District overview
Powell County Schools
How Powell County Schools is funded, who decides, and what is underway, from board records November 2025 to September 2026.
How is the district paid for, and why are taxes a recurring fight?
State SEEK funding is the largest single revenue source, about $9.7 million of a $24.5 million General Fund budget for FY2027, and it is expected to fall by $271,935. Locally, a tax-rate vote in late 2025 did not go the district's way, and the superintendent said the new facilities she hoped for will not be built. In September 2026 the board adopted the '4% rate', the highest it can set without a possible voter recall. Only 77.6% of property taxes were collected last year.
State aid is falling
The tax presentation projects SEEK funding $271,935 lower this year.
New tax rate
52.5 cents per $100 on real estate and 52.6 cents on personal property, adopted Sept. 8, 2026, up from 52.3 and 52.5 cents.
Low collection rate
Last year's property tax collection rate was 77.6%, so the required ad shows a much bigger revenue jump than the rate change itself.
Contingency above the minimum
The working budget keeps a $1.11 million contingency (4.1%), more than the 2% required.
The district notes that the compensating rate would have raised about $196,000 less if all taxes were collected, and that the 4% rate is not a 4% increase in the rate itself.
Where the district stands
