State kept tight rein over this KY school district for 8 years. Now a change is coming

After eight years of being one of the rare Kentucky school districts either taken over or heavily assisted by the state, Menifee County Schools has been released from such oversight.

“Under the successful leadership of Superintendent Tim Spencer and the Menifee County Board of Education, the Menifee County School District has embraced .... continuous improvement ....and built capacity across the school district,” Associate Kentucky Education Commissioner Kelly Foster said at last week’s state school board meeting.

Statewide, only the Breathitt County Schools district remains classified in state assistance. No district is currently being managed by the state.

In 2014, Kentucky’s state auditor, the education commissioner and the attorney general all released findings critical of Menifee County school officials, including their spending on legal services.

The Kentucky Board of Education designated Menifee County Schools a state-assisted district in December 2014, and in July 2015, the board approved the education commissioner’s recommendation that the district become state-managed, or a total takeover.

After a management audit in September 2019, the state board accepted a commissioner’s recommendation that the district transition back to a state-assisted district.

In February, the Kentucky Department of Education conducted a new management audit of the Menifee County School District and held 192 interviews with local board members, school-based decision making council members, district and school administrators, staff, the state manager and Education Recovery staff.

Problems were still found in areas that ranged from planning to instructional management. But interviews led to a finding that there was not a significant lack of efficiency and effectiveness in Menifee County Schools and that state assistance was no longer necessary, a June report said.

“Relationships have been built across the school district and the community to ensure that the students of Menifee County have a high-quality educational experience,” said Foster. “The district and the community have stayed the course throughout this process and the end result is sustainable systematic change.”

Steps district took to improve

Menifee County Superintendent Tim Spencer said the district has staff in place, community support and the mission to continuously improve. About 20 state staffers spent three days in the school district to gauge the improvements. The district, with 1,000 students, will work on the problems they found, he told the Herald-Leader Wednesday.

“Despite all of the changes we have put into place, we cannot take credit for these improvements within our schools without giving credit to our students. They made the leap from state assistance possible,” he said.

Spencer said at first, he worked for the Kentucky Department of Education and was running the district as part of a state takeover.

“The school district had lost all control, the board members were advisory only,” he said. After three years of state management, the state decreased its control and moved to providing assistance “with a watchful eye.”

During state assistance, the Menifee school board hired Spencer as its superintendent. Spencer said everyone worked hard and followed an intensive plan.

Spencer said the Menifee school district opened a new $18 million K-8 building last summer and is building a new central office. Construction for a new district-wide student virtual learning lab begins June 10.

“Our school system is in very good shape,” said Menifee Judge-Executive Rick Stiltner. “I base it on the attitude of our students, the things that I see that’s happening. We built a new school, state-of-the-art like other counties have. I see a lot of community involvement.”

State school board member Lee Todd said the school district had made systemic changes.

“We hope that among the things that happen next that the Menifee County community, teachers, leaders and students celebrate … the fulfillment of your community aspirations,” said state Board of Education Vice Chair Sharon Porter Robinson.

This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 5:24 PM.