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The Lincoln County Board of Education met for a working session on March 6, addressing topics ranging from student achievements to ongoing and upcoming facility renovations, budgetary matters, and special education staffing adjustments.

The meeting began with recognitions, as board members celebrated the Lincoln County academic team for their outstanding performances at district and regional competitions. Several students were honored for their individual and team accomplishments, including first-place finishes in subjects such as math, science, social studies, language arts, and written composition.

“We are extremely proud of these students and their accomplishments,” one board member stated. “They represent our district with class and dedication.” The team, coached by Cole Isaacs, Rita Hampton, and Amy Shackleford, won the district championship and finished third in the region, a testament to their hard work and preparation.

Following the recognitions, the board shifted focus to facility improvement projects across the district, including renovations at Lincoln County High School, Waynesburg Elementary, and a potential new maintenance facility. After discussions with state finance officials, the project was divided into three separate phases for budgeting and efficiency purposes.

The first project at Lincoln County High School will be split into two bid packages—one for interior renovations and another for exterior improvements, including upgrades to athletic facilities. The second phase will focus on roof repairs at Waynesburg Elementary, while the third will involve plans for a new maintenance building.

“Breaking this into separate projects makes sense from a financial and logistical standpoint,” a board representative explained. “It ensures better tracking of expenses and allows us to prioritize the most urgent needs first.”

The board also approved schematic plans and budget proposals for the renovation projects, ensuring work can begin as soon as the summer break to avoid major disruptions during the school year.

Another major discussion point was the district’s phone system, which has caused ongoing communication issues at multiple schools, particularly in Webster and Crab Orchard. After researching various options, the district proposed switching to a cloud-based Zoom phone system, which would reduce costs from $10,000 to $12,000 per month to approximately $2,457 annually. The initial setup cost would be $31,468, but the long-term savings were deemed significant.

“This is a huge savings for the district,” one official noted. “Not only will it improve communication reliability, but it also provides features like call recording, voicemail archiving, and mobile access for teachers and staff.”

The board also addressed increasing special education needs, with student enrollment in specialized programs growing significantly. The district proposed four additional Learning Behavior Disorder (LBD) positions and one additional Moderate to Severe Disabilities (MSD) teacher at the middle school, as well as an additional LBD position at the high school.

“We were surprised by the increase in special education students transitioning from elementary to middle school,” one board member stated. “We want to ensure we have the staffing necessary to support them effectively.”

The district’s revised academic calendar was also reviewed, with May 29 now set as the last day for students, following several snow day adjustments. May 30 will serve as a staff workday, and additional workdays are scheduled for early June to accommodate the necessary instructional hours.

As the meeting continued, discussions turned to bullying prevention and behavior tracking within the district. The board acknowledged that current tracking systems vary between schools, leading to inconsistencies in how incidents are documented.

“There needs to be a standardized method for tracking bullying cases and how they are investigated,” a board member stated.

The board was informed that a district-wide advisory committee had already begun addressing these issues, with plans to review behavioral trends, student handbooks, and intervention strategies at its next meeting on March 26.

“Our goal is to ensure consistency across all schools and provide clear documentation of repeat offenses,” another official added. “We are looking at how to make this process uniform and more effective.”

The meeting concluded with a closed executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters under KRS 61.810(1).

The next Lincoln County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for March 26 at 4:30 p.m. at the board office, where further updates on facility projects, staffing, and policy changes will be discussed.