On Tuesday November 11th, the Lee County Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting with board members; Thompson, Caudell and Lanham in person attendance and board member Owens via Skype/Zoom.
During the “celebrations” portion of the agenda, Lee County Superintendent Shuler and board members recognized LCMHS Cross Country, LCMHS Student Council members in attendance, student Tyler Fox of Bobcat Academy (pictured) and HOSA members Bill Brandenburg, Lesha Gross, Willow Tipton along with Susan Gabbard Kincaid of Ky River District Health Department.
Hosa members Brandenburg, Gross and Tipton have partnered with Kincaid to form a Tobacco Retail Project Report. The purpose of this project is to prevent and slow the sales of tobacco/THC products to underage youth in Lee County and to bring to light how advertisements target youth along with proving easy access to these products. On August 26th, the group visited 13 tobacco retail locations in Lee County including 10 gas stations, 1 grocery store, 1 vape shop and 1 tobacco outlet.
They conducted a survey at each place looking at product placement, signage (We ID), and personally asking questions to staff. They found that in Lee County, 6 out of the 13 locations they surveyed sold illegal vapes and out of those 6, there were over 30 brands of vapes that were illegal and non FDA approved. They also found that only 4 out of the 13 locations had provided employees with training on avoiding selling to minors.
If needed, they provided the locations with “21 Tool Kits” containing the correct signage they needed. On September 10th, they did a follow up with 11 of the 13 previously surveyed locations in Lee. Unfortunately, only 4 places out of the 11 had utilized the 21 tool kits they had provided them in August.
The HOSA members stated to board members and meeting attendees that they hope this study sheds light to this issue we are facing in our counties along with our schools of underage tobacco/THC use.
Kincaid stated she was very proud of the three girls and that while some locations they surveyed were welcoming and informative, sharing the students' concern; other locations were not welcoming of the students and Kincaid being at their businesses for the study.
The students plan to also present their findings to the Lee County Fiscal Court and presented this project at the HOSA Showcase. They are now in the process of furthering this collaboration and program.
Danny Wright stated that this project is similar to the studies they show at the Safe Schools Conference. Safe Schools Team will designate a decoy customer to various locations to find out what tobacco/THC products can be sold without ID and at what locations and report back with their findings. Wright stated that most minors who are purchasing these products are not even aware of what is in them.
For the finance report, Finance Officer Lucas stated that expenditures for the month of October 2025 were approximately $699k (+) and that revenue was approximately $490k (+).
For the Rationale report, Shuler recommended approval of proposed updates to Policy 03.125 (certified staff) and Policy 03.225 (classified staff). The two policies are essentially the same. Updates include the following; change the mileage reimbursement rate from .39 cents per mile to the current state mileage rate. Addition of language allowing a higher reimbursement rate for meals in locations determined by the IRS to be high cost localities. The reimbursement rate would be the rate set by the IRS for the particular location. Addition of language allowing repairs to district owned vehicles as necessary as long as the repairs are substantiated with a receipt. Major repairs must have superintendents and or transportation director approval. The proposed changes have been in practice for a while and Shuler asked the board to modify the policy to make it consistent with practice. The 1st reading was approved with the 2nd reading to be on the table at December’s meeting along with a review to update the associated reimbursement form.
The next item was ‘consider update to the SRO salary scale and pay 3rd SRO on contract from the existing SRO scale. Shuler recommended paying the 3rd SRO hired by the district from the existing SRO scale and eliminating the sub SRO pay rate. He further recommended a contract for the 3rd SRO for 111 days which is the number of remaining days for the instructional calendar. The position is currently assisting with the criminals justice pathway and needs to be on site for instructional duties. The current sub SRO pay rate is $16 per hour. The regular SRO rate is $27, 736 annually which equates to approximately $18.54 per hour. The position including number of days, contract, expectations, etc will be revised at the end of the school year. The board made the motion to approve the changes.
Principal Noble gave the LCMHS report consisting of (but not limited to) the following; the school is implementing a new program titled Literacy Design Colorado Collab (LDC). This is structured writing within social studies and science departments. Mr. Noble has been working with Mrs. Angel, Mrs. Roberts and Mr. Barrett with the program. The work of LDC partners in schools and districts across the country has enabled tens of thousands of teachers to improve students’ literacy skills.
Mr. Gray of Bobcat Alternative sent in his report stating the following. The academy began the month of October with 18 students. Breakdown; 3 behavior, 7 academic, 5 alternative virtual and 3 home hospital students. Through the month of October they served 22 students for ISS. Bobcat Virtual is continuing to grow to support those students that cannot attend in person classes but don’t desire to be fully visual. During the previous 1st 9 weeks of school, they were able to see 3 of their virtual alternative students and 2 home hospital students complete their plan they had created for them. 3 of those students are on their way to completing the Grad Track plan.
Mr. Angel recommended the board approve the recommended calendar for the 26-27 school year as developed by the district calendar committee. The board approved the 1st reading. In addition, Angel recommended approval for the following start/end times at LCE and LCMHS; LCE start 8:15am, end 3:15pm. LCMHS start 8:20am, end 3:15pm. Note that the 26-27 school calendar allows the students a full week for Fall break of 2026 and Spring break of 2027.
Danny Wright presented the board the district snow route and have added no new roads for non travel and stated that the only major changes were names of drivers.
The board reviewed bids for a chiller and installation at LCE. Danny Wright and Mr. Miller
received bids from the following for a new LCE chiller and installation as the previous chiller had been discontinued and no longer able to purchase the free-on needed. Chiller Bids were as followed;
- Thermal Equipment Sales Inc; base $69,750 + warranty $4,925
- Trane; base $72,505 + warranty $4,350
- Plumbers Supply Co; base $79,545 + warranty $1,985
- Koch Air; base + warranty $89,767
- Air Equip Co; base $98,550
Installation bids were as followed;
- Comfort & Process $35,198
- KY Mechanical Services $21,785
- Alpha Energy Solutions $19,997
The approved Thermal Equipment Sales Inc for the purchase of the chiller and Alpha Energy for the installation.
Jamie Shuler presented the board with the food service report including (but not limited to) the following. The food service recently purchased new chairs for all school cashiers. They are currently working to find new ideas to push forward with the farm to school initiative which could produce up to 50% of all cafeteria vegetable needs. They are currently working with Smart Mouth Pizza who donates one meal to a child in need for every 10 pizzas sold. LC Schools have been able to donate 2,340 meals since selling pizza beginning in April. Food service will be awarding the bid for a new combs-oven at the high school to Manning Bros. Being a 10 pan Unox brand. The bid came in at $24,979. They received 2 other quotes at $25,720 and $29,979.
Mr. Shuler stated that for the personnel report, they have hired 7 new school employees and 2 eligible employees have put in for retirement.
All meetings take place the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Lee County Central Office board room located at 242 Lee Avenue unless otherwise noted and are open to the public with the exception of closed meetings. The next meeting will be held December 9th, 2025. Any questions or elaboration to any of the information listed above can be directed to the LC School Board of Education 606.464.5000.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here