Fayette schools spent over $110,000 for staff event at Rupp Arena. Here’s a cost breakdown

Fayette County Public Schools spent a little over $110,000 to produce a mandatory employee convocation for its more than 8,000 staff members on August 8, records show.

After several staff members raised questions about the costs, the Herald-Leader submitted a request to the district for the total amount spent under the Kentucky Open Records Act on July 28.

School district officials responded Tuesday, more than three weeks later, saying the total amount was $110,076.91.

The costs included:

• $82,146.47 for facility rental of the Central Bank Center
• $5,750 for inspirational speaker Crystal Kuykendall
• $2,230 to JW Cleary Promotional Products for giveaway gifts
• $4,800 for fuel for buses to transport staff from their schools to Central Bank Center
• $1,898 to Lighter than Air for decorations
• 3 photo booths which cost $750, $600, and $551 respectively
• $7,600 to Adcolor for large banners
• $1,000 to disc jockey Erin Greene
• $2,751.44 to Adventure Promotions for gifts for cheer captains

Spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall said the district also received multiple donations in support of the event, including roughly $6,000 worth of door prizes, as well as T-shirts for event staff, in-kind services and a $1,500 cash donation used to defray the total cost.

Celebration in the workplace is an important part of building a team, energizing staff and creating a culture of enjoyment and recognition, Deffendall said.

“After several years of dealing with unimaginable challenges in education, the convocation — at a cost of less than $14 a head — provided an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of our employees and signal that the darkest days of the pandemic are behind us,” said Deffendall.

Feedback received during a recent strategic planning process overwhelmingly indicated that the district had not done enough in the past to recognize or celebrate employees, she said.

“At a time when school districts across the nation are scrambling to recruit and retain staff members who are leaving the education profession because of negativity and disrespect, our New Way Forward strategic plan includes an intentional focus on honoring and lifting up the individuals who have dedicated themselves to the service of children,” said Deffendall.

Prior to the event, some staff members had expressed concerns about having large numbers of people in an indoor space during a COVID-19 surge in the community. Masks were optional.