In our focus on stories, Herald-Leader journalists give you a constant review of news and events important to our central Kentucky community. Read more. The idea of the story? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.
According to the district’s financial data, Fayette County state school staff collected more than $ 2.5 million. USD taxes for school credit cards from 2024 August By 2025 January
The Herald-Leader Review 215 Page Credit Card reports show about 135 high-ranking Fajeta County Administrators on the $ 2,570,611 in those six months.
These fees included 34 meals costing from $ 500 to $ 1,000 and 23 dishes that cost more than $ 1,000. According to credit card statements, almost all dishes were in Lexington. One non -governmental meal was $ 948 in Ellen’s Stardust Diner in New York.
District officials said some charges, including $ 32,000 Crank and Boom ice cream, were paid for victims. Others, such as The Meals, $ 3,300 in AX-Mulning entertainment complex and thousands of dollars in special chocolates, was confirmed and paid by school officials.
During that period, there were also thousands of dollars in a hotel hotel, including a trip to Finland.
The Herald-Leader Analysis of Six Month Credit Card Expenses arises from a few months, when some members of the Fajeta District State School Council, taxpayers, parents and some state lawmakers may have a $ 827 million-dollar school district.
Questions about the expenditure of the district increased in May after it turned out that Kentucky’s second largest district had a $ 16 million predictable budget deficiency. The school’s financial officer also claimed that it was suspended for the sound of the alarm clock on the rising expenses and the declining fuel fund.
The latest analysis of travel-related travel costs provided by FCPS staff reports. In December, the newspaper reported the area more than 200 travel spent $ 3.6 million. USD Administrators and teachers 2023-2024 school year. These are more than other districts of Kentucky’s large school, including Luoisville Jefferson County State Schools, which spent $ 2.3 million in the same time. USD.
After a few months of questions about the travel costs of the members of the media and the board members, Demeterrus Superrusus is August in August. The agreement restricts the district’s main inspection account of certain restrictions funded by General Fund. Liggins argued that only mandatory or necessary trips would be allowed.
He said he restricts travel overnight and would no longer be gifts for employees’ evaluation. Liggins also said legislators during September 16th. A legislative meeting, which he limits professional development trips to those on the spot.
It is unclear whether the Fayette County School Council members see high dollars for schooling cards. Herald-Leader asked the five-member Fayeta County School Board on those credit card fees and whether they would have reviewed them. No board member returned the newspaper email. Emails.
Miranda Scully, a spokeswoman for Fayeta County State Schools, said there are control and reviews of credit card purchase. She also said that some of the expenses related to FCPS cards were returned by donors. Other accusations were for school -related events.
“Card control limits the categories of traders where they can be used, as well as expenditure per operation, cost restrictions per billing cycle and the upper limit per day or for the billing cycle,” Scully said.
Credit card statements were issued by the elder Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, who, along with other legislators, questioned the Ligins about the costs of the FCPS during September 16. The General Assembly of the Temporary Joint Education Committee.
Hotel stays in Helsinki, Luisville
District officials, in addition to spending on local restaurants, also taxpayers for hotels in hotels.
In November alone, the district staff issued a $ 86,246 hotel at the Education Conferences across the country, according to credit card reports. In November, 108 fees were paid for hotels. Credit card reports do not say how many rooms have been charged or how many people.
And not all those hotel stays were in the US
Houston Barber, Deputy Finance Superintendent, went to Helsinki in November in Finland. November statements show $ 882 per stay at the hotel.
Scully said the trip was part of the Global City Education Network Annual Symposium, which was 2024. Was held in Helsinki. 2023 October FCPS organized this event in cooperation with Commerce Lexington Central Kentuky.
Liggins went to Australia in 2022. As the same Global City Education Network, which is owned by the Asian Society, promotes the best practice in the world’s schools in the world, according to its website. According to the Liggins’ costs received through the Kentucky Open Law, the receipts for this trip were at least $ 6,869 and most of it for airline tickets.
During September 16th. The legislative hearing on FCPS expenses would be told by state -owned legislative leaders that he had to rewrite a trip due to an emergency that increased the cost. Ligins said there were seminars offered by the best practice for social and emotional problems that forced the children of Fajeta County to the crisis.
School administrators also charged taxpayers for overnight stays in Louisville and Sinsinati, according to credit card records.
The Galt House in Luisville, renovated and modernized, made Bourbon the attention of its bars and restaurants.
