Votes at a glance: Muhlenberg County Board approves contracts, policy updates, personnel items and a 0.1% tax‑rate increase

At its August meeting the Muhlenberg County Board of Education recorded approvals on multiple routine and contract items. The board used voice votes for the items listed below; the minutes presented in the meeting packet show motions, seconders and unanimous voice‑vote approvals with no roll‑call breakdowns.

Votes (motion text condensed, mover/second as recorded in meeting):

- Approve meeting agenda. Motion by Mr. Porter; second not specified. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve treasurer’s report (financials as of July 31). Motion by Ms. Garn; second by Ms. Johns. Outcome: approved on voice vote. Treasurer reported monthly receipts of about $4,000,040 and highlighted variances: federal receipts up $59,000, state down $212,000, food service down $294,000; payroll for the month was reported at $949,007.49.

- Approve payment of bills and salaries (August bills totaling $1,428,740.20). Motion by Sean; second by Mr. Gillard. Outcome: approved on voice vote. Board packet noted $612,000 of the total was for recently received buses and listed significant vendor payments including CNC contracting ($453,389 reported in packet) and final payment lines for sports turf.

- Approve Ross Torrent as architect for the DFP/renovation projects. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved on voice vote. (Architect representatives later introduced themselves as Sarah Mayer and Chris Gibson of Rosthern Architects.)

- Approve final contracts for Area B, Area D and Alternate 1. Motion by Ms. Carr; second by Ms. Jones. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve revisions and updates to the student code of acceptable behavior and discipline (biennial KRS review). Motion moved; second by Mr. Porter. Outcome: approved on voice vote. (Meeting referenced KRS requirement to review code every two years.)

- Approve memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Muhlenberg County Job Corps Center. Motion by Ms. Johnson; second by Ms. Ford. Outcome: approved on voice vote. Board discussion noted Job Corps enrollment is rebuilding after earlier reports of possible closure; the center director reported gradual re‑enrollment.

- Review and approve alternate program policies and procedures (annual review). Motion moved; second by Mr. Porter. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve contracts for school psychology services (to address staffing shortfall). Motion moved; second by Ms. Ford. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve contract for orientation and mobility services (Katrina Verney). Motion moved; second by Ms. Youngs. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Add band first assistant and second assistant coach stipends at Muhlenberg County High School and eliminate the previous assistant director stipend; board indicated existing staff would be reallocated. Motion moved by Mr. Jelar; second by Mr. Porter. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Post two full‑time bus monitor positions. Motion moved by Ms. Ballard; second by Mr. Gillard. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Western Kentucky University for dual credit classes (2026–27). Motion moved; second by Ms. Yachts. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve second reading of KSBA board policy update number 48 (policy changes and legal updates). Motion moved; second by Mr. Porter. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Add a driver’s‑education stipend for the 2025–26 school year to expand course capacity (funded by high‑school site allocation). Motion moved; seconded. Outcome: approved on voice vote. The board was told 263 students requested the class while capacity was 156; the stipend would open another block.

- Amend the 2025–26 salary schedule (stipend adjustments for middle/elementary levels). Motion moved; seconded. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve a 4% revenue increase (described in the motion as equivalent to a 0.1 percentage‑point increase to the district’s property tax rate for FY26). Motion moved; second by Ms. Johns. Outcome: approved on voice vote. Staff explained the change would move a $534 per $100,000 assessed‑value levy to $535 per $100,000 (county figures presented by staff), reflecting assessment growth and new property additions.

- Approve district funding assurances for FY26 required by the Kentucky Department of Education. Motion moved; seconded. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

- Approve board consent agenda items (minutes, contract approvals, ARC/504 appointments, facility use, field trips, fundraising, emergency certification blocks, surplus items). Motion moved by Ms. Shontz; second by Mr. Porter. Outcome: approved on voice vote.

All items above were recorded in the meeting packet and passed on voice votes; where specific vote tallies or individual roll‑call votes were not read into the record, the packet minutes show unanimous or unopposed voice votes as described.