[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6522033,"mediaKeyId","5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09","parentId",5076582,"title","Votes at a glance: Mercer County Board approves multiple contract, budget and program items","audioSeconds",1101,"startMs",2459000,"endMs",3560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09&start=2459&end=3560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09/thumbnail_2459000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6522033/Kentucky/Votes-at-a-glance-Mercer-County-Board-approves-multiple-contract-budget-and-program-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522033-a3e57a787e5d804e8bc4075a484d68fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775095522&Signature=WRECL~yI0pealTu-DUSe477C8CqG8PIA0jZ58RiT8OqfRRp8GP3N7Hol8rKnXTlkPdtUupg7rzRayNHEIbEv-sgYiiWxK5Kv0FIBXpxYVaj~fVvwCWmBJVKMsSFpaN-9YLjGbJScCaU40SEAhAKU30wflWHwdX6znQ0Desc~HO9pc7mSyoV6F4A26-8zBUzQUsq6sBcw3w2cVvyGsBDQjte1xZC0UD20WSY2I3ogc0XGnUWIgmwaDYFFf4BiOiF0pILf2zVoZ-6hWbSUBQ6JGpQZD0Ms8mx1YQzB3xLun9FiVtlV~5SJcbR4pYlm~YjSwoP5mYXZmCljkMIoA3lTYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-26T08:32:39.357Z","article","The Mercer County Board of Education took several formal actions during the meeting; the board recorded unanimous roll-call approvals (four yes, one absence) on multiple items.

Key votes and outcomes

- Option 9 MOUs (Eastern Kentucky University; University of the Cumberlands): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). The board authorized memoranda of understanding to participate in the accelerated Option 9 teacher-certification pathway (see separate article).

- Working budget (fiscal year working budget): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Staff presented a working general fund revenue figure of $29,500,000, including a beginning balance of $7,250,000; budgeted general fund expenses were shown as $25,900,000. Staff said contingency in the working budget is 14.03 percent and noted the previous year's unaudited contingency ended at 37.39 percent.

- BG4 energy savings project closeout: Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Staff said approximately $1,600 remained in that project; approval clears the project closeout documentation for state process.

- BG5 district approvals (construction closeouts/paving/ceiling): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent).

- PR Number 8 (sinkhole remediation change order authorization): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Board authorized staff to approve a remediation change order not to exceed the contractor's quoted amount; staff will verify quantities and return final documentation to the board.

- Health department drug-testing contract (random testing for students and staff): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). This continues the district's second year using the county health department for random drug testing services.

- Checkpoint teen-driver program MOA (SRO partnership to deliver an hour-long parent/teen driver training): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Staff said the MOA is for the district to join the Checkpoint program; final implementation details (scheduling, incentives such as insurance discounts or parking privileges) will be set by district staff.

Several informational items were also discussed, including a bus inventory and vehicle-purchasing plan to keep the fleet below the state 14-year reimbursement cutoff and a detailed construction update for the new elementary school.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 2024 regular mtg","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting, the board approved the district's working budget, several construction closeouts, a contract for random drug testing, and a teen-driver checkpoint program MOA among other items. Most votes were unanimous; District 4 member Cliff Rubin was absent.","taxTitle","Mercer County, School Boards, Kentucky","taxId",39967,"location","Kentucky","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6522037,"Mercer County district leaders urge voters to weigh impacts of Amendment 2 voucher proposal",750,2750000,3500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09&start=2750&end=3500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09/thumbnail_2750000.jpg","/articles/6522037/Kentucky/Mercer-County-district-leaders-urge-voters-to-weigh-impacts-of-Amendment-2-voucher-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522037-5a60bc2825e799b554f39244986675d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775095522&Signature=feUCDm3xWMr98-rNBxiYeQUP5Als9SlvJKjWK7q7apDj38DAOk5h89XggI1ski7kRDVKMNre8mSBs9OGiCttxdCoaM-ut2sfvsHzpf4tK-7FJLlVbisKeoOluOkuuJ~yttYoVknvGrJOEoli47f3F~iFeUnwYrbZJkKXiVrgquuPvU379dse9kFgxRZbK949tYoEIc2~N~g~HXVjWjvRTdqaSNcDSg~FnObcX9-nDxHTTq~s9hYDJPwy0YrafMF6OIBE35pAfnI367LgFXmgp~415FPEW-H6t~AVXZcA4vsz7SuuDhKiVRDclcHYBuvqw4DayAVnlfs1xzDF8bdkBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff used the board meeting to explain Amendment 2 — a proposed change to the state constitution that would allow the General Assembly to provide financial support for students attending schools outside the \"system of common schools\" — and to outline potential impacts for Mercer County Schools.

