. So, I know this. I have family members. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um Anna Dillon? Welcome. >> Hello. I'm a student in Boone County schools. I attend Ignite where we are lucky enough to have a pad and tampon dispenser in the bathroom. However, it isn't always stocked. According to multiple of my friends, it's rarely stocked. And in I remember we checked out a dance. There was a singular pad in there, and it was broken. Last week, one of my friends started her period in class. She didn't have any pads on her and asked

067me for one. I only had tampons with me, which she had never used before. And for both of you who don't know, using a tampon for the first time can be absolutely terrifying. Luckily, one of our other friends at the same table had a pad, so it wasn't a problem. But it should have never been a problem in the first place. 50% of the population goes through period. Without feminine hygiene products, clothes can be stained, messes can be made, and people are left embarrassed and ashamed. Periods are not always regular and can start when you're unprepared like my friend. I and almost every other woman has had a similar experience to that. Additionally, like Soap and I believe Aubrey was her name mentioned, period poverty is a real issue. Not everyone can afford feminine hygiene

068products, and having them in schools ensures students have access to these necessities. >> Thank you. And uh Tyler Harvey. >> Just understanding, I thought I had to sign in. >> You got to talk now. All right. Uh we do have some some visiting college students. If you guys want to um come up and say your name and to the microphone to get credit or for the record. Uh Whitney Meek. And Sarah. >> Hi, my name is Sarah Deeper, and I go to University of Cumberlands. >> Thank you for being here. >> Hi. Uh my name is Whitney Meek, and I go to the University of the Cumberlands. Hi, my name is Mia Medeiros and I go to NKU. My name is Madison Redlinger and I go to University of the Cumberlands. Chairman Parks, I'd like

069to say something really quick. We got an award for from our student voice our student board member about our student voice and I've never seen an audience of citizens that has been this student heavy. And I want to thank all of our kids for coming out and being brave to actually stand up for what you believe in. Whether it's your school or feminine hygiene products, whatever it is, I'm proud of you all for being brave enough to do that. So, thank you. >> There's a couple of names on the college sign, Amanda, Ella and Are you guys here? I'm going to step Nope, okay. All right. Um I echo your sentiment, Mrs. Wolfe. All right. For everyone's favorite part of the meeting, we're going to turn the go to agenda item eight for the auditor's

070report by Barnes and Denning. I'll turn the meeting over to Daryl Denham our finance director. >> All right. Daniel DeMont is going to speak and give the give the update on the audit report. He's coming to the Board members, you should have a full report as well as a PowerPoint at your stations, Um and it's also will be available public. Daniel, we'll get the PowerPoint. I believe you're using a PowerPoint. >> Yeah, we're loading it right now. And you you come up to the mic the auditor comes and watch them scatter. >> It's all right, I'm used to it. >> Well, we're happy to have you, so. >> Appreciate it. >> All right, ready when you are. >> All right. Um as uh uh Let's just say Um I'll just point at you. Um My

071name is Daniel De Monte. I'm with Barnes Dennig, um and we've been uh the auditors for the district for some time now and hope to continue to do so for the next couple years. We were engaged to do an audit of the uh June 30th, 2025 financial statements, uh and that included a single audit related to the federal programs that the district receives that looks at compliance as well as numbers. Uh we have some auditor management responsibilities. I'll go over quickly here. The um financial statements are the responsibility of district's management. We provide reasonable assurance with our procedures, so we do risk-based auditing where we look at the riskier areas. We don't look at every transaction or every invoice, every payroll. Um we do get an understanding of the internal controls of the district, but

072we do not opine on the internal controls. It's not an internal control audit. Uh our audit does not relieve you or management of your responsibilities and we have an engagement letter that has uh the responsibilities and spells it out in more detail. The executive summary here has the uh the good news. Uh we issued an unmodified or clean opinion on the financial statements and the major federal programs. That is uh a clean opinion, the best opinion you can get. Um there were no disagreements or difficulties encountered during the audit and no consultations with other independent accountants. There was a new GASB standard implemented during the year. Uh compensated absences basically local governments uh measure and recognize uh accrued leave differently and this kind of made it a uniform practice, uniform uh recognition for all kinds

073of governments. Um there were some internal control matters and they are detailed in the actual audit report and I'll just kind of touch on them quickly here. Um there was a material weakness related to capital assets um and then a significant deficiency related to internal controls over procurement and we've provided recommendations to district management and they've agreed with our recommendations. And then um there's a written representation letter that the district provides at the end of the audit that basically says we provided all the information you requested, um you know, all of the information we provided is truthful and and valid uh and that is in the back of the presentation that you have in front of you. Um we had some audit adjustments that were passed on and we passed on them every year. They're

074uh immaterial to the overall financials of the district related to leases and SABIDAS, uh but we are required to communicate those to you. And I have a couple slides here about financial statement trends that I won't go into too much detail, but overall the district financials are healthy, assets are up, are pretty consistent with prior year, liabilities and deferred inflows are down, and net position has increased consistently for the past couple years which indicates revenues exceeding expenditures over that period of time. And then this shows that as well. That blue line is represents revenues district wide, and expenditures is the orange line. And then we like to show the general fund information as well. You could see that in 2025 the expenditures did increase to surpass revenues, and that is related to transfers to different

075funds. There was a more transfers in the current year to the Ignite Institute, to other funds, basically for different operating purposes. This is just a breakout of expenses by category for the general fund and on the next slide there's a breakout of um the personnel expense for the general fund. So you can see that 86% of total expenses is related to salaries and benefits for people in the district. Special revenue expenses by category again informational items here. And then I think the last slide is food service. Yep, again a healthy relationship with revenues and expenses for the past couple years. And yeah, so that's that's the the the of the district. Um I do tell uh Darrell and and his team that um we're your auditors all year round to reach out with any issues

076or questions, and um he has my contact information. So, if you would like to discuss anything with me or contact me with any questions, you can feel free to contact me. >> Um anyone have any questions? Seeing no. Thank you. I appreciate you being here, really. >> Thank you, and the work that you guys do. All right. Uh we're going to move on to agenda item nine, recommended action consent items A through double N. Dr. Hauswald. >> I got it. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Sorry, that's a typo. Thank you, Chairman Parks. Uh I'm going to recommend the board approve recommended action consent agenda items A through double O as presented with the treasurer's report by Mr. Darrell Denham. >> Mr. Denham will now give the treasurer's report. >> At the beginning, uh just a

077cash balance of $112,010,938. Total receipts of $8,927,476. Total expenditures of $13,960,815 for net decrease in cash of $5,033,339, which leaves us a balance on hand at the end of the month of $106,977,599. Notable items, we collected $1.2 million in property taxes, $1.3 million in occupational tax. We had a debt service payment of $6.3 million. >> Have a motion to approve consent agenda items A through double O. >> I second it. >> Who was that? Julie? >> All right, any discussion on the items on the consent agenda or the treasurer's report? Seeing none, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes 5-0. All right, recommended action recommended action old business. Seeing no old business, we'll move to agenda item 11. Recommended action new business item A, Dr. Hauswald. >> Yes, as

