School board approves budget amendments, reclassifies van drivers and adds assistant principal posts

The Fayette County Board of Education on June 5 approved a set of budget amendments intended to align accounts and avoid audit findings, reclassified two van drivers to the transportation salary schedule and approved two Assistant Principal/Instructional Coach positions.

The board approved the budget amendments after the finance committee reported the changes reflect payroll forecasts and reallocation of unused grant funds rather than new hires or raises. Board member Merrel Miller made the motion to approve the budget amendments; Kevin Powers seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.

During committee discussion the board determined that two van drivers had been misclassified. Miller moved to add van drivers to the transportation salary schedule alongside bus and sub-bus drivers; Powers seconded and the motion passed. Miller also asked Temporary Interim Superintendent Eddie Keel to review whether back pay is owed. Miller then moved that the board consider calculating and providing the pay difference from the start of the school year; Becky Trimm seconded and the motion passed.

Separately, the board approved adding Assistant Principal/Instructional Coach positions at Southwest and LaGrange-Moscow schools. Miller moved the action; Powers seconded and the motion passed.

The motions as recorded used the committee recommendations; no dollar amounts for back pay or specific budget line numbers were disclosed at the meeting. Board members said the amendments were overdue and that earlier budgeting is planned to prevent similar delays.

Less-critical procedural items recorded earlier in the meeting included a motion by Powers to table several minutes for past meetings (Miller seconded) and an approved amended agenda after Myles Wilson requested removal of one item.

The board did not provide a timeline or dollar estimate for calculating back pay; Keel was asked to review the matter and report back.