The presenter explained the ballot language would let the General Assembly enact laws authorizing public tax dollars to flow to private, religious, home and charter schools. The presenter identified five concerns: lack of financial and performance accountability for private schools, selective enrollment practices that could exclude low-income or special-needs students, potential tuition inflation that could offset voucher value, the existence of House Bill 563 as an existing school-choice mechanism, and diversion of public funds that the presenter said could weaken public school services.

The presenter cited a county-level estimate prepared for the district that, the presenter said, would reduce Mercer County Schools' funding by 15 percent, eliminate roughly 44 educator positions and remove about $34,000,000 in funding for the district. The presenter attributed these figures to county-level modeling provided to the board during the meeting and framed them as reasons rural counties without private schools could be disproportionately affected.

Board members and staff discussed how the amendment's language uses the word \"notwithstanding,\" a term the presenter said would allow the General Assembly to act regardless of existing constitutional language. The presenter said the district's role was to educate the community about the amendment's potential effects and that the district may distribute the five-point information summary but not campaign for a ballot position.

No formal board action was taken on the amendment during the meeting. Staff emphasized the goal of providing informational materials to help voters decide before the November election.","District staff outlined five concerns about a proposed state constitutional amendment (Amendment 2) that would allow the legislature to provide tax-funded scholarships for private and religious education; staff presented county-level projections and urged community education ahead of the November vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6522042,"Board authorizes not-to-exceed change order after sinkhole uncovered at new elementary site",729,4124000,4853000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09&start=4124&end=4853","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09/thumbnail_4124000.jpg","/articles/6522042/Kentucky/Board-authorizes-not-to-exceed-change-order-after-sinkhole-uncovered-at-new-elementary-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522042-3e2f790086bc9130be842754447fae46/orig.mp4?Expires=1775095522&Signature=LoHUh32U9Lda8F1wQt53~hDSvuJHfuKBuKmIhkrLzzaZQDQbki2kCK4zLU7tNN5YHvQXB~MkB6cJ349Mt2BbQMdv1WFUqgicqJ7wcG19IGMbtgOysN66VeB7hscnfyl278rF8A38PgjK~hwC7DUaWwN1gHRWH56AiCvPi49~IAkWz8e7-w8JYAfcRtGEPWbhkKtweR~b2Zrg-HTk45VpORGLxjvLbBzFuo4xZJmzi~E3OL66ipy9iO~W802vuEWiYhdWAL99UCGDoxTr4S1RenZyLS8UKqghGOlH2cBsgl08Qh7TNOju~rGvv8b5ucuKwSlRbg3BNc9YvEiUMoGrqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mercer County Board of Education voted to authorize staff to approve a not-to-exceed change order to repair a sinkhole discovered during excavation at the new elementary school construction site.

District construction staff and the design team told the board the site unexpectedly contained unstable material below what geotechnical borings had indicated. The excavation to reach stable bedrock grew to approximately 40 feet wide, 80 feet long and 35 feet deep, the presenter said, and the third‑party geotechnical firm recommended a full engineered remediation rather than a temporary fix.

The presenter described the excavation as \"the equivalent of about 10 residential in-ground swimming pools\" and said the firm provided a remediation plan and a contractor estimate. The district and design team are reviewing quantities and will meet with the contractor to seek possible reductions, but staff asked the board for authorization to proceed up to the amount quoted so work can continue without waiting another month for the next board meeting.

Board members asked questions about materials versus labor in the quote and whether rebidding would be practical. Staff said the contractor is under contract and that rebidding would require remobilization and would not typically lower cost given equipment and crew already on site.

