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By Casey Roberts

casey.roberts@bluegrassnewsmedia.com

The Jessamine County Board of Education met July 14 to approve a full agenda of consent items, contracts, donations and facility updates during its regular monthly meeting held at the board office on Wilmore Road.

Board approves financial reports, construction payments

The board approved the June 9 meeting minutes along with monthly bill payments, the May financial report, and the June budget amendment. Reports on activity funds, child nutrition, and fundraising requests were also approved, along with overnight and out-of-state trip requests.

Several construction payments were authorized, including three separate payments to DW Wilburn Inc. for athletic turf improvements at West Jessamine and East Jessamine middle and high schools, and renovations at West Jessamine Middle School. Additional invoices were approved for architectural work and PAC renovations.

The board also approved the FY26 Federal Cash Request Statement of Assurance and renewed public relations support with Piper/Smith Public Relations & Communications.

Donations total more than $45,000

Jessamine County Schools received multiple donations totaling more than $45,000. These included:

• $1,000 from WJHS Scholastic Investment Challenge Fund
  • $2,500 from Childers Oil/Double Kwik to EJHS
  • $5,000 from Don Franklin Nicholasville to EJHS
  • $3,625 from the Jessamine County Education Foundation to district athletics
  • $11,500 in estimated printer/cutter equipment from the public library to JCTC
  • $20,000 from JCEF for HQIR materials
  • $3,558 from JCEF to athletics
  • $1,900 from Vittiow Enterprises
  The board accepted all donations and expressed appreciation for the community’s continued support of education initiatives.

Surplus property and program approvals

The board declared several items as surplus, including two buses, outdated technology and textbooks. They also approved requests from Jessamine Early Learning Village for enrichment programs such as Tippy Toes of the Bluegrass and a pony petting zoo, as well as WJHS’s request to renew a five-year digital license with VOCES.

Agreements and MOUs receive approval

Numerous agreements and memorandums of understanding were approved, including:

• BCTC Dual Credit MOU
  • Pledges of collateral from JP Morgan Chase and WesBanco Bank
  • Read to Succeed Literacy Coaching Model assurances
  • KYOTE Writing Exam Coordinator MOA
  • Maintenance agreements, speech and therapy services
  • Orientation and mobility services
  • Digital district membership with KEDC
  • A school resource officer agreement with the City of Wilmore

Turf improvement change orders detailed

Several contractor change orders were approved for the district’s ongoing athletic turf improvement project. These included fencing changes for baseball/softball fields, drainage changes, updates to WJMS locker rooms, new audio-visual equipment for the WJHS press box, and card access hardware changes at East Jessamine Middle School.

Final action items

The board approved updates to the Transportation Services Policy and formally recognized a new Traceable Communication System, in compliance with Kentucky law. Additional action items included the BG-4 closeout for the tennis renovation and band towers project.