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Board approves leadership changes, draft 2026–27 budget, Tower Park payments and tuition rates
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Summary
The Fort Thomas Independent Board approved a slate of routine motions including officer appointments, acceptance of a $24,711 SFCC assistance offer, a draft working budget for 2026–27, change order No. 8 and pay application No. 18 for the Highlands Athletic Complex at Tower Park, the 2026–27 calendar, and tuition/fee rates.
The Fort Thomas Independent Board of Education on Jan. 20 approved a series of routine actions, including new board leadership appointments, the district’s draft working budget for fiscal 2026–27, acceptance of a state offer of assistance for facilities, project payments for the Highlands Athletic Complex at Tower Park, and the district’s tuition and fee schedule for next year.
At the start of the meeting the board appointed new officers for the Board of Education Finance Corporation and the board’s internal leadership slate. The motion to appoint Julie Koenighein as finance‑corporation president, Sarah Foster as vice president and Brian Robinson to a finance board role carried on a voice vote. The board then approved minutes from the Jan. 13 finance meeting.
District staff presented the draft working budget for 2026–27 and described it as a conservative planning document that carries several unknowns including an upcoming local property reassessment and pending state budget actions. Staff said the draft assumes a 2% salary increase and retains conservative revenue estimates; an accounting reclassification makes fee revenue appear larger without increasing the actual fees. The board voted to approve the draft working budget to advance the budget calendar toward tentative and final adoption later in the year.
The board accepted an offer of assistance from the School Facilities Construction Commission (SFCC) totaling $24,711 for the current biennium. Staff explained that, if the district uses SFCC assistance for priority 1 or 2 projects identified in the local planning commission (LPC) facility plan, the offer can be incorporated into debt service and leverage additional bonding capacity over the life of those bonds.
On capital work at Tower Park, staff presented change order No. 8, described as covering completed work such as vinyl siding and wrap installation for the concession/storage area, fabric/installations near retaining walls, added fencing and access‑control provisions, fireproofing and hardware/latch adjustments. The board approved change order No. 8 in the amount of $58,891 and then approved pay application No. 18 to Morel Construction Company for $66,873.05, which staff said advances work on the storage building and addresses remaining punch‑list items.
The board approved the proposed 2026–27 school calendar (student start Aug. 19; teacher start Aug. 13; spring break the week of Apr. 5; last student day May 28) and approved the recommended start/stop times, shortened exam days, and professional development schedules. The board also adopted tuition and fee rates for next year: in‑state K–12 tuition at $4,000, out‑of‑state tuition at $7,600, preschool at $330 per month, a $50 nonrefundable application fee and a $250 nonrefundable deposit for new tuition students required to participate in athletics/extracurriculars.
Routine governance items on the consent agenda were approved and the meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
What happens next: The draft working budget will move through the district’s public process toward a May tentative budget and a September working budget adoption. Staff indicated further reporting and committee work on capital projects, budgets and professional development will follow.