078a standard protocol, I recommend the board approve recommended action new business item A, which is our instructional time for the 2026-2027 school year. >> All right, do we have a motion to approve new business item A, the instructional time for 26-27 school year as recommended? >> I motion. >> Motion Miss Byrd and >> Miss Byrd. >> I'll second it. >> Any discussion? I'll just note that um the board members did receive this instructional time and there's been a lot of work done on this um situation over the well, past year while and it's pretty standard. All in favor, please say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes 5-0. Move to agenda item 11, recommended action new business item B, Dr. Housewald. >> Yes, uh thank you Chairman Parks. I recommend the board approve recommended action

079new business item B, which is the standard instructional time adjustment for elementary schools for the 2026-2027 uh school year. And and comes pretty as a as a routine uh a procedural um recommendation with lots of work in the background. >> Do we have a motion to approve new business item B, instructional time adjustment for elementary schools 2026-2027 school year as recommended? >> Second. >> Ms. Wolfe seconds, Ms. Maddox. Um any discussion on item B? Seeing none, all in favor please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes 5-0. Uh move on to agenda item 11, business item C. Dr. Housewald. >> I thank you again. I recommend the board approve recommended action new business item C, district school fees, admission fees, meal prices for 2026-2027. For those of you who have reviewed them, you'll

080note there's minimal changes. There has been some um grouping of of fees to give our schools more flexibility, but the majority of the of the fee structure stays the same for the succeeding school year. >> Do we have a motion to approve new business item C, district school fees, adminis- admission fees, and meal prices for 2026-2027 as recommended? >> I motion to approve. >> Motion by Ms. Maddox. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion on item C? >> I just want to thank Dr. Housewald. I I called earlier this week with um some questions about the fees and how they're set up and especially as it deals with our food services. Um it's a complex thing dealing with fees cuz nobody likes to charge fees to families for education that we pay

081with taxpayer dollars. It's difficult to understand that we follow our schools fall under when we do not have these fees and that's the thing that's I I just I hate the fact that that happens. So, but they're a necessary component. So, but thank you for answering my questions and taking my input earlier. >> And and and and primarily and part of the input was on how do we incentivize more fee structure so that more students eat breakfast. So, that's definitely something we'll take under advisement and look at over the next year. So, thank you. >> Discussion or questions about uh this current agenda item. >> No, no questions. Um just a comment and I and I mentioned this in the budget committee since the fees committee uh as Mr. McQuarter stated that night's kind of

082been rolled into the budget committee uh as since it's generally the same kind of work that the budget committee does. In the past though, when we did have a separate fees committee generally uh a principal would get a parent to come or we'd have a couple of schools have parents involved in that conversation and I always found it helpful to hear have the parents involved in that and hear their input um on the families and in their buildings. So, I would just encourage for next year's process when we assemble the the group that's going to be involved in the fee discussion along with the budget committee that we try to get some parents involved in that again in in the future. >> Noted. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? Um all all in favor, please

083say I. >> I. >> And I will vote nay. Motion passes 4-1. Just to explain my vote, I never vote for school fees. Move to agenda item 11. New business item D, Dr. Houseworth. >> Uh, yes, board. You uh, find before you a recommended a recommendation to approve a recommended action new business item D, Ballou Ballou Shannon Camp Burns Middle School redistricting recommendation 2026. You will find that this recommendation, I know there were some questions about this, but the committee unanimously is recommending to accept scenario one. Um, I know there were questions about that. I wanted to clarify that. Scenario two does not allow any of the redistrict any of the grandfathering. Uh, scenario one does allow the the grandfathering. Um, so just to clarify that the recommendation is to accept the redistricting using scenario

084one. And I would recommend to approve as presented. And after the motion and second, if if the board has questions, we have Ms. Best available. You Ms. Best, you might want to come on up to the microphone. Thank you. >> Do I have a motion to approve new business item D, Ballou Shannon Camp Burns Middle School redistricting recommendation for 2026 as recommended? >> I I motion for scenario one. >> Well, wait a minute. >> And that's that's the recommendation, yes. >> Okay. So, you're motioning for this. Okay, got it. >> Yes. >> Do I have a second? >> I second for scenario one, too. I know we're going to talk about it. >> All right, any discussion on item D? >> I do think that we we really spend a lot of time looking at

085the the needs and the practicalities of transportation and and growth in terms of how our county is growing. However, um I think it's important just as important that we listen to our families and our kids and when we make these decisions. And I really think that scenario one is the best option that's permitted to kind of have a good balance between all of that. And it would give those kids an opportunity to make those choices for their education. >> I I would just like to recognize all the students have come here and were able to talk in public and I would just like to say as a former teacher, um I just take my hat off to you guys because uh you are expressing what your needs and um you know, that is we hear

086we do hear you. >> So, any What about the um the question as it relates to current seventh and eighth uh graders being grandfathered in? If so, how does that process work? What does that look like if you're a parent of one of these students? Um what form do you fill out? All that stuff. >> So, good evening. So, based on the recommendation from the uh growth and demographics committee, if the board approves it, I have an email that will go out first thing tomorrow morning uh that will have an active link for any current sixth and seventh grade Valley students who are wanting to be grandfathered in. Also in that email, there is a school choice link for any fifth grader that would like to apply for school choice uh to stay at Valley

087Shannon. So, that will go out tomorrow morning based on based on excuse me based on your vote. Um and then it'll go out through Infinite Campus Messenger 2.0. It'll also go out through Apptegy. Um it'll be placed on the district website. Um and then I will also get the letter out to the affected elementary schools along with with the middle schools. >> Thank you. >> And the part with the elementary schools, are they going to have an opportunity to go to Ball if they choose? >> School choice. >> Yes. Yes. They'll apply for school choice. So, myself and Ms. Katie Parks we're working with Mr. Brewer um on that process. >> So, our our kids that spoke today from elementary school will be able to be considered for that option. So. >> That is correct.

