The Estill County School Board approved a package of routine personnel, policy and operational items at its meeting.

The board approved updates to the FYI 2526 auxiliary salary schedule to include drama in language previously expanded for choir. Board members then approved an updated district salary schedule that adds a stipend for the food-service director; Mr. Brock said the food-service budget can now support that stipend. "It's my recommendation we approve," Mr. Brock said when presenting both salary items. Sheila Samples moved and Tammy Hardy seconded the auxiliary-schedule motion; Tammy Hardy moved and Carrie Smallwood seconded the district-schedule motion. Both motions carried.

On personnel policy, the board advanced Classified 5 (maternity leave) on its second reading after Mr. Brock said there were no changes since the prior reading. Shayla Samples moved to advance the policy and Tammy Hardy seconded; the motion carried.

The board approved a request for the high-school baseball team to travel to Panama City for a spring-break tournament in April. Mr. Brock noted that out-of-state travel requires board approval and urged early planning so teams can make reservations; Sheila Samples moved to approve and Tammy Hardy seconded.

Administrators also presented a renewal of the memorandum of understanding with EKU that provides district employees a discounted rate for graduate study (master's or Ph.D. programs). Veil Samples moved to approve the MOU renewal and Carrie Smallwood seconded; the board approved the agreement.

The board accepted the Katz offer of assistance for the district budget; Mr. Brock stated the offer this year is about $22,258. Veil Samples moved and Damian Hardy seconded the motion to accept the assistance, which the board approved.

The Comprehensive District Improvement Plan (CDIP), which school-level plans had approved in November and which must be submitted by Jan. 1, was presented and approved after a motion by Shayla Samples and a second by Tammy Hardy.

Consent items approved included November minutes, monthly bills, staff travel to KSPA and KASS, and authorization to surplus certain technology.

Votes at a glance:
- Auxiliary salary schedule (add drama): mover Sheila Samples; second Tammy Hardy; outcome: approved.
- District salary schedule (add food-service director stipend): mover Tammy Hardy; second Carrie Smallwood; outcome: approved.
- Classified 5 maternity leave (second reading): mover Shayla Samples; second Tammy Hardy; outcome: approved.
- High-school baseball out-of-state trip to Panama City (April): mover Sheila Samples; second Tammy Hardy; outcome: approved.
- EKU MOU renewal (employee tuition discounts for graduate programs): mover Veil Samples; second Carrie Smallwood; outcome: approved.
- Katz offer of assistance (approx. $22,258): mover Veil Samples; second Damian Hardy; outcome: approved.
- Comprehensive District Improvement Plan (CDIP): mover Shayla Samples; second Tammy Hardy; outcome: approved.
- Consent items (minutes, bills, technology surplus, staff travel): mover Carrie Smallwood; second Tammy Hardy; outcome: approved.

What it means: The actions taken are primarily routine approvals and operational items that allow the district to proceed with planned programs, professional-development benefits, student activities and required submissions. The updated salary schedules and the CDIP are administrative steps needed to implement staffing and planning decisions. The Katz assistance figure was given as approximately $22,258; the transcript indicates the precise finalized amount was not recalled during the meeting.

Next steps: Several items carry administrative follow-up (implementation of the stipend, travel logistics, finalizing Katz funding details, and CDIP submission by Jan. 1). The board adjourned after hearing the superintendent's report and public comment.