Board approves operations items: RUS-related purchase order, EKU MOU and student insurance renewal
Summary
The Rockcastle County Schools board added two agenda items and approved operations including a field-placement MOU with EKU, a furniture order for RCMS funded by building-fund interest, a planned purchase order tied to an RUS grant that includes a $150,000 cash match, and a recommended renewal of student accident insurance at $75,496.69.
At its regular meeting the Rockcastle County Schools board approved several operations and procurement items after staff updates.
Staff added two items to the operations agenda: a field-placement education agreement (an MOU) with EKU to allow nursing students to shadow district nurses and a furniture order for the new Rockcastle County Middle School. Dr. Ballinger told the board the RCMS furniture quote is "a little over $1,200,000" and that the funding source will be interest earned on the RCMS building fund, not the general fund.
Finance staff notified the board they intend to issue a purchase order the following day "in the amount of a little over $1,100,000" tied to an RUS grant; staff said the grant award requires a $150,000 cash match, which is expected to be budgeted in the next fiscal year. Speaker 4 described vendor meetings and summer installation scheduling so the new technology could be in school buildings for students in the fall.
On insurance, staff presented three quotes for student accident coverage from Roberts Insurance and recommended renewing with Hartford. The lowest quote is $75,496.69, an increase of $498 from the current year; staff noted the policy is supplemental and parents may buy an expanded athlete policy if desired. The board voted to approve the operations package, the recommended insurance renewal and to accept the monthly financial report.
In the financial review, Shannon reported revenues of $1,900,000 and expenses of $1,700,000 for the reporting period, a total book balance of $14,400,000 and a total cash balance (including construction investments) of $46,000,000. Staff also explained the district's audit timeline has shifted: the Kentucky Department of Education extended audit deadlines to Jan. 31 for all districts while new accounting standards are implemented; staff expects the auditor to present in February.
Board members approved the motions by voice vote; specific mover/second names were recorded as "so moved" and "second" in the transcript but individual mover/second attributions were not consistently named.