088>> And that is a change. We we would be opening up >> Correct. In the past we've always just allowed the current seventh graders. Um we're actually allowing the current sixth and seventh along with school choice for the incoming fifth grader. >> So, scenario one will allow the all of the sixth and seventh and in there which I think is important. >> Correct. And and that application will be open until April 12th. Um and that gives my department time to change the enrollments or I should say fix the enrollments. That way the incoming fifth grade or incoming sixth grade students will have the opportunity to attend their middle school uh their during that transition time and and the and the middle school tours. >> And just to clarify I think there was a question earlier

089about the grandfathering. Um that what the grandfathering gives precedence. So, any student that's currently attending Ball Shannon um through the grandfathering acceptance is guaranteed to be able to stay um provided you know of course there's there's there's the standard conditions, but um they are good that question was asked and so they are given prioritization. >> I do want to say that I would encourage parents that are here today, if you know of families that have unique scenarios or whatever, please reach out to the the leaders of the district. Um I will say that they've done a great job of trying to make sure that we find ways to get these kids um in the places where they want to be. So, I I really appreciate all of the care that's gone into that decision-making when

090presenting us with a scenario. >> The students that apply for school choice in fifth grade they currently go to Long Branch, right? Is that their acceptance is based on current enrollment in Bailey at that time? >> So, yes, but we're going to allow them we're going to make exceptions. Uh but what we do is we look at attendance, behavior, and grades also, and they have to make sure that they're on course for promotion um in order to continue their career at Bailey Shannon. >> Having trouble with that. >> I know, I keep hitting it. >> I'm kidding. Um >> Chairman Parks. >> confused. Comments up here. Uh what was that? >> we have some questions for the parents, but I figured like we'd probably be directed to talk talk to Mr. Brock when >> Yes,

091um absolutely. During this portion you would need to direct your com- uh questions to the staff at Um well, if you can see the correct >> on the letter that that goes out tomorrow, my email address is on that letter. Um so, they can feel free to email me. >> Can we ask a question? >> Um >> Not after the meeting, yeah. >> So, uh if if we had two board members and then a multitude of other individuals that sat on the demographics and growth growth committee. Is that correct? And also on that committee were folks from the county. Is that correct? From the county and zoning >> Planning and zoning. >> Zoning planning and zoning office. And this all came about because of a need of capacity issue. Is that correct? >> Correct. Enrollment

092versus capacity. >> Enrollment versus capacity. And then also to plan for um our county's continuing growth in that that area, right? >> Yes. >> And because we we were directed um we we had we had one process and then um this board agreed to sort of reset the process and do more meetings and more research and more outreach. Is that correct? Am I Am I saying that correctly? And we tried to we had a process that was halfway down that road, basically. And then we felt like because of our parents reached out and said we're not getting you know, this we haven't had enough attention or whatever to this matter. And so I agreed with Ms. Byrd and the rest of the board members that we needed to kind of reset and then start the

093process over to have more input and more um of everything really to try to get whatever scenario was was end up going to be end up recommended to this board kind of solidified. Um and I'll just ask the board members who served on that those meetings and went to the forums um what was your how do you think that all went? Do you have comments about that process? >> I think it >> Are there things we can improve next time? >> I mean, I think it was much improved given the added options, you know, for the not just seventh graders, for sixth and seventh. Um I think there was a multi I mean, there was a lot of people on that committee, including parents, which I think was a great idea. Um but I I

094think that's always been done, but I was happy with the process and glad that we did it that way and feel like we got a lot of good input and we're doing the best that I mean the best thing that we can. >> No one wants redistricting. I mean, it's just so hard on our children. Um the board members and but all of the with the cluding the parents we all discussed it. Also, we looked at the emails and the stories that were sent in to us. Um I personally went to both presentations that were done in the schools and listened to what this what everyone had to say there. This is not an easy thing for any of us to do. Um but the growth that's going to happen in the future uh we

095don't want to do this twice. You know, um that's was discussed at the at the at the meeting. Um trying to do it the best way. Um I I believe everyone was for grandfathering and making this process as easy as possible and um that's all I can say about the process. >> Thank you. All right, any other discussion or comments? >> I just want to say thank you to Kim Best and her team for all this work. It's not easy and you you you you get a lot of negative and positive, so I appreciate that. >> And I'm going to just read this a little bit uh more clearly cuz it on my agenda it doesn't say a scenario number. >> The recommendations. >> Okay, I'll just I'm not misreading it. It doesn't say that.

096So, I'm I Do I Do uh we have a motion, but we're what we're voting on is the Bally Shannon Camp Ernst um middle school redistricting recommendation for 2026, which is scenario one. All right. All right, with that being said, all in favor, please say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes 5-0. >> It's six if we count the student. You can run for student president one of these days. >> I would like to um I would I would like to explain my vote um I think Ms. Maddox said it very well. Redistricting is very difficult uh specifically in Boone County because we all care so much about our neighborhood schools and they're a part of our community. It's why many people, including myself, bought our homes. Um and so I I am with that

097mentality 100% and there's always a dividing line, which puts someone on the other side of the line. And it's it can't be helped in some cases. There's got to be a line somewhere. Um The thing that I took issue with in our own community when we had redistricting was the saying that the other school's inferior. Camp Ernst is a beautiful school with beautiful staff and beautiful children and can be better made better with more beautiful parents bringing their beautiful children to that school. And all of our schools are equally as wonderful and um deserve our community's attention even if our students don't go there currently. Um so, I would just encourage our community to take an interest in all of our community schools. Um which was difficult for me as the PTSO president at New

098Haven Elementary um to serve in this role and go to other elementaries cuz I was so proud of my New Haven Tigers, right? Um and then to find out that there are fantastic buildings all across this district um with equally beautiful students, families, and stories as we saw earlier today in the in the the highlights. Um So, anyway, with that we'll move on to everyone's favorite topic which is agenda item 11, recommended action new business item E. Property casualty insurance consultant recommendation. >> So, as I'll take one of those. As uh you are receiving a handout board, I will introduce. Um currently, there is no recommenda- there will be a recommendation at the end of this presentation. The recommendation will come from Michael Norrick. Michael is as you as you all have met him and

099are aware as the consultant who has been charged by the board to review our current property and casualty insurance situation as well as the opportunity that that the options that are available. He will be providing an overview of that and the board specifically asked that he bring a review to the meeting tonight publicly and he will be sharing his review as well as some of the options or one of the options that that the board has available and ultimately this matter is privilege of the board. I'll turn it over to Mr. Nork. >> Thank you very much. Surprised the room is this full especially with a scintillating topic like insurance but it is important obviously. Thank you very much for the opportunity. I think the the board identified this as a potential opportunity to to

100look backwards and more importantly look forward as to what it should do to the best benefit of the district. So what we're going to do is run through a quick overview of the process that was undertaken under the direction of the board and talk about our results and typical consultant recommendation. That's a little foreshadowing. Okay so we're going to go through the goals of the process the process overview that we undertook some very important notes when we're discussing the findings and what the process was and what the current steps needed of the board are and the next steps we're going to undertake through the ultimate procurement process. Then there will be a recommended course of action for the board. So again the goal of this process is the beginning of a competitive insurance procurement process.

