BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- In 2021, Nelson County Schools introduced a plan it said would "transform and modernize" its facilities. Three years later, the core part of that plan has never come to fruition and has cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
The plan was known as Community Campus, the creation of a seven-year experience for students by merging its middle schools into its high schools: Thomas Nelson High School and Nelson County High School, both of which would build expansions to accommodate the additional students.
From its introduction, the Community Campus was heavily debated and divided the community. The plan was approved in December 2021 by the board made up of Damon Jackey, Diane Berry, Tracy Bowling, Jeff Dickerson and Diane Breeding.
At the time, construction was expected to be completed in 2023. But by the time 2023 came, the board effectively killed the plan by terminating its construction contracts. Board members David Norman, Amanda Deaton and Berry voted in favor of the motion. Bowling and Jackey voted against it
So now, in 2024, neither high school has begun construction, and division on the school board and in the community has cost the district in more ways than one.
Money Spent
Under the Community Campus plan, Thomas Nelson High School was first on the construction list to expand and create a middle school wing. Because the board spent over a year developing the plan before it was killed, board members had contracted some of that work to be done. That included Trademark Excavating based in Bardstown.
The district would eventually settle with Trademark Excavating for $27,500 because of the contract cancellation.
Board Member Tracy Bowling agreed to speak with WDRB News about the process, pointing out she spoke as an individual and not for the board.
"Thankfully, we had a construction manager that has amazing working relationships with the people that he's dealt with for years, and I think that saved us and sort of protected us, slightly, when it came to when we rejected those bids," Bowling said.
Bowling said the district also lost money on blueprints that had been developed and paid for.
"A large chunk of the money that the district lost and the taxpayers paid was on those costs associated with blueprints, the architect fees, things like that," she said.
In a document Superintendent Wes Bradley provided to the Kentucky Department of Education in March 2024 appealing the board's decision to fire him, he estimated the district had a, "realized loss of over $3,000,000 spent on halted construction projects."
There has also been a number of legal battles tying back to the Community Campus plan that contributed to the district's spending on attorney fees to skyrocket. In 2022, a group of residents referred to as NC Cares filed a lawsuit that, in part, attempted to stop the Community Campus plan, claiming it would have "irreparable harm" and negatively impact property values. The lawsuit is made up of concerned residents but originally included Deaton. She eventually removed herself from the lawsuit when she filed to run for school board.
A more recent lawsuit, filed in 2023 by a group known as NC Forward, alleges the board acted negligently and cites Berry's change in opinion related to the plan after Norman and Deaton were elected.
According to documents obtained through an open records request, during the fiscal years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, NCS averaged around $44,000 on attorney fees. By the 2022-23 fiscal year, that number jumped to $152,191.30. In fiscal year 2023-24, that number increased to $280,528.39. As for this current fiscal year, 2024-25, so far, the district has spent $181,690.81.
"Everything that these lawsuits ask of me, I give them and make sure that they're readily available," Bowling said. "Because, ultimately, it is the taxpayer dollars that we're spending the longer these things go out. The reason why these lawsuits are sitting here are because we, as board members, have made decisions that continue to impact these lawsuits. So I think it's important that we continue to try to stop and find a way for the community to sort of come back together."
Money Missed Out On
NCS has missed out on millions of dollars that could have been spent on its Community Campus plan. Jackey, who served on the board after 15 years but resigned in October 2023 over ethical concerns, said had the board continued to move forward with construction, it would have been eligible to receive who's known as urgent needs funding from the state.
"What will happen with that is the state will say 'OK, there's your need. There's what you've got. You're working to fulfill that need, but we realize you don't have enough money. School district, we're going to help you,'" Jackey said. "It was being projected that the Nelson County Schools could have been eligible for up to $30 million worth of that urgent needs funding."
In an email Bradley sent to board members in 2023, he said because "local money" hadn't been spent on its construction projects, NCS was not added to the urgent needs list. In the same email, Bradley said if the board is "assertive in decision making over the next year," it could be added to the 2025 urgent needs funding list.
Bradley then concluded with, "districts that invest in schools get rewarded."
Expected Increase in Costs
Due to inflation, it is likely future projects will cost the district more compared to previous years.
Bowling said the district faced inflationary costs with two projects currently under construction: the bus garage and UP Center.
Jackey said it is also possible that, because of the district's history of canceling bids, vendors may up charge the district on future projects.
"I'll call it the gun-shy factor, so to speak," Jackey said. "They're like 'Well, will they really do this? Well, let me just pad my bid a little bit then maybe an extra 10%, 5%, whatever, so that if all of a sudden they back out, it is what it is. But if they do then accept my bid, I'll be able to make me a little bit more money.' And I think that's what is is happening now."
Following the cancellation of its construction contracts for the Community Campus plan, the board requested Bradley come up with a new idea. In October 2023, he proposed a merger between Thomas Nelson and Nelson County high schools.
The board voted, 3-2, to continue developing the superintendent's plan. But since then, little action has been taken on facilities.
Earlier this year, the board attempted to remove Bradley from his role as superintendent, however, KDE rejected the board's decision, saying it did not have sufficient evidence for its reasons to remove.
Instead, KDE conducted a management review of the district. Part of the conclusion of that review was to develop a timeline to review, update and submit a new District Facilities Plan to KDE.
However, other than construction of the bus garage and UP Center, a formal plan has not been created.
Adam Gossom is the parent of a Nelson County Schools student who this year would have been attending the Thomas Nelson Community Campus but is instead at Old Kentucky Home Middle School.
"It makes me feel frustrated a little bit," Gossom said about the lack of movement on the district's facility plan.
He said because of the board's delays, he feels his daughter has missed out on opportunities and the board has lost focus on the students.
"They've failed our students," Gossom said.
In 2021, Nelson County Schools introduced a plan it said would "transform and modernize" its facilities. Three years later, the core part of that plan has never come to fruition and has cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
Nelson County Schools Coverage:
- KDE rejects firing of Nelson County Schools superintendent, citing a 'tremendous amount of dysfunction'
- Nelson County school board votes to remove superintendent
- Students walk out of Thomas Nelson High School in protest of potential merger, district to close Thursday amid staff shortage
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