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As we move through the first few weeks of the school year, I remain proud of what I am seeing across Pulaski County Schools.

We have had a great start to the year, and I want to take a moment to recognize our administrators and our central office team. Our new administrators have already dealt with their share of challenges and handled them well. I have also been very impressed with the collaboration between our schools and central office. Good things happen when people work together, and I am thankful for the team we have in place.

Looking at Where Our Students Are

Our fall diagnostic testing is now largely complete. While testing is never the most exciting part of the school year, the information it gives us is important.

Our schools are looking at the data in two ways. First, we want to identify individual students who may need additional support. We are also looking at the bigger picture to identify areas where our Tier 1 instruction may have gaps. This helps give our teachers direction and allows them to focus on the areas where students need the most support.

The goal is to collect the data and use it appropriately. The results give our teachers and schools a clearer picture of where students are and where we need to focus our efforts moving forward.

All 13 Schools Earn PBIS Recognition

One of the highlights of the meeting was sharing some good news about our schools.

All 13 Pulaski County Schools that applied for PBIS Fidelity Recognition met the criteria.

PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, provides a framework for helping students understand expectations, build positive behavior, and contribute to a strong school climate. Having every school that applied meet the recognition criteria is something our district should be proud of.

Each qualifying school will receive a banner to display, and the district will receive one as well.

This recognition reflects the work of our principals, teachers, staff, and students. It is another example of people across our district working together to create positive environments for kids.

Moving Projects Forward

The Board also approved several steps related to our baseball and softball field project. RossTarrant Architects was approved for the project, along with the necessary site survey and BG-1 submission. These are important first steps as we move the project forward.

The Board also approved the design development plans for the Southwestern High School fieldhouse. The plans provide a more detailed look at the project as we continue through the design process.

These projects are part of our continued effort to improve facilities and provide better opportunities for our students and communities.

A Conversation About Our Employees

The Board also approved proceeding with a future discussion on potential employee salary increases. There is no final decision at this point, but the Board will have an opportunity to discuss the issue in more detail at a future working session.

Our employees are the heart of Pulaski County Schools, and conversations about how we support and compensate our staff are important ones.

A Good Start

There is always plenty happening in a school district, especially at the beginning of a new school year. But when I look across our schools right now, I see many people doing good work.

Our administrators are settling into their roles. Our central office team is working together. Our teachers and staff are working with students every day. And our schools are using information and data to figure out how we can do things better.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am proud of the start we have had.

UPDATE: Employee Salary Increase

Since the September 8 Board meeting, the Board held a special-called meeting to continue the discussion regarding employee compensation. At that meeting, the Board approved a 2% across-the-board salary increase for all district employees.

I appreciate the Board taking the time to have this discussion and recognizing the work of the people who serve our students every day. Our teachers, administrators, transportation staff, maintenance crews, cooks, custodians, office staff, and all of our support personnel play an important role in making Pulaski County Schools what it is.

Extended School Services (ESS) are available in Pulaski County Schools. After-school tutoring is offered at each school and summer interventions are provided at most of our secondary schools.

ESS programs target specific students for support:

1. Students who require opportunities to improve their academic performance or are encountering challenges in specific content areas, with a particular emphasis on enhancing skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.
2. Students who are not meeting expected standards within the instructional program designed for their age group.
3. Students who are identified as being at risk of grade retention, which could prevent them from graduating on time or increase their likelihood of dropping out.

If your child is in need of Extended School Services, please call their school and ask to speak with the School ESS Coordinator.

The Pulaski County Board of Education is soliciting architectural services for baseball and softball field improvements for Pulaski County High School and Southwestern High School. Interested architectural firms shall submit a one-page “Letter of Interest” to the Pulaski County Board of Education, Attention: Ashley Dixon, ashley.dixon@pulaski.kyschools.us, by 
5:00 PM on September 8, 2026. 

A Quick Look at What Happened at This Month's Board Meeting

Board meetings cover a lot of ground. Rather than asking our community to sort through a lengthy agenda or meeting minutes, Around the Boardroom provides a quick look at the conversations and decisions most relevant to our students, staff, and families.

Teachers Ready for a New Year

Our teachers recently came together for the annual “Close the Gap” professional development day at Southwestern High School. With approximately 130 sessions available, staff had a wide variety of opportunities to learn and prepare for the year ahead.

The feedback and energy throughout the day were extremely positive. We are grateful for the work our awesome curriculum team put into making the day successful.

A Collaboration in Preparation

Our schools also hosted major emergency management training that brought together school staff and approximately a dozen local first-responder organizations. Law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies worked alongside our staff through a scenario-based exercise.

More importantly, this was about more than completing a training exercise. It gave the people responsible for protecting our students and staff an opportunity to practice working together, communicating, and responding before we ever need them to do so during a real emergency.

A special thank you goes to Chief Toby Young, who organized and facilitated the entire event, and all of our local first responders who participated.

Protecting Student Data

The Board also received its annual data security update from Assistant Superintendent Mike Braun and Jeff Taylor, systems engineer in our technology department.

The district uses multiple layers of protection to safeguard student and employee information, including multi-factor authentication, encryption, email filtering, malware protection, and regular reviews of user access.

Phishing continues to be one of the biggest threats to data security, which is why staff training remains an important part of our cybersecurity efforts.

A Look at District Finances

The Board approved the July financial report, with the district ending the month with an ending cash balance of approximately $34.9 million.

The Board also reviewed the district’s year-end financial position. The General Fund ended the 2025–26 school year with a balance of approximately $19.5 million, representing about 29% contingency.

The Board also approved a proposed tax rate lower than last year's, while it is still expected to generate approximately 4% more revenue due to increased property valuations.

Southwestern Project Moves Forward

The Board approved revised plans for Southwestern's athletic facility improvements. The revisions to the new fieldhouse plans add approximately 750 square feet, bringing the project to roughly 9,500 square feet, including new public restrooms and a concession area.

The revised plans have also been reviewed with the school administration and coaching staff. The board expects more detailed renderings soon for review. 

What's Next?

As we begin the 2026–27 school year, our focus remains on providing safe schools, supporting our staff, being good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and giving our students the best opportunities possible.

Our next Board Meeting will be on September 8, 2026.

We appreciate our community's continued support of Pulaski County Schools.

Looking for work?    Contact Shelley Todd for more information 606-305-7531. The positions are for 40 hours per week with weekends off and benefits.