101And because of the limited marketplace and what we mean by that is a limited number of insurers out there who can write a comprehensive package for school districts countrywide really, but but even more so in Kentucky, it's important that the proposers that the the number of proposers be limited. We came into this process with a relatively open open mind about that. While we did explain that the insurance marketplace is very limited, um there depending on which market insurance markets the various brokers um identified as potential options for the district, there may be opportunity for more than just one or or two brokers. So, we're going to get to um we're going to answer those questions to to some extent as as we go through the presentation. So, what we did was we drafted a a

102broker RFP. We solicited input from BCS for any any additions or changes to it. Issued the RFP. Uh it was it was publicly advertised, I think. And a number of um current prior and um one or one other, I think, broker who had not done any business with BCS in the past also threw their hat in the ring. Everybody who took, from what we understand, uh everybody who got an RFP actually presented a proposal. So, at the end of the day, there were multiple proposals, and we'll show you a summary of who those were. Uh there were some questions that some of the participants had. Any any RFP is is always subject to interpretation on both sides. There were some procedural questions as as as well as a questions for additional information. Um, we as

103the third-party consultants answered the procedural issues as far as what was in the RFP that we drafted. And we directed proposers to go to BCS to um, get other other information about the the operations and exposures. Uh, when we got the when we got the RFPs back, they were they were delivered to both uh, BCS and we received them via email as well so that we could rapidly review all the proposals because time is short. Um, the renewal is is obviously at the end of June, beginning of July, so we have to get this done as quickly as possible. We also in the process of analyzing all of the proposals for for services, pricing, etc. and we've also as part of the RFP asked for conceptual um, ideas about how the program insurance program could

104be structured, how other other ideas that might be different from what it has happened in the past using higher deductibles, different retentions, and things like that. And the responses were excellent. Um, there were a couple of standouts which we'll get to. Another part of the process was to take a look at all of the insurance markets that the various proposers s- uh, said they would want to go to in their their order of preference. And there was a significant and overlap. There were some very interesting ideas outside of that overlap as well. And finally, we we prepared recommended options for for your next steps. It's very important to note through this this presentation, what we're showing you as far as rankings, numbers, and things like that. Everybody who responded was professionally qualified and experienced insurance

105brokers. There's no no real concern in our mind that any one of the proposers couldn't do the job. We believe there were a couple of standouts that could do or or express themselves as being able to do a job above and beyond what some of the others were able to express themselves through their written written proposal process. We want to note that our scoring was based primarily on the written responses, but we did have various conversations with a number of the participants, not all of them. There were there were two participants Alliant, who had not had previous previous contact with Boone County Schools that I'm aware of or Hilb, who I guess was previously a broker to Boone County Schools according to the presentation or proposal. So, we're going to go through a we're going

106to explain our scoring process, which was which was done by our team of consultants. We had five consultants um doing doing the review. We had four voting members. And we came up with these with these with these various scores. I think there was one other one other note on the prior slide. Sorry. I may have hit Can we go back one slide? Okay. So, when we get to these numbers, the ranking within the within the groups is the most indicative. That's the most important thing to look at, the various you know, all of this is a relatively soft process. You can't take a look at the numbers and say, you know, somebody was .2 off of somebody else, it doesn't necessarily mean that that it was a major difference because again, it's it's the perception

107of the RFP, what was put out there. But, we've got we have many decades of experience in doing this, and so what we've done is we've taken those little tiny differences, and we've we put them into into tranches, as you'll see in the next slide. So, the RFP was was uh split up into to various sections. The bro- there was a a program concept. So, what we were looking for is ideas, a conceptual proposal. What are the What are some of the um ideas that the brokers had for how insurance uh the insurance program of Boone County Schools could be improved. Uh we wanted to understand get their understanding uh as they could presented in in the written proposal of of BCS's needs, their ability to identify, and how they would address the risks, and

108give us some other interesting ideas. And uh that was the the first major major part of it, brokerage services, how well they could do the services that Boone County Schools need uh as as they now exist and also to give good ideas about what else could be done. Broker compensation is uh, was requested. So, what we asked for is what the target compensation would be. I think that that's it wasn't heavily weighted. If you look at the at the possible on the left-hand side, that's the waiting system that we use. We put a high importance on program concept. Uh, second highest on broker services. Third on compensation, then experience and um, the references provided and strict compliance with the RFP. So, based upon all of those, we we came up with a score and then

109looked at the ranges of those scores to to come up with uh, places, if you will. based upon those scores. Like how how much better was one than the other according to what the proposers showed us in their their written proposals. We had limited numbers of questions about that. Uh, so it's really, like I said in the earlier notes, we looked at what they gave us and and based our our findings on that. So, if you go down to the the bottom, I think, like I said earlier about what's important here, there's there's two primary um, first place ties. I do want to note um, Gallagher is and which is Assured Partners who's the existing broker on on the program. Um, is is listed on the second uh, tied for for second here, but it's

110um, they're we strongly recommend they're included in the process. They're the incumbent broker with a um, with a proprietary or unique access to the BRM Bluegrass Risk Management Program, which you currently have, which we've we've analyzed and under uh, our previous previous report and disclosure to the board or report to the board, uh, feel is a viable option. It can be improved and would likely be improved on the renewal process. So, uh, Gallgher and AP are we're recommending, you'll see, um, provide a renewal proposal. And then, um, in first tied for first place, if you will, um, are Houchens, which was the prior prior broker, and then USI, who I do not believe has has, uh, had a a brokerage um, relationship with Boone County Schools. However, Houchens and and USI put together very, uh,

111very responsive programs. Houchens in particular was was extremely responsive in every single respect of the RFP. Uh, USI was very inventive in some cases, uh, but they're both they're they're are both really good options for, uh, Boone County Schools moving forward. So, in summary, we, as you may have just gathered from from that soliloquy there, uh we recommend that uh Gallagher Assured Partners, formerly Assured Partners, be asked to be pro- provide a uh renewal proposal through BRM. There's some questions outstanding about um about the board about BRM's board and and deadlines, which are going to be resolved pretty soon. I believe it's March 17th. Secondly, we think we we recommend that Houchens that one of the two, Houchens or USI, be engaged to uh propose a competitive commercial insurance arrangement to the BRM um renewal

112proposal. Third, Alliant, who was rated not as high because of areas we can discuss about. They're they're fully capable, just like I said, of everyone else. There's nobody no broker who provided a proposal that's not capable of doing the work, in our opinion. Um but um we believe that Houchens and USI both gave uh a much better potential story as far as what they could provide on a commercial insurance uh competitive in commercial insurance program. However, Alliant also has a uh a proprietary property-only program that they were willing to to throw throw into the process um as as a competitive offer. We've spoken to both uh Houchens and USI verbally yesterday and today. And they just want to do what's best for for Boone County schools as well. So, if if Alight were to provide

