Nelson County board approves grants, 2025–26 calendar and teacher rank-change commitment

At its Nov. 12 meeting, the Nelson County Board of Education approved a package of motions authorizing grant acceptances and applications, adopting the 2025–26 school calendar and committing district funding for a teacher leadership rank-change program.

Grants: Board members approved acceptance of three recently awarded grants and authorized staff to apply for three additional grants, the largest of which is a fiscal-year‑2025 Kentucky comprehensive literacy grant described by staff as $1,560,000 to be disbursed over five years to support tier 1, 2 and 3 literacy instruction and materials. Administrators also described a $5,000 health-sciences showcase application and a reading-diagnostic grant serving K–3 students districtwide. The board approved the acceptances and applications by voice vote.

Calendar: The board adopted the 2025–26 school calendar after hearing that community feedback favored maintaining consistency with the existing mid‑August start. The approved calendar returns fall and spring breaks to the first full week of October and April respectively and allows more flexibility for school-level “community table” days.

Teacher rank-change program: The board approved a district commitment to cover costs for teacher participation in a Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC) rank-change program that was approved this spring by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). CKEC representatives said the program is a two‑year, cohort-based pathway that can change a teacher’s rank (for example, rank 2 to rank 1) and involves action research, mentor coaching and summer work. The cost cited was $5,000 per participant; the district proposed supporting up to 20 teachers (about $50,000 per year at that enrollment) and to reimburse two current participants who had paid out of pocket. Board members approved the commitment by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: - Approve monthly consent agenda with correction noting Miss Milburn abstained from a prior vote — motion passed by voice vote (abstention by Miss Milburn recorded in minutes). - Accept three awarded grants and approve applications for three additional grants (including the $1,560,000 literacy grant application) — motion passed by voice vote. - Adopt 2025–26 school calendar as presented — motion passed by voice vote. - Commit district funding to CKEC teacher rank-change program (up to 20 teachers, district to cover costs) — motion passed by voice vote.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript for these motions; outcomes were announced by voice vote. Several items will require follow-up work on budgeting and application details.