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The Clark County Public Schools Board of Education took its first step toward hiring a new superintendent Tuesday evening.

The board voted to select the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) to conduct the search. 

Several board members voiced their pleasure with the selection.

Ashley Ritchie said that the KSBA “work for school boards, and I have worked with them previously on searches and with our Local Planning Committee.”

Board vice-chair Sherry Richardson echoed Ritchie’s confidence in the decision.

“KSBA is the school board organization, and they have vast experience working with boards and understand the superintendent search process,” Richardson said.

According to a news release from the school district, the vacancy will immediately be posted with an anticipated fill date of late September or early October. The screening committee will consist of two teachers, one classified employee, one principal, one parent, and one board member.

Catalent Bond

Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner addressed the board regarding an agreement relating to an industrial bond that will be used to assist a planned expansion by Catalent Pharmaceuticals. The mayor said the agreement is similar to the one the board approved in 2015.

“This one models the PILOT agreement … Basically what happens with an industrial revenue bond issue, if the bonds are sold on behalf of an industry in effect the bonds are secure by the land, building, and prudence,” said Burtner. “The property goes in the name of the city and off the tax rolls. So, what you do in response to that, what you do as a community … You explore with the industry payment in lieu of tax payments which would replace that.”

Under the current agreement, the school board receives a fixed amount of money – $178,142 – from Catalent annually plus an additional $20,000 until 2025. The proposed agreement would keep the payment amount the same and include an additional $35,000 per year paid to the school district for 40 years.

“What we are asking is your consideration of an agreement on the 2022 bond issue,” Burtner said.

The board approved a motion to consider the agreement pending receiving a final communication from Catalent.

Forensic Audit Bid

The board received and opened a single bid from Clifton, Morrison, and Allen to perform a routine forensic audit of the district’s finances.

The amount of the bid was not disclosed.

The board did not take any action on the bid and will consider it at a future meeting.

In other business the board…

• Approved changes to several school and employee handbooks.

• Approved the 2022-23 school year stipend schedule and revisions to the salary schedule.

• Added three additional days to parent notes to comply with recently passed legislation by the Kentucky General Assembly.