Fayette County Public Schools

The meeting centered on the Amendment 2 information previously submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). Key discussion points included a new Girls' STEM program for grades K-8 requiring new construction, and a CTE Merger plan to combine Southside and Eastside Technical Centers into one new facility for grades 9-12. Staff presented the DFP returned by KDE with requested changes and comments, noting the plan requires cleanup, including obtaining updated square footage and enrollment numbers from Career and Technical Education personnel before the revised DFP is sent back to KDE.

The Public Forum segment concluded quickly with no attendees present. The Local Planning Committee (LPC) meeting commenced thereafter. Key discussions included a suggestion to host future LPC meetings at school locations listed on the District Facility Plan (DFP) high priority list. A presentation was given on Lexington's growth, long-range planning, and the 2024 Master Plan by the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG). Data and student projections were presented, noting an increase of 300-400 students per year since Covid, with Lafayette enrollment at 113% capacity. The committee noted that future reviews will focus on facility construction and renovation timelines. Two new elementary schools, Girls STEM and the new one on Polo Club, are listed on the DFP. The next LPC meeting was scheduled for Monday, December 2nd, 2024.

Key discussions centered on internal audit updates, including the P-card audit, which is scheduled for presentation in April, and ongoing Grants and Insurance audits expected to be complete by April. Redbook and Booster audits are set to commence upon the arrival of interns. The status of the Dean Dorton audit follow-up was reviewed, and the finalization of the After School Program audit by a part-time contractor is anticipated soon. The Internal Auditor is updating his job description to reflect added responsibilities and is preparing to distribute risk assessment survey questions to key personnel. A draft of the Cyber Resilience Review Audit, which utilized a Department of Homeland Security framework across 10 domains, was presented, identifying three high-priority and seven medium-priority items; the final version with management responses will be presented in April. The Compliance Officer reported that three ethics point reports were forwarded to the Internal Auditor due to their financial nature. Furthermore, the Superintendent reviewed and signed off on the annual certification per the Charter, and the single audit compliance was completed, along with efforts related to GASB 96 compliance.

The planning work session focused primarily on reviewing the agenda for the subsequent action meeting and presenting on postsecondary readiness initiatives. Key discussion points included the district's commitment to transparency through the display of key performance dashboards. The sole action item approved was a contract with Shrader Commercial Properties and Trazen Asset Advisors to assist with the sale of the former Southside Technical Center building and property. The board also approved the minutes from the December 18, 2025, regular meeting. A significant portion of the meeting involved a detailed presentation on career and technical education (CTE) pathways, highlighting student achievements in industry certifications, CTE dual credit completion, and work-based learning opportunities, noting substantial year-over-year increases in these metrics. A presentation from Brian Station High School detailed its success in increasing career readiness rates through academy structures and individualized support.

The Public Forum portion included presentations from former SCAPA attendees regarding the positive impact of the program on their lives and future opportunities for students, strongly advocating for program expansion. During the Local Planning Committee session, staff presented the draft District Facility Plan (DFP), a four-year plan with a total cost of $531,966,164, excluding discretionary projects. Key discussions involved adding preschool to the index, clarifying project priority numbering (1a, 1b, 1c), and defining project categories (new construction for capacity, replacement of inadequate spaces, major renovations). The committee ultimately approved the working draft DFP to be submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for review.