113something we we can't say that that it's uh that they would be like a real third third proposer. It it just depends on how the other the other the primary um proposer came out, either Houchens or USI. And we can go into more details about that because I'm sure that sounds pretty vague. Let's go on to the next step, get to the end, and then like to open up. You can certainly ask questions at any time. But at this point in time, what um what the board what we suggest the board needs to do is select the broker finalist or finalists. And then the next the subsequent step after that is for the brokers to put together competitive insurance proposals that will be reviewed by BCS and us to determine which um insurance program you

114know, they should move forward with. And next So again, summary of findings again. Uh obtain a renewal quotation from Gallagher and Bluegrass Risk Management. Select either Houchens or USI as a broker to obtain competitive options. And choose Alight uh if if BCS is it is okay with doing that. Let's get it get a third option on the property, which may or may not work with uh whatever Houchens or USI brings forward. So, break, you know, breaking that down or summarizing that into decisions, there's really decision A and decision B and two options. Two additional sub-options to that, which is to either include Alight or not. Um, so the first the first option is select Gallagher as a finalist to provide a pool insurance BRM renewal proposal and then select Houchens as a finalist provide competitive

115commercial insurance proposal options. Option B is Gallagher and USI instead of Gallagher and Houchens. And then the secondary options adds Alight if they're able to to provide this A-PIP property only, uh, competitive option only if only if there's no overlap with the the uh, either Houchens or USI markets. Now, one I want to add one other other point, if we could just go back to the prior slide, that's the I'm sorry, page 11. Um, which is what we need to talk about. Uh, so Gallagher Gallagher also asked for the same or there was significant overlap in the markets they, Houchens, and USI um, asked for, requested, said they would use to to market the program. We think in order to maximize competition, Gallagher who brought who brought the BRM program to the table, um, and

116and is working on improving it going forward, we think that should be their horse. And in order to to maximize competition, have at least one other broker put together a commercial insurance option. So, the If you'd like to go back to the scorecard, I'm happy to answer any questions. I think what we do want to point out is this is this is our opinion of how of the most important things. You can take a look at the places as we ranked them through the various various options to see what's most important to use individuals. But, uh like I said, the consulting answer is you're good with either one one of those competing against either Houchens or or USI. And frankly, we we think they both put a good uh a good proposal together. There's positives

117and negatives to to both as as you can see from our rankings, but again, don't spend a lot of time on on the you know, point two difference or or even one or two point difference here and there. >> All right, uh I believe we need a motion. Do we >> Page 10. >> Yeah, can we do >> Yeah, we >> Clarifying quite you want a motion first? >> Well, to in order to discuss, we need a motion, right? >> Then I'm going to make the motion and you're probably not going to like it, but I'm going to make it anyway. Um Michael, thank you very much, but I'm I think I'm going to have to disagree with some of your conclusions here, not that that's going to surprise you. Um I find it interesting

118that you're recommending we eliminate people when the current provider that you're recommending that we keep has a lower raw score, total raw score than one of the companies presented that has has had no relationship with Boone County Schools at all. I understand why you're saying do that because they're the current provider but I think it's very marked those raw score differences. Um we just approved tonight um the architect on our field house projects. There were 10 architects that um applied. The field was narrowed down to the top four and we and the recommendation was made from four. With so few on the table here even though their scorings are are pretty equal. I I think that the right thing to do would be to have an option A3 and my recommendation is that we allow

119Gallagher Houchins and USI to all be included in providing the competitive bids for our coverage for the upcoming year. That's my motion. >> So my my counterpoint to that is give is the limited marketplace out there. So in if you speak to any any of these brokers that they'll they'll agree with that same thing and the market requests that came in overlapped significantly. So, the only way that you could do that and I I would agree with you in a perfect world if there were enough insurance companies to do that um who could realistically write the the program. But, there there aren't. Um you you could limit limit to just the top top choices or something like that, but it's not in Boone County's best interest. You need You need You need two options at

120the minimum. You need a competitive process. And if you have more than more than what we're recommending, you're going to water it down and and be caught potentially be caught in a in a situation where the school district won't have the best option. You're going to be stuck to to to take whatever one or or the other is given with their just their assigned markets. There There has to be enough insurance markets with one broker in order for them to put together a a competitive commercial proposal. And that's why we're recommending only one, Houchens or USI. >> Are you following this? >> Yes. >> Okay. Is everyone following this? >> Do you remember how much time I spent on this in 2024? Are any of you aware of the superintendents um meeting that was held

121today with the Kentucky Department of Education? I know Dr. Hassold, you may have been on the road or with CASB, but there was a KDE meeting for superintendents today. And one of the guests there, uh it's if you look up the it's on YouTube. You can go watch it yourself. I would say start around minute 15:30 to avoid even though there are lots of amazing awards. Um and shout out to all the nationally certified uh board-certified teachers that were recognized today in that uh meeting. Um the the KDE had had the Department of Insurance come back because of questions about the insurance pool of which we are a member. And the concerns at the state level over the coverage and the potential for assessments and kind of a warning from the insurance trust that Boone

122County was a part of as an offering to try to make insurance more competitive or make it more affordable for school districts. And um their their cautionary tale to summarize was the potential um harm to districts down the road when assessments are done and Boone County schools and I can speak to this from experience. I was here. How much we were assessed when KISBIT went bottom up. Not for lack of trying to avoid it. And you don't have to be a a current member of an insurance trust pool like this if uh school year uh 24-25 comes up 5 years down the road as underfunded, they can come back and assess you and you not even be a member and that's kind of part of the cautionary tale here. So, I would suggest you go

123and listen to that before you um really start eliminating people from consideration here. I know way more about this than I ever cared to know or wanted to know. I still firmly believe that the process before was not done fairly. Um and um I just think that this may be a way to right that wrong. And also to give the board more choices to choose from. >> That is exactly the point of this exercise to give the board more choices um and more informed choice. So, I asked the question because if I'm following you correctly, if you have two candidates that are brokers for similar underwriters insurance markets as you call them. It's difficult to for them to both go and work with that company to get the information for competitive bids. >> Yeah, it's

124it's so it's practically impossible it's just impossible. So, as the brokers would would tell you uh as well. An An insurance company will work with either broker A or or broker B. >> Correct. >> In order for an insurance broker to work with an insurance company if another broker has already gone to them, they require a broker of record letter. So, they don't want to insurance companies won't give two different propo- propo- proposals to two different brokers. So, you need one broker with one insurance company. >> Yes, so basically if we have two brokers that work with the same insurance company, you're looking mostly at brokerage fees in terms of making your decision than you are the insurance cuz they're going to give the same price in both situations. >> they won't give it. >>

125They just won't give it. >> No, the insurance companies won't give it to you. >> So, if we did Houchens and USI, they would not give it to them. >> No, you you couldn't give insurance company A to both Houchens and USI. You got to pick. >> So, so this is my question and I think we've already answered it. I guess when you look at this, you think, "Why don't you two take the two ones and have them compete?" But you're saying that that's they have the same uh it just doesn't work that way. Is that Is that what you're saying? >> That's That's correct. Practically speaking, that it will that is not in Boone County Schools' best interest because you could take their market requests, split them up, and assign them. But the best

