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Russell County board approves district facility plan, schedules public hearing
Summary
The Russell County Board of Education approved a District Facility Plan that lists a new middle school, a 150-student preschool center and renovations across the district, estimates $75.86 million in needs and appointed Tim Eaton as hearing officer for a July public hearing.
The Russell County Board of Education voted to approve a proposed District Facility Plan that lists a new Russell County Middle School, a districtwide 150-seat preschool center and renovations at multiple elementary and secondary campuses.
Allison, a presenter with SCB who led the local planning committee's review, told the board its six-year projected enrollment is stable: "You all are actually in in really good shape. Some districts we see a double digits percentage decrease. You're just point point 9%." She walked the board through priorities for new construction, additions and renovations and noted the plan includes both educational needs and a separate Priority 5 list of athletic and noncore projects.
Staff member (the district presenter) recommended board approval and described next steps: the plan will be returned to the Kentucky Department of Education and a required local public hearing will be held to receive oral or written comments. "My recommendation would, would be to approve the Russ County School District facility plan as presented by the local planning committee," the staff member said.
Key elements of the plan include listing a new middle school as a separate facility (to preserve site and design flexibility given a planned roundabout and proximity of a geothermal well field), a proposed 150-student preschool center, and renovations or additions at Jamestown Elementary, Russell Springs Elementary, Salem Elementary and central office spaces. The plan aggregates priorities 1— to a district need total of $75,855,719, which the district will transmit to the legislature to support funding consideration.
The board also appointed Tim Eaton, affiliated with the Kentucky School Plant Managers Association, to serve as hearing officer at the required local public hearing. The hearing was announced for 07/16/2026 at the Russell County Schools Auditorium, 2167 South Highway 127 in Russell Springs; Eaton will document testimony and prepare the hearing report.
The board approved the plan by roll-call vote recorded as unanimous. The plan now moves to the KDE process and will be posted for public review ahead of the hearing.
