Votes at a glance: Mercer County Board approves multiple contract, budget and program items
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Summary
At its meeting, the board approved the district's working budget, several construction closeouts, a contract for random drug testing, and a teen-driver checkpoint program MOA among other items. Most votes were unanimous; District 4 member Cliff Rubin was absent.
The Mercer County Board of Education took several formal actions during the meeting; the board recorded unanimous roll-call approvals (four yes, one absence) on multiple items.
Key votes and outcomes
- Option 9 MOUs (Eastern Kentucky University; University of the Cumberlands): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). The board authorized memoranda of understanding to participate in the accelerated Option 9 teacher-certification pathway (see separate article).
- Working budget (fiscal year working budget): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Staff presented a working general fund revenue figure of $29,500,000, including a beginning balance of $7,250,000; budgeted general fund expenses were shown as $25,900,000. Staff said contingency in the working budget is 14.03 percent and noted the previous year's unaudited contingency ended at 37.39 percent.
- BG4 energy savings project closeout: Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Staff said approximately $1,600 remained in that project; approval clears the project closeout documentation for state process.
- BG5 district approvals (construction closeouts/paving/ceiling): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent).
- PR Number 8 (sinkhole remediation change order authorization): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Board authorized staff to approve a remediation change order not to exceed the contractor's quoted amount; staff will verify quantities and return final documentation to the board.
- Health department drug-testing contract (random testing for students and staff): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). This continues the district's second year using the county health department for random drug testing services.
- Checkpoint teen-driver program MOA (SRO partnership to deliver an hour-long parent/teen driver training): Approved (4–0, Cliff Rubin absent). Staff said the MOA is for the district to join the Checkpoint program; final implementation details (scheduling, incentives such as insurance discounts or parking privileges) will be set by district staff.
Several informational items were also discussed, including a bus inventory and vehicle-purchasing plan to keep the fleet below the state 14-year reimbursement cutoff and a detailed construction update for the new elementary school.
