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Muhlenberg County Board approves budget, hires and construction contracts; awards topographic survey
Summary
At its Sept. 11 meeting the Muhlenberg County Board of Education approved the 2025-26 working budget, multiple site-based hires, construction management for a high-school auxiliary gym, and awarded a topographic survey contract; board also adopted a 3–5 year "Blueprint for Success."
The Muhlenberg County Board of Education on Sept. 11 approved a slate of administrative, personnel and construction items, including a 2025–26 working budget, site-funded staffing additions, and contracts related to an auxiliary gym project at Muhlenberg County High School.
The board unanimously approved the 2025–26 working budget and a series of personnel and contract moves during a meeting that followed a prolonged public-comment period on the district dress code.
Key approvals and motions at the meeting included:
- Approve construction management company for MCHS auxiliary gym renovation (Item A). The board approved Codell as the construction management company for the Muhlenberg County High School auxiliary gym. No opposition was recorded.
- Adopt Blueprint for Success (Item B). The board adopted a district strategic plan described by staff as a 3–5 year roadmap focused on student-centered instruction, college and career readiness, student assessment (including a student "defense of learning" practice), professional growth and community engagement. The adoption followed a staff presentation and scheduling of committee work and a board work session with Dr. Katie Martin from Learner-Centered Collaborative.
- Add part-time reading intervention teacher at Raymond Elementary (Item C). The board approved adding a part-time reading intervention teacher at Raymond Elementary to be funded with Title I funds, following school-level review of Title I parent survey results and i-Ready reading data.
- Add part-time instructional assistant at Muhlenberg South Elementary (Item D). The board approved a site-funded part-time instructional assistant to assist clerical and counseling duties at South Elementary.
- Add e-sports head coach and assistant coach at Muhlenberg County Middle School (Item E). The board approved stipends for a head coach and assistant to expand the district’s e-sports program into the middle school.
- Approve 2025–26 working budget (Item F). The district’s working budget covered multiple funds (general, special revenue, capital outlay, building fund, construction, food service, daycare). Staff presented aggregated totals: total funds approximately $55,920,271; general fund expenses and personnel lines were highlighted during the presentation. The board moved to approve the working budget.
- Award topographic survey and private utility locator bid (Added Item G). The board awarded the topographic survey and private utility-locator contract to Arnold Consulting Engineering Services, the low bidder at $13,000, to support site planning for the auxiliary gym. Ross Tarrant (architect) was identified as the project architect seeking the survey.
- Approve treasurer’s report and payment of bills and salaries. The board accepted the treasurer’s report, which reported monthly receipts and expenditures; payroll and several large construction/vendor payments were highlighted. The board also approved payment of bills and salaries (the clerk presented a bundle of disbursements totaling about $1,108,347.22 for the month, with approximately $861,000 relating to construction accounts).
- Approve consent agenda. The board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes of prior meetings, facilities use and fundraising requests, field trips, approved shortened school days for three students, academic team bylaws, the district start and end times for 2025–26, and declared selected MCHS items surplus.
Most motions were seconded and carried with no recorded opposition. Individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public audio provided; the board repeatedly concluded votes with "Aye" and "All opposed? I hear none." When a specific mover or seconder was recorded in the transcript it has been noted in the provenance for that item.
Contracts and funding notes: Arnold Consulting was awarded the $13,000 survey contract; Codell was approved as construction manager for the auxiliary gym; the Raymond Elementary hire will be funded from Title I allocations; the South Elementary instructional assistant is funded from site-based allocations.
The board adjourned at the end of the meeting after approving the consent agenda and completing business.
