Nelson County public hearing records broad community support for district facility plan emphasizing 6–12 campuses and CTE expansion

BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Nelson County held a local public hearing in June 2025 on the district's District Facility Plan (DFP), a facilities roadmap that would move toward two 6-through-12 campus models, repurpose older school buildings for career and technical education (CTE), and fund multiple renovation and site projects across the district.

The hearing officer, James Nighoff, opened the session by noting the hearing was convened under 702 KAR 4:180 and that the DFP had been advertised and made available to the public. He read a summary of the plan approved by the local planning committee and previously approved by the Nelson County Board of Education on 05/20/2025.

The plan's core elements include converting Nelson County High School and Thomas Nelson High School campuses into sixth-through-twelfth grade centers, demolishing a 1969 wing and building new classroom, lab and support space, repurposing the Old Kentucky Home building and Bloomfield Middle School for CTE programs, and smaller classroom and accessibility renovations at New Haven and Cox's Creek elementary schools. The summary read into the record specified square-foot figures for the larger projects: demolition of a 1969 section (59,735 sq. ft.), new construction at Nelson County High of 48,152 sq. ft., new construction at Thomas Nelson of approximately 27,925 sq. ft., and renovation of Old Kentucky Home of about 14,650 sq. ft.; Bloomfield CTE renovation was described as roughly 10,000 sq. ft.

Why it matters: supporters and district staff said the plan aims to create smoother grade transitions, expand college and career pathways, and improve equity of access to programs and facilities. Many written statements submitted and read into the record came from teachers, parents, district staff and local labor representatives who urged the board to move quickly so rising construction costs do not reduce the plan's scope.

Public testimony: the hearing officer read dozens of written statements into the record and four people spoke in person. Written testimony included statements from district employees and residents such as Aaron Cook, a special education teacher and teacher representative to the local planning committee; Devin O'Brien, the district director of transportation, who said the plan improves route efficiency and student safety; and Michael Embree, identified as an administrator for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 181, who supported CTE expansion at Bloomfield for heavy equipment and diesel mechanics training. Several parents and residents said the 6'through'12 campus approach would reduce transitions for students and improve family logistics. One speaker, Missy Bobblett of Bardstown, said at the microphone, "I fully and unconditionally and, in fact, enthusiastically support the district facilities plan." Another speaker, Deborah Bohachowski of Bloomfield, urged careful scheduling alignment across campuses and expressed concern that many public voices had disengaged after past board controversies.

Plan details and program notes: the plan calls for classroom and specialty space (science labs, art/resource rooms, special education suites, family resource/youth services centers), secure vestibules and life-safety/ADA upgrades, cafeteria/kitchen expansions, media centers and administrative suites, site development including parking and outdoor learning areas, athletic facility changes (including a new shared field house), and relocation of baseball and softball fields. The Old Kentucky Home building is specifically proposed for CTE programs such as media arts, interactive media, graphic design and family and consumer sciences; the District's Office of Career and Technical Education reviewed and supported that portion of the proposal, according to the summary read aloud.

Funding and timing: several commenters urged the board to act without delay, noting rising construction costs and that "the majority of the funding for this project is already available" via local revenue sources referenced by a resident as the "nickel tax." The hearing record contains statements urging the board to fund the plan promptly; the hearing itself did not authorize funding or change appropriations.

Process and next steps: the hearing was a required public forum under state administrative rule 702 KAR 4:180; it served to document public testimony before the plan proceeds through any further state review or implementation steps. No motions or votes were taken at the hearing itself; staff indicated the DFP had been submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education and that the local planning committee had already approved the draft.

Local concerns and requests: while most testimony in the record supported the plan, commentators raised specific operational concerns, including the need to align daily schedules across campuses to avoid long gaps between classes for students, careful planning to avoid excessive student busing between CTE sites and loss of instructional minutes, and attention to continuity of family resource and youth services during transitions.

The hearing concluded after the written and spoken remarks were entered into the record and the hearing officer adjourned the meeting.