Board members approved the requested authorization by roll call; District 1 Amber Franceschi, District 2 Amy Hart, District 3 Billy Montgomery and District 5 Randy Phillips voted yes; District 4 Cliff Rubin was absent.

Staff said the remediation is intended to eliminate future settlement risk and that they will return with final verified quantities and costs for the board record.

The board also received a construction progress video and updates on other project components, including geothermal work and foundations that are continuing outside the affected area.","Contractors excavated a sinkhole beneath the new elementary school site; the board authorized district staff to approve a change order up to the quoted amount so remediation can proceed without delaying construction.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6522046,"Mercer County board approves \"Option 9\" partnerships to fast-track instructional aides to teacher certification",346,1864000,2210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09&start=1864&end=2210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5076582-eaef1ddc7d86ce95bbf6ad2826fb4f09/thumbnail_1864000.jpg","/articles/6522046/Kentucky/Mercer-County-board-approves-Option-9-partnerships-to-fast-track-instructional-aides-to-teacher-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522046-4f89f93b03a21c6472d889840a3f4090/orig.mp4?Expires=1775095522&Signature=cNv8cBRqpIvMNVztg7VzdMjLBms~NJXn0xnPAWz64JuWE2wU2GsdX4wH8ynmDlJrSsPL2TEyDGFOdQaGW97MS84sD3uoYbcRr1qpXviUiaiLuutu4tjbV-iifqopX0W0mw9i~ZvK7A-vEOljy885g7o13ZRO5dXNYkuO6DBcbRda2yBGo~sEikxlzpa5WfnYcp6YuRbwLDX6RytB5LCH29sb0rzOBm41vhx07UELP8nPCxOVZlJbCwD3lPAQ533zfO70TTwaiTMOKYhvbRhyQV~vzJwKAVO-wdGj12uKEwwf1LBRGjn07Wg~0EB8Yg~ElTcKvMXRnApVPOaZSHkZOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mercer County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve memoranda of understanding with Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and the University of the Cumberlands to offer an Option 9 accelerated teacher-certification pathway for classified employees.

District staff presented the program as a three-year pathway that allows an instructional aide or another classified employee to remain employed while completing a bundled course of study that includes observation, mentorship and a capstone year that counts as student teaching. The presenter said the first two years include roughly 50 hours of observation and that the final, capstone year would provide student-teaching credit while the employee remains on staff.

The board was told the partnerships include discounts and administrative support: EKU offers an \"advantage\" package that provides a 25% scholarship credit and reduced administrative barriers and books for participants; the University of the Cumberlands has a reduced tuition FAQ and a separate partnership offer. The presenter said the district would sign a memorandum of understanding with EKU to finalize participation in EKU's advantage program.

Board members asked whether the district or the colleges would have any ongoing financial obligations if a candidate failed to complete coursework or left employment. The presenter said termination of employment would nullify the district's contractual obligations to that candidate and that the district could, depending on circumstances, extend time for completion; the presenter added the district has no financial obligation for tuition if a candidate did not finish. The presenter also said the MOU does not obligate the district to hire a participant as a certified teacher after completion.

Supporters told the board Option 9 could be used as both an internal pipeline for existing instructional aides and a recruiting tool for motivated applicants who need a structured pathway to certification. The presenter emphasized the program is rigorous and may be reduced from three years for candidates who already hold significant college credit.

The board approved the two MOUs by roll call; District 1 board member Amber Franceschi, District 2 board member Amy Hart, District 3 board member Billy Montgomery and District 5 board member Randy Phillips voted yes; District 4 board member Cliff Rubin was recorded absent.

The presenter said the district may consider additional partner institutions in the future and will distribute promotional materials to principals after the agreements are finalized.","The Mercer County Board of Education approved memoranda of understanding with Eastern Kentucky University and the University of the Cumberlands to participate in an accelerated Option 9 pathway that lets district classified employees work toward teacher certification while employed by the district.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Mercer County Board approves multiple contract, budget and program items

Mercer County district leaders urge voters to weigh impacts of Amendment 2 voucher proposal

Board authorizes not-to-exceed change order after sinkhole uncovered at new elementary site

Mercer County board approves "Option 9" partnerships to fast-track instructional aides to teacher certification