Board amends calendar and approves policies during June meeting

Board members conducted the June meeting in person at the Knox County Board of Education Annex following CDC guidelines for social distancing and limiting those in the room.  The meeting was streamed live and is available for viewing below.

Communication Items

Superintendent Kelly Sprinkles provided Board members with construction updates from around the district.  The company that will be providing construction on the new Knox Central tennis courts was to mobilize today, but given the weather, that has not occurred. The first construction meeting will be on July 1.  A purchase order has been issued for lift stations for the sewer project at Lynn Camp. The company is ready to begin.  A vendor has been located for the Lynn Camp greenhouse panels.  It is planned to use in house labor for installation.  The local planning committee will be reconvening via an online meeting with results for the July or August meeting.

The Superintendent also provided an update on reopening school for the upcoming year.  He shared with Board members that a task force has been assigned at the Kentucky Department of Education to address with the Department of Public Health.  All the guidance has not been given that is needed and expected, but over the coming weeks we anticipate more information.  The district has put together a committee to get feedback on items that we must address to get back to school.  “There are still lots of questions to be answered,” said Sprinkles.

Highlights of Action Items

• The Board approved the Federal Cash Statement of Assurance for requesting federal funding to be released, transferred $86,442 from the future construction fund to the tennis court project, and transferred $172,000 into the General Fund for payable sick leave.  Bond renewals were authorized for school bookkeepers.  Funding assurances for the district were approved as part of federal guidelines for receiving funds.
• Contracts approved include copier maintenance renewal, Tyler Forms MUNIS software renewal for finance, Leader in Me agreement for Knox Central, MOA for Read to Achieve and Math Achievement, Cumberland Valley Care Center for school treatment services, Andrea Perkins for orientation and mobility services, Lite the Nite technologies to process the district’s e-rate funding, and membership with Southeast South Central education cooperative.
• The Board heard an update on insurance that was tabled from the May meeting.  Finance Officer Gertrude Smith worked on obtaining an additional quote, from EMC Insurance, that provided similar coverage at a cost reduction of nearly $40,000.  Superintendent Sprinkles stated that he did a reference check on the company and they serve several districts in eastern Kentucky.
• Bids for supplies and services were awarded for the upcoming school year.  A complete list of approved local vendors will be posted on the KCPS website in the upcoming week.
• The Board approved policy and procedure updates for the upcoming year as well as handbooks for students, staff, and substitutes.
• The Board discussed and voted to amend the 2020-2021 academic calendar to start school on Monday, August 24.  The adjusted calendar will allow 11 teacher workdays at the beginning and throughout the year to modify curriculum and update pacing.

The complete minutes of the June 15 meeting will be approved at the Board’s July meeting set for Monday, July 27 at 6:45 pm.