2024. August One administrator paid $ 52,673 for the Gest house in Luisville.
Scully stated that the draft law paid 112 directors to attend the Kentucky School Administrator Association Conference. Scully stated that the conference focused on local state issues: “It was an opportunity for our university campus directors to take advantage of national presenters at the conference and get acquainted with state changes in the upcoming year, as well as visiting FCPS specific sessions related to district initiatives and expectations.”
She added: “A total of 112 campus directors and district leaders participated in a four -day event at Galt. 13 people stayed one night, nine people staying two nights and 71 staying all three nights. ”
Travel to school policy allows administrators to stay in hotels if the distance is greater than 60 miles, Scully said. Lexington is 75 miles to the house. ;
2024. November In Louisville and Newport, 15 fees for a hotel at a hotel, a total of $ 82,835, reported credit card reports. Lexington is 83 miles to Newport.
Eating grags, wild eggs and cracker barrel
The administrators of the Fayeta County State Schools also released $ 60,781 for 57 meals, which were more than $ 500, credit card records from 2024. August By January.
The statements did not determine how many people participated in every meal. Some favorite restaurants of the best administrators in Fayeta County are AP and Grill, Cracker Barrel and Malse’s; Each restaurant appeared more than three times in credit card receipts.
Some of the best dishes and food purchases from 2024 August to January is ::
-
$ 300, Sedona Taphouse in December.
-
$ 2,949, wild eggs in August.
-
$ 2,864, Cracker Barrel in December.
-
$ 2,500, grace in December.
-
$ 1,979, old Kentucky chocolates in August.
-
$ 1,967, olive garden in November.
-
$ 1,723, Texas Roadhouse in December.
-
$ 1650, Papa Johns in September.
-
$ 1,588, Panera bread in October.
-
$ 1,586, Cracker Barrel in October.
Below are several cities outside the Kentucky School administrators, driving in 2024. November, based on credit card statements.
It is unclear how many people were included in each hotel fee. For example, teachers usually do not have credit cards according to school policy. When teachers travel, hotel and airplane flights often pay school administrators.
Some conferences where school officials participated in these cities;
The School Council must approve all trips to the conferences.
Some city school officials traveled to:
FCP defends some travel costs, mom
The vast majority of credit card taxes were related to familiar retailers: Amazon, Sam’s Club, Kroger and Wal-Mart, Analy-Leader analysis reveals.
Based on the FCPS policy submitted by the FCPS by Herald-Leader, only administrators, including principals and school principals, are allowed to have credit cards. This means about 135 people with credit cards, school officials said.
In the course of travel policies, the district limits the amount the employee may take at non -governmental conferences up to $ 65 per day. For conferences at public conferences, it is $ 50 a day.
However, her policy on the cost of food and restaurant costs in Fayeta County or school events is wide.
“Food/soft drinks can be purchased from district funds for FCPS staff and volunteers engaged in official school/district business in the following situations: a joint school -class faculty or district level department and/or committee meeting, professional development activities, whole district recognition events and district -level recruitment seminals.”
Politics states that purchases cannot go through a state -published dish during the day at high levels or more expensive cities. Based on 2024 In July Memorandum from the State Finance and Administration’s Cabinet, non -high -course feeding limits are $ 12 for breakfast, $ 15 per lunch and $ 23 for dinner.
Credit card reports do not provide $ 1,000 or the number of participants in the number of dishes is intended. Nor is it clear what food was consumed in the statements.
However, officials of the Fayeta District State School defended and explained some costs.
Sedona Taphouse to the north in 1950. In New Town in Pike Lexington, Ky., Photographed in 2023. Thursday, December 14th.
August Old Kentucky Chocolates released $ 1,979 was a gift for the first time to directors, Scully said.
The $ 2,500 Palie’s fee, popular in Lexington Steakhouse, was dedicated to a high school volleyball banquet. The principal of Bryan Station has put a fee on his credit card. Parents and boosters later returned school, she said.
Based on the Liggins receipt, Liggins, we turned to the event, the Sedona tapa tapa Taphouse fee was awarded to the event. It is unclear how many people attended the event. Herald-Leader received a receipt at Kentucky Open Records Act.
More than $ 300, released Battle Axes, a popular Lexington entertainment site with an ax throw, was 80 school staff from Deep Springs Elementary School. Scully stated that the costs were approved by the school’s decision -making board, which helps to decide how the school funds were spent.
“Food and beverage costs were personally paid by those who visited and were not consumed by alcohol,” Scully said.