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Shelby County board approves bank, staffing allocations and bleacher change order; senior trip carrier waiver approved amid construction payment dispute
Summary
At the April 23 meeting the Shelby County Board of Education approved awarding a bank depository contract, finalized SBDM staffing allocations, approved a modest change order for Milestone bleachers, and waived policy 9.36 to allow a common carrier for the 2027 senior trip; a public commenter raised a subcontractor payment dispute tied to ongoing litigation that is holding project funds.
The Shelby County Board of Education on April 23 approved several business items including a new bank depository contract, final SBDM staffing allocations for 2026–2027 and a change order related to the Milestone bleachers and press box project (BG25089).
After an RFP process, staff recommended and the board approved awarding the bank depository bid to Traditional Bank; staff said the previous bank could not sustain the previously offered interest rate. The motion to award the contract was moved by Miss Fels and seconded by Miss Blackburn and passed by voice vote.
The board also gave final approval to SBDM staffing allocations for the 2026–2027 school year in a motion by Miss Frills and seconded by Miss Jackson. Staff described only minor changes from the first reading, including a Shelby Academy allocation shift from "four teachers" to "four staff members" designed to free grant dollars.
Item P, a change order for the Milestone bleachers and press box (BG25089), drew detailed discussion by staff and Mr. Moore. The change order (reported amount: $9,886) covered relocation of utilities and fencing after contractors encountered unexpected underground lines when installing footings for a larger bleacher system; staff said much of the work was done last summer and is being processed now to close out the BG project. The motion to approve change order one was moved by Miss Fels, seconded by Miss Blackburn, and approved by voice vote.
Item 2D, the school picture bid for 2026–2027, was tabled to allow staff to supply scoring and additional research.
On Item Q, the board waived Board Policy 9.36 to permit use of a common carrier for the Shelby County High School senior trip to Charleston, S.C., March 12–15, 2027. Mr. Clark and staff said the proposed tour company, Freedom Tours (used previously by the district), had represented that it would provide liability coverage and indicated $5 million in coverage; staff said the district will require an up-to-date certificate of liability insurance and that the Board of Education of Shelby County, Kentucky, be named as an additional insured. Board members discussed minimum participation thresholds (staff said a minimum of about 40 students is needed, with a target of 45–50 and capacity to add buses if more students sign up). The motion to waive the policy and allow the common carrier was approved (motion by Miss Jackson).
During public comment, Karen Willlet of 'Bstown' said Readily/Redley Construction (the prime contractor on the Milestone project) is withholding payment to subcontractors until a punch list is approved and asked whether the district could pay subcontractors directly. Superintendent Dr. Matthews and staff replied that the district's contract is with the prime contractor, not with the subcontractors, and that litigation between the prime contractor and another subcontractor prevents final BG5 closeout and the release of contingency funds; district attorneys are handling the legal work and staff said they are constrained from releasing payments until the legal issues are resolved. Board members expressed frustration about the delay but said legal counsel must resolve it.
Near the meeting's end the board moved into closed session to discuss real property under KRS 61.810(1)(b).
Votes and formal motions recorded at the meeting included:
- Agenda approval: motion by Miss Jackson, second by Miss Frills; outcome approved by voice vote. - Reconvene Local Planning Committee (upon KDE approval): motion by Miss Fels, second by Miss Jackson; approved. - Award bank depository to Traditional Bank: motion by Miss Fels, second by Miss Blackburn; approved. - Final approval of 2026–2027 SBDM allocations: motion by Miss Frills, second by Miss Jackson; approved. - Table the 2026–2027 school picture bid: motion made and seconded; item tabled. - Approve change order one for Milestone bleachers and press box (BG25089), amount reported $9,886: motion by Miss Fels, second by Miss Blackburn; approved. - Waive policy 9.36 to allow use of a common carrier for the SCHS senior trip to Charleston, S.C., March 12–15, 2027: motion by Miss Jackson; second recorded; approved.
The board did not resolve the subcontractor payment issue during the meeting; staff said the dispute is entangled in litigation and the district's hands are tied pending legal action.
