Hancock Board of Education gives superintendent top marks, advances middle school construction with utility work

The Hancock County Board of Education met Thursday, June 18, and completed its annual evaluation of Superintendent Robby Asberry. The board again rated Asberry’s performance exemplary for the past school year.

The superintendent evaluation covers areas such as instructional leadership, operations and community engagement. It is required by state regulation each year.

The board approved the utility work portion of the Hancock County Middle School construction project. Members are still weighing whether to accept the original construction bids or seek new bids, but agreed to move ahead with utility work that must be finished before vertical construction can begin.

The board approved an increase in retired certified substitutes’ pay to $200 per day.

The board approved new contracts for bus maintenance for the 2026-27 school year, including preventative service and repairs on the district’s fleet.

Members also approved paying $1,343.20 to reconcile debt in the Hancock County Food Service Program.

The board set new adult meal prices for the 2026-27 school year at $5 for lunch and $3 for breakfast, in line with minimum rates required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Adult prices are set separately because federal reimbursement only covers student meals.

At its regular meeting in April, the board voted to continue participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for 2026-27. The federal program allows qualifying schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students without meal application, although families are still asked to complete annual income forms so the district can remain eligible for CEP. As a result, all Hancock County Public Schools students in preschool through 12th grade will continue to receive school meals at no cost.

The board renewed student accident insurance coverage for the 2026-27 school year. The policy provides secondary coverage for students injured during school-sponsored activities.

The board approved the following insurance coverage for fiscal year 2026-27: workers’ compensation with KEMI at $79,280; cyber coverage with Travelers at $11,781; general, property, casualty, liability and auto with Church Mutual at $258,019; and wind and hail buydown policy at $79,478.92.

Members approved two leases at the Lewisport campus. The first is an ongoing lease at $0 per month with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) to use classroom space for industrial maintenance courses and workplace training for local industries.

KCTCS is the statewide system of public community and technical colleges, created to expand access to higher education, workforce training and career preparation.

The second lease is a 3-year agreement with World Harvest Fellowship Church at $1,000 per month.

The board approved its annual Kentucky School Boards Association policy updates. The revisions, recommended by KSBA, bring district policies in line with new state laws that take effect July 1 following the most recent legislative session.

Finance Director Trey Anderson reported a beginning balance of $5,250,349.79. Receipts for the month totaled $1,006,469.63, with expenditures of $1,262,877.34, leaving an ending balance of $ 5,052,921.06.