126solution for Boone County Schools is for one broker to go out to to the to the various companies to put together the options. And it's still the the the benefit here is it's still competitive. There's still the the BRM program. Uh obviously, there's there's questions about it. It can It can be improved and it's hopefully being improved. Um but you want the best commercial insurance option available to compete with that. And the more you split up the marketplace, the the less you're going to have a comprehensive uh competitive proposal to that. >> So, Mr. Byrd, what are you What are you recommending exactly that you would like to cuz if they if they if they can't get the competitive bids because of these insurance uh complications entanglements between companies and brokerages what what would be

127your recommendation? >> Well, how do we know that either one of the other brokerages might not have options to offer us competitively for another type of insurance or insurance pool or self-insurance that would not involve like the major insurance companies that we're used to dealing with in the past? >> Well, it I think and correct me if I'm wrong, but I I think the two companies USI and Hauschild's both currently are offering the same company that we used to be with and as it stands right now don't have a pool option. Is that correct? >> They don't have a pool option, but they both they both are proposing >> have interesting ideas and things like that. >> come to the table with both what what you used to buy which is closer to a which

128is a guaranteed cost. Let's just simplify it to a guaranteed cost option. And then a higher deductible or higher retention SIR programs. Both of those brokers came to the table with with ideas around both of those and they're both committed to to evaluating both of both of those and and hopefully giving one option one of each options. >> Those ideas or products or whatnot are they both companies the same underwriters insur- insur- insurance companies? >> It's not perfect overlap, but there's a lot of overlap in them. Especially on the the bigger retention the the um layered programs and things like that you need more more uh insurance companies in order to put those together, and that's why it's important, especially on the on the high it's not a pool really a pool, but high deductible

129uh SIR type program that they have as many of those companies as possible in order to structure it the right way. >> I I have another question. Um this concerns KDE, and I want to make sure I understand this. Um the company that we have right now um are they aligning up with the KD KDE restrictions? The one that we have right now. >> There's two questions in in I in our mind uh as as we talked about in reviewing the the the BRM program and that's around both limits and and uh deductibles. And we've like we explained to to the board, we we went to KDE, asked the questions, and and nobody made determinations. We do not see that there's a a violation around the retentions. Uh we can't tell you whether or not

130nobody is at KD or um or the state is is willing to say there's a violation to to our knowledge of of anything. So consulting answer, we don't know. But we do recommend that higher limits be purchased. We've already We've already talked to the incumbent Gallagher, used to be AP, about buying excess coverage. They've already got pricing indications for that, so that will be an option no matter what. >> It when you go back and we determine what our options are um the very finalists do you make that recommendation to us or do we decide from the from what we've seen about the two options? Am I making myself clear? >> Yes. So, we will review the options that are are put on the table for you. We we're going to ask the proposers to

131to value to come up with what the the the financing cost to Boone County's um balance sheet, if you will, but to to their to their cash flow is for the retention. And try to not try to, we will give you an apples-to-apples comparison based upon assumptions and >> But, we will make the final decision, correct? Based on the based on the finalists, based on your options that you've given us here. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> You're just providing us the information to make that decision. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Um just for some procedural situate What Did you make an official motion? >> I did. >> All right. Is there a second on the motion Mis- Miss Bird's motion to accept all three >> A3 >> Um >> She said A3. >> Option

132A3, which includes all three. Am I saying that correctly? >> Yes. >> Is there a motion a second to that motion? >> Okay, I want to make sure I understand. The motion is to accept all three Howchans um >> USI and >> Gallagher >> and Gallagher? I second it. >> Okay. And so, I guess we'll continue with our discussion. Any discussion on this particular motion that's been made. >> I have a question. What did you mean by inventive when you were talking about USI. >> High deductible programs, different different um insurers to provide those. SIR they're they're talking about evaluating the losses and and putting forth a plan to go to those different markets. Now, Hutchins did something similar. >> My question will be Oh, sorry. Go on. >> Yeah, I would So, can I

133comment on that? The suggested motion. >> Absolutely. Yeah, that's why we That's why we hired you. >> Yeah, okay. >> Thank you for your advice. >> We want to make sure we understand this. I'm just I'm sorry. I don't mean to interrupt, but it seems like these are three good companies. The I mean, it seems like those are the three top ones. The The glitch that we're having here is the over overlap. Is that correct? >> It's the overlap in >> still look at all of them, um and and we look at all the recommendations, and we do look at all of them, are you saying that that will cause problems with how they're going to propose these things to us? >> Well, my clarification on on what she's asking, just cuz it's the same

134line, my understanding from what you've been telling us is that they're not going to really work with these two particular brokers because they're the same company. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Thank you. Okay. >> So, we will have to rec- recommend, and BCS will have to approve how we split uh how we split Excuse the the biblical reference, but how we split the baby in two as far as who gets what insurance markets out of all the insurance markets they they've looked for. They've They've asked for, and any additional that they'll need to to build out this tower. I think it's just dangerous to do that. >> Okay. That makes it, mean, I'm just in it this is you know the line there is I want to make sure I understood what's going on.

135>> Yeah. Okay. Um so, if I'm understanding correctly, and then pardon me if I'm um incorrect basically what your what your advice was as our paid consultant was to get two competitive proposals from up to I think what applied was five four brokerages, right? So, we narrowed them down to if we narrowed them down to three one we know and we already have as um our insurance vendor but the other two would not be able to produce competitive proposals because of the nature of the way insurance brokerages work with insurance companies. So, in effect, we would have less than sensical proposals from those other two, which in this case is USI and Halchins because we asked for both to be in the process. >> It's not technically impossible to get multiple to to have three

136options or >> But they would be convoluted and not accurate, I guess. >> It's It's It's risky. It's very risky because you could end up with either Halchins or USI not having enough markets to put all of the pieces together that they need to put together. >> So, they'd be ineffectual and and it wouldn't provide the the board with the the right amount of information to uh conduct proper decision-making and oversight of this process. >> That is the most likely outcome. >> Okay. >> In our opinion. >> All right. If >> Okay. >> If there's any other uh If there's If there's any other discussion on this motion. >> I would just like to point out that if we were taking the top three, we would be taking Houchins, USI, and Alliant. Um I would

137also like to remind you of comments I've made in the past about concerns that are being raised at the Department of Education about the minimum coverage requirements that the current pool has been questioned on whether they meet proper coverage. I would encourage you to go back and listen to that superintendents meeting today because they also raised the concerns about coverage. They used a Shelby County um example of three schools that are within a couple of miles of each other on one road. If they were all hit, how much the deductibles would be per building, not per occurrence. Like one tornado took them all three out, it would be per building. And how much cost you're going to uh incur in the current situation that we have. It As I said, it was a cautionary tale

