Public commenters urge caution as Local Planning Committee explores facility options; board schedules working session

Residents and board members used the meeting’s public-comment period and update agenda to press for thorough Local Planning Committee (LPC) review and community-sensitive recommendations for the district facility plan.

During public comment, Deborah Bohaczewski of Save Our Nelson County Schools urged the LPC and board to consider current capacity, Census and enrollment projections and tax impacts before adopting any facilities recommendation. “Our enrollment is down. We have buildings that are sitting at about 39% capacity right now,” she told the board, and encouraged the district to use available data and community discussion before making final decisions.

Bill Osborne, speaking as a resident and former board member, said he was concerned by recommendations that could move the district away from existing middle-school facilities. "We have two of the nicest middle schools in the state of Kentucky... I don't know why we're willing to walk away from this facility," he said, urging the LPC and board to weigh alternatives for Bloomfield and other outlying schools and to protect taxpayer value.

Board members and staff said the LPC is actively evaluating multiple organization models and that public forums (including a forum at Bloomfield Elementary and another scheduled at New Haven) are part of the process. LPC chair and staff said there is no final draft facility plan at this time; staff and the LPC will present interim findings and the data used at the board’s May working session if requested. The board asked LPC representatives to provide a status presentation at that May working session to increase transparency and allow board feedback before a final recommendation.

Ending: The LPC process will continue; staff said there is no firm completion date for a draft facility plan. The board requested regular updates and additional community forums in the months ahead.