Nelson County board receives KDE briefing on local planning committee rules; schedules Feb. 4 working session

The Nelson County Board of Education on Jan. 21, 2025, heard a Kentucky Department of Education briefing on the regulatory requirements and community‑engagement expectations for forming a local planning committee (LPC) to draft the district facility plan (DFP), and the board approved adding a Feb. 4 working session to review policy, budget and the LPC process.

John Gilbert of the Kentucky Department of Education told the board he would “go over the local planning committee process that’s embedded in the planning manual, which is incorporated by reference through the regulation.” The presentation summarized membership rules, public‑meeting requirements and the stepwise process districts must follow to produce a DFP for state review.

The training matters because the LPC drafts the DFP — a multi‑year plan that guides capital and facility decisions and is required for districts seeking restricted state facility funds. The state guidance specifies minimum LPC composition, public‑notice and hearing requirements, and documentation the department will review before approving a final plan.

KDE presenters and the board described the LPC composition the regulation expects. For Nelson County the recommended LPC roster is 20 members: the superintendent (nonvoting), four parent representatives, four teacher representatives, four building administrators, a facilities director, central office staff, three community/business leaders (advertised and appointed locally), one board member selected by the board, and a local zoning or building official. Gilbert and other KDE staff emphasized that the LPC should represent the district’s schools and student populations rather than buildings alone.

Gilbert said the LPC’s work typically follows a minimum timeline of three LPC meetings — orientation, drafting and approval of a draft DFP — though he noted districts may hold many more meetings depending on local needs. He told the board the LPC remains active through the completion and approval of the DFP and that members serve a four‑year term unless the board or LPC initiates a replacement process.

The KDE presenters covered public‑engagement steps: LPC meetings (minimum three), separately advertised public forums that may be scheduled before or after LPC meetings, and a publicly advertised final hearing. Gilbert said the public hearing requires a 14‑day advertisement and that the district must provide an audio recording and hearing documentation to the department along with the final DFP.

KDE staff also described recent legislative changes that shorten state review timelines. A department representative said that, under actions tied to House Bill 727 and earlier legislation, “the Department of Education is required upon a complete submittal to approve your DFP within 30 business days,” and that the temporary provisions in question are currently set to expire June 30, 2027.

Board members discussed practical steps for Nelson County. Several members urged recording and posting LPC meetings and making meeting materials available online so residents who cannot attend can review draft materials. Board member Ms. Mullen said, “I want to make sure our community has an opportunity to see these,” adding that meeting materials should be accessible to the public. District staff said they will post materials and that the district website will include links to meeting slide decks and minutes.

At the meeting’s end the board agreed to schedule a working session on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, to review policy, budget sources and facility funding related to the LPC and DFP work. The board made and seconded a motion to add the Feb. 4 working session and approved it by voice vote; individual roll‑call positions were not read at the time.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to add Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, as a working session for policy and budget updates and LPC: passed (voice vote; mover and seconder not specified in the record). Note: the board conducted the vote by voice; no roll call with individual yes/no recorded in the transcript.

The board and KDE staff outlined next steps: district staff will advertise LPC community member openings in the local paper, collect letters of interest/resumes, and return recommended community appointments to the board (the district expects to submit the final LPC roster to KDE for approval). KDE said districts must document any out‑of‑district LPC members and submit justification to the commissioner’s office for approval.

Board members and KDE staff also discussed local implementation details that will be decided by the district, including how teacher and parent representatives are selected, how schools are represented when multiple schools share students or facilities, and how vacancies are filled (the LPC may vote, by two‑thirds, to request a replacement from the represented group).