Anderson County school board approves contracts, bids and insurance for 2026–27 school year

The Anderson County Board of Education on Monday approved a package of contracts, service agreements and procurement items for the 2026–27 school year, voting by roll call on motions that the chair moved and board members seconded.

The board approved a Southern States propane contract at $2.25 per gallon for an estimated 12,000 gallons, with a delivery fee of $19.99 per trip. District staff noted Southern States was the only bidder; the per-gallon price is about 5¢ lower than the prior year, while the delivery fee rose from $11.99 to $19.99. District staff estimated actual usage could be closer to 14,000 gallons because of additional buses.

Board members also approved a fuel contract with local vendor Robinson Oil, which submitted the low total ($232,610.60) compared with Woodford Oil ($272,772.72). District staff explained the price differences were driven largely by delivery differentials (Robinson charging roughly 3¢ per gallon versus Woodford’s proposed 23¢). "If the rack price drops, then our price drops," a district presenter said, noting the contract is tied to wholesale rack pricing.

The board approved a capital funds request of approximately $140,182 for building and maintenance repairs and supplies; the district reported a remaining capital balance of $315,731. Other approved purchases included 22 Chromebooks for teachers at Anderson County Middle School (total $14,586) to be paid from school carry-forward funds.

On services and personnel-related contracts, the board approved a Cumberland Family Medical Center agreement to provide a nurse practitioner, five school health nurses and a nursing assistant for the year; the district will continue contributing 40% of nursing salaries for the 10-month school year, with a monthly payment noted at about $12,189.15. The board also renewed a one-year court contract for athletics at $36,050 (a 3% increase), approved an occupational therapist contract of 26 hours per week at $75 per hour (up from $60), and approved an independent special education services contract for a single student due to a conflict with the district’s current special education director.

Insurance renewals included workers’ compensation (Hodgkin’s Insurance Group) at $108,631.53 — a reduction of $12,958.13 from the prior year — cyber insurance at $19,205.65 for $2 million in coverage with a $10,000 deductible, and commercial umbrella liability insurance with Obsidian (chosen over Liberty) at a combined lower premium and improved coverage terms.

Other routine approvals included a staff-recommended vendor for school pictures (Strawbridge), multiple school fundraisers, and surplus of broken or obsolete equipment.

Votes were recorded by roll call on each motion; the meeting transcript records affirmative responses from board members to the approvals noted above.

Next procedural step: the board adjourned to a closed session later in the meeting under KRS 61.810(1)(k).