The Knox County Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, October 23, 2025, to conduct district business and hear updates on ongoing projects and initiatives.
Communications
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by the kindergarten class from Dewitt Elementary School, followed by a Moment of Silence and prayer offered by Ralph Halcomb of Artemus First Baptist Church.
Reports to the Board
Superintendent Jeremy Ledford provided his monthly report, focusing on Standard 1: Strategic Leadership and Standard 6: Collaborative Leadership of the superintendent standards.
“We are beginning to get our facilities in great shape,” said Ledford. “Mr. Barton has done a fantastic job in changing the look of our district. He has great maintenance workers who keep our district running. We sure appreciate all they do for us.”
Ledford also expressed gratitude to local partners for their continued collaboration and support.
“I want to thank our utility companies — both RECC and Barbourville Utility Company — for all their help when we have an issue,” he said. “Whether it’s a water line break or an electrical outage, they are always eager to help and get us back up and running quickly. I also want to thank the Kentucky Transportation Department for their help with school caution lights and snow removal. It’s great to have these community partners just a phone call away. They do an amazing job.”
Architectural updates were presented by Scott Noel of Summit Engineering, who reported progress on several district projects:
-
Old Rock Gym renovations were completed following inspection on October 9, 2025.
-
Lynn Camp Schools HVAC and elevator inspections and/or paperwork have been finalized.
-
Girdler Elementary HVAC Upgrades are now complete.
Actions by Consent
The Board approved all items under the consent agenda, including:
-
Financial statements and reports;
-
Bills and claims;
-
Previous meeting minutes;
-
Superintendent’s personnel and maintenance reports;
-
Field trips, fundraisers, and facility use requests; and
-
Memorandums of Understanding and Agreements (MOU/MOAs)
District Facilities and Operations
The Board approved the following facility-related items:
-
KCHS Track Project pay applications #2 and #3;
-
District Facility Plan draft amendment and appointment of Scott Noel as hearing officer for the upcoming public hearing;
-
Change Order #10 and Pay Application #17 for Knox County Middle School; and
-
Pay Application #11 and Change Order #1 for Girdler Elementary
Resources and Support Systems
Board members approved several financial and operational items, including:
-
PSST Affordable Care Act Tracking and IRS Reporting Invoice (as required by federal law);
-
Capital Funds Request #1 for 2025–2026 to use restricted funds for insurance and bus purchase payments; and
-
PowerSchool Services Invoice Renewal for the applicant tracking and hiring workflow system.
Other Action Items
Additional approvals included:
-
Renewal of the Gym Lease Agreement with Lynn Camp Baptist Church for extracurricular use;
-
Out-of-State Trips for DECA students to Arlington, VA, and Lynn Camp seniors to Florida;
-
Acceptance of FY26 KETS Offer of Assistance #1 for technology funding that must be matched by the district;
-
Settlement Agreement and General Release; and
-
Authorization for the final purchase of property, allowing the superintendent and attorney to complete all necessary steps pending approval from KDE and the final closing on the property. The Board is anticipating on final purchase and closing in December.
Adjournment
The meeting concluded following completion of all agenda items.