By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The Kentucky Department of Education will receive an additional $14.7 million to its Support Education Excellence in Kentucky funding in an effort to fully fund all of the statutorily required public school payments for the 2024-25 school year, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced during the Feb. 13 Team Kentucky briefing.
The announcement comes after the department estimated a $40 million shortfall in funding. This $14.7 million will cover those funds that are earmarked for the commonwealth’s 171 public schools; the other estimated $28 million is “for funding to public school districts…conditioned on the availability of funds.”
“This action demonstrates what can be achieved for public schools and our students through collaborative efforts,” Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said in a memo released on Feb. 13 .
According to the memo, the department said it will continue to collaborate with its partners in the General Assembly for potential future funding for those items conditioned on the availability of funds.
As previously reported, Caverna Independent Schools Director of Finance Lisa Austin said the district is to get a more than $1.15 million. Finance Director of Barren County Schools Joe Murley wrote the district budgeted roughly $22.6 million. Glasgow schools’ Finance Officer Sandy Moore wrote the tentative general SEEK allocation was $11.36 million.
Fletcher said it was a great day for public schools and their students.