138on this based on past experience. Now, past experience in the financial world is no guarantee of future performance. I understand that. We we We live with that with the markets every day where I work. But I'm just saying that I have learned enough and I've raised enough concerns that have been ignored that I challenge you to do your own deep dive into this. And go and look at some of the the things that I discovered. And um be very careful what you do the next year. >> I If I'm not mistaken, and I could be um tonight's decision is basically we're not deciding on whether to keep bluegrass or not. >> No, you're not, but you are deciding who not to allow to compete for the business. You are you are looking at a proposal

139based upon the consultant that was hired, which was Dr. Household's recommendation to hire a consultant. Uh we didn't used to do that much. We did the we did the due diligence internally with the expertise of our own people. So, I I don't disregard their findings lightly considering we paid to have this done. I I wasn't in favor of it, but I voted for it just to get maybe some outside perspective. Um but I had issues with some of that outside perspective. And I'm raising some of those issues tonight. And I just think that based on the last process not being stellar, um that I don't think it's fair to limit choices. And I think that if the uh contenders run into any issues and can't put together a competitive proposal, I think they'll let us

140know that. But I don't think we should make the decision that they can't do this without giving them a chance to try. >> Right. I and I So, we we hired the consultant um because you specifically took issue with our employees doing the process last time. >> No, that is not correct. I did not take issue that our staff was involved. I took issue with the actions that were taken by some in this process that were not appropriate. >> Okay, well, that I'm just pointing out that that I think it's the same group of employees that did it the previous time. >> And this wasn't and that wasn't a full RFP process because it was evaluating a service. So, our RFP process through model procurement wasn't followed. >> I What I I hear you, but

141I think that's part of the issue is that the RFP is difficult to ascertain with insurance regulation and the way that the markets work with brokerages. Two brokerages can't go to the same insurance company and get a quote. That's the difficulty of this whole thing. >> Right, but you're again, you're making an assumption that they only have one place to go. And I would think with the reach of a national company like USI, they have more than one provider they could go to as I would think Hutchins would as well. >> And as explained >> Whereas Gallagher only has the pool. Now, they they maybe they maybe they'll come up with some other alternatives. I don't know. But, they're only offering us a an improved pool or potentially improved pool, but I still want to

142see in that where they meet the the the KDE requirement of minimum insurance coverage. That's And I would also like to see the first and second policies because I've asked for those many times and I've never seen them. >> What do you suppose the reason is KDE hasn't sent us a letter saying we don't meet the minimum requirements? >> Because KDE, I don't think understands it themselves, which is why they have now brought the Department of Insurance into meetings trying to get to the bottom of this. >> aware of this? >> Who's aware of what? >> All these things that you're describing, are they written in the newspaper, the Lexington Herald, where are they published? >> No, but they're written in KAR. If you go find them. >> The statute, is that what you >>

143Yes. >> About the meetings that are happening? >> No, about the minimum insurance coverage because based upon um what's There was also an LRC committee meeting on this a few months back, a few weeks back, where the chairman of the committee, Senator West, brought up the fact that he was hearing concerns from superintendents and board members coming out of many parts of the state, but mainly in Western Kentucky, concerned about did this meet the requirement for minimum coverage, and he didn't know, so they brought in the department They brought in KDE. KDE didn't know, so now they're working through the Department of Insurance. All of these are are are meetings that you can watch, go back and watch. You don't have to take my word for it. Just go back and watch. Watch the Superintendents

144KDE meeting today. Listen to what they said. I'm just saying, do your own research. >> It It does seem to me that there I was not on the board when all of this took place, but I do know there were questions uh about how it was handled. Uh So, I'm that's water underneath the bridge, but those are things that are kind of on my mind as well. >> I would like to call the question. >> Um we have a motion on the floor. Uh, there's been a second. All in favor of adding, uh, I'm sorry. >> That's all I did. >> Yeah. All in favor of, uh, the motion to do A3, which is all three, um, options. Gallagher, Alchins, and USI. Say I. >> I. I. Now, I'm I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about

145all this. Um, I know that you have a lot more expertise on this. Uh, and because I do not have the expertise >> Point of point of order. Let's finish our vote real quick. >> Okay. Okay. >> Um, it all opposed. No. Motion fails 3-2. All right. Motion fails 3-2-3. All right. >> I moved a motion option B1. >> Okay. Uh, is there a second? So, there's a motion, um, on the floor for B1. Is there a second? >> Point Chad, would you please put those motions back up for the public? Thank you. >> And do Is there a second for B1, which is >> I'll second. I'm sorry. >> She's asked She asked for a second. >> Yeah, no worries. >> Carolyn, you want to read that? Just so for record. Cuz I mean

146>> Um, B1, select Gallagher as a finalist to provide a pulled insurance renewal proposal, select USI as a finalist to provide competitive commercial insurance proposal options. >> Is there a second for option B1? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> I just was looking at the brokerage services and if we're looking at brokerage right now then that's where I'm leaning towards if we have to look at apples and apples and pick one. So. >> I think uh Miss Maddox said it best that all these companies seem like fantastic companies. I personally don't know much about either one of them other than KSBA booths and um some some very minimal interaction um so I I I don't to me I I don't know how you pick a brokerage exactly but uh um so motion on the floor,

147there's a second for option B1. Gallagher USI. Um all in favor please say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Nay. >> And I will clarify my vote only because that all three were not included. >> Oh, wait a minute. I I'm so sorry. >> It's all right. >> I am new at this. Are we like there's still option A, correct? Are we >> No, the motion was for B1 which were these two. >> Right. >> But you need to pick one of them. And um they voted yes and I voted no because they're not all three there. As I just stated. >> Okay, but was an option A an option like for us to vote on? >> If there was a motion for it, but there wasn't a motion. >> Okay. >> The first option

148was A3. >> I'm sorry. I'm new to this. I'm just trying to navigate. So when you when you when you do option B and there's a second and then we vote on we don't go to any other options. Right. >> Okay. >> If it passes. >> Sorry. Thank you. And add to my qualification if you were going on overall scores. You're still not tip picking the tops. >> I I think >> we are we voting? Do we vote? >> I think we unless >> Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. >> What is that is that the is that your vote though now that we've gone over it? >> Um >> It's over. >> I just there I don't know this much about these companies. Um I I would agree with it because if Houchens and

149they're both number one, yes. Okay. Yes, I would vote I would vote yeah. Yes. For option B. >> But it's for but it's just Gallagher and USI. >> I'm sorry. This is humiliating. >> It's hard. No, you're fine. Okay, so what were basically the motion that was made at this end of the table is >> matter because it's passed. >> Okay, got it. >> So so we're good. >> Motion passes. >> put you can Yeah, you can put mine as a nay and it cuz it's passed. It's fine. >> Got it. >> Thank you. >> No worries. >> Hopefully this process will become like second nature to me. >> All right, information item 12, information proposals and communications and uh >> Thank Thank you, Michael. We're going to finish up. >> Thanks for coming, my

