Board Brief

As part of our district's commitment to open and transparent communication, we share this summary of Monday's school board planning work session.

The school board chose four applicants to move forward as finalists in the next phase of the selection process for the District 3 school board vacancy: Danny A. Everett, Jason D. Moore, Amy L. Sohner, and Kennedy D. Wells. “We were fortunate to have a slate of highly qualified applicants and were impressed with the qualifications and commitment each individual demonstrated to ensuring a world-class education for each and every student,” said Chairman Tyler Murphy. Interviews with the board, which will be conducted in closed session, are set for Monday, Dec. 11.

• Read the full news release

Members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council will lead a Q&A public forum featuring finalists for the District 3 school board seat. The meeting will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, in Room 150 of the John D. Price Administration Building. Community members are welcome to attend, and the event will be livestreamed on our FCPS YouTube channel. The board is expected to fill the seat by Dec. 14.

Julie Gann, the district's coordinator of Gifted & Talented Services, and programs manager Vee Pryor shared details of the Talent Development Plan. Among the goals are to show how advanced learning opportunities in FCPS work together to enhance education and to make sure families and students are aware of the available opportunities in grades K-12. The Innovative Programs Showcase on Jan. 6 is a great chance to share what our programs have to offer. "We hear a lot about school choice, and this is school choice, and we're able to offer it in Fayette County," said board Chairman Tyler Murphy.

• View the Talent Development Plan presentation

School Nurses

Murphy noted there has been much reaction throughout the community to the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department losing the contract to provide our school nurses. "We recognize the value and importance of having a nurse in every school, the role they play in educating the whole child, and the impact they have on the lives of our children," he said. "They've also been a partner in many of our wellness initiatives."

Murphy floated the idea of continuing to partner with the health department in 2024-25 and studying the possibility of creating an in-house model hiring nurses to serve in Fayette County Public Schools. "It gives us another year to work with a familiar organization, and it gives our staff time to come back with next steps for the following school year," Murphy said. The other board members agreed. At the board's Dec. 14 action meeting, they will consider potential options to negotiate and extend the health department's current five-year contract through June 30, 2025.

• Review the Dec. 4 planning agenda
• Listen to the entire meeting: The audio file is posted after the night's closed session adjourns.

The Fayette County Board of Education routinely meets twice a month, generally on the second and fourth Monday. The planning work session is an opportunity to receive extended presentations, review the agenda for the upcoming action meeting, and provide time for board members to ask questions and hold discussions with staff. The action meeting is when the board votes on proposals.

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