150friend. Yeah, sorry. >> was just standing there. >> I mean, he can stand there. It's a public meeting. Any um board member committee reports or anyone want to talk about uh construction status, energy management? >> Yeah, I'm going to get right on energy management. I want to say um I want to thank the district for recognizing the Bally Shannon students. Um if you all have not had a chance to go down and see that exhibit, please make the time to go do it. It's a very special exhibit. I don't think this was said, but it's the only time this exhibit's ever been in Kentucky, and it's also regionally the only time it's been in a middle school. So, it's it's a pretty big deal, and those kids worked so hard on it, and it's it's

151a it's a fantastic experience. So, go and take a look at it one of these last 2 days, so. >> All right, any other any other updates? Okay, I'll I'll just I have a couple of things. Um I wanted to say um I wanted to give um kind of a shout-out to our board and um explain that our student opportunity success fund is is working as intended, where we have a very lopsided experience in our high schools and and and somewhat in our middle schools. And you know, to date it's it's it's still uh probably not enough, but um it's about between winter and summer it's like um if I'm doing my math correctly 70,000 bucks. No, wait a minute. 60. It's a lot of money, right? But what the the thing sorry, my notes

152are all conjumbled. The the thing that I would like to remind people is between all the tickets sold in in Boone County and what what I was given as stats that this the high school still kept $208,000. And in in fall tickets we were able to give high school the other high school 46 grand and then the winter tickets sold we gave them 17 grand and this is these are schools that have gone 8 years without uniforms and have a variety of of needs that you know aren't being met and if you live in Boone County as I stated earlier during our redistricting conversation we we all have an opportunity and a and sort of a duty to care about all the children of our district. I am I am very fortunate myself personally. I

153live in a nice area. My daughter goes to one of the flagship high schools in the in the country. And her home school is is Ryle High School. And if there's anything that that we can do for our our families at Boone County High School my daughter and I are in on that all the time. Not to mention one of our favorite middle schools is Jones Middle School. But I just wanted to say I thank the board for the for the decision to help in this way. It's a it's a tiny amount of money. Um for tickets sold a dollar goes to this fund to help some of our other teams that don't have enough much opportunity. And then Yeah. >> And the big thing too the big thing that I think gets lost too

154is that this is not impacting their booster fundraising. And that's where a lot of the misinterpretation comes from. It's not impacting the school fundraisers. So, when they raise money, they keep their money. This is all about the gate cost. >> Or concessions. >> Or Or concessions, yeah. >> Um a couple other things I just wanted to kind of summarize. I I've heard, you know, there's because of the legislative session and some other things that have been going on around the state, I just wanted to recap the good work that this board um continues to do for our students and for our um our employees. Over the last 2 years, just nearly 8% wage growth, uh $3,000 increases to beginning teacher pay. That's with very little assistance from Frankfort. Um we've raised all employee hourly wages

155um a dollar at least. Our rank one, two, and three salary schedules are improved or meet or exceed our neighboring school districts. And created one of the state's first local annuity programs. It helps employees build a more stable and secure retirement. And it positions Boone County once again as a statewide leader in employee financial wellness. And that is something that if you hear the arguments in Frankfort about all kinds of things education, it seems as that the elected leaders sometimes in Frankfort don't um put employee teacher retention and um recruiting at the top of their agendas. Um but I'm proud to say that this board with um Ms. Byrd's leadership over the years has always kind of put that in on the first on the forefront. Um and then we some of us attended the

156pre-K for all events that are happening around the state. And I would just like to say again, I I'm relatively new to this board, but I know um Karen has has um sent of the first conversations I had with you was about the Florence Preschool Center when it was still a thing. And I just wanted to point out that Boone County is continuing to lead the effort with early childhood education and our preschool is on track. I think our architect may have left, but for a 27 school year opening. Is that correct? Again leading the way for preschool, we are not going to wait for Frankfort to do whatever they are going to do. Hopefully they they help and and I think that, you know, that if you're going to make an investment we talked

157a little bit about CTE and Levec funds earlier today, which is my second favorite thing to spend money on because they the dollars invested in early childhood education, in case our legislators are listening, is the wisest and most return on investment in education possible. And the second would probably be Levec funding and CTE and training students to do actual real life jobs that in Boone County, because of our great leadership currently, we continue to retract attract multinational corporations that continue to build facilities and high-tech manufacturing here in locally in Boone County and our job as the board Sorry, I'm trying to make this quick cuz I know we've been here all night is to continue to fill those factories, jobs, companies with qualified and ready to work students that come directly from Boone County High

158School, Cooper, Conner, Ryle, and our and Ignite. And so I just I my diatribe up here really is just to thank this Board of Education. I've been over the last month or so taken the time to watch some other boards. And our meetings are way longer than a lot of the other boards and we have our parent participation is so high and I mean we saw we saw tonight some of these were the some of the proudest moments of since I've been set up I've set up here. The students that spoke tonight about various issues are impressive. Um the the students that are doing the the um thing at Ballyshannon the Holocaust the Anne Frank um just so such well-spoken students and if and if I challenge anybody just to go go to one of

159our events at any of our schools whether it's Camp Ernst Boone County High School um Kelly Elementary any any place around our district you will find students that are the most I mean Rise Academy. Walk in the Rise at lunchtime and talk to a couple of students. Um talk I I'm fortunate enough to have hired um some Excel graduates from our from our virtual school um that now work uh with with me and um our graduates are in my opinion um ready and they're highly employable and I just wanted to say thank you to this board and and the district staff for continuing the mission of moving uh Boone County families forward uh in education. >> I have one more thing I want to ask Dr. Housewald. Um we had the girls show up tonight

160asking about um feminine hygiene. Can we get some kind of a report on what that looks like throughout our district now and potentially some ideas on how we can improve? >> We'll we'll take that to the wellness committee. We'll also have Miss Rootman um help lead that and have some kind of follow-up conversations with them and again we'll let the we'll let the students kind of articulate and work with Miss Rootman um and with with our FRISKs and we have a lot of departments and you know it many of them uh tonight admitted that the products are available but they They them to be more accessible and we'll let the students bring some solutions and and let the department and then as they develop a plan whatever that may be we can come back. So

161>> I just want to make sure that every school has that not just like the schools like ignite. We want to make sure that James and >> March 14th at 4:00 is where all high schools spring concert. If those of you are interested in that I recommend you attend. It's it's a fantastic um show. And with that let me get back to my agenda. We will move to adjournment. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Oh, wait a minute. There's no closed session for item 13. Do I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? >> I motion to adjourn. I motion to adjourn. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Motion passes 5-0. It is Oh my god, I can't see that far. 9:41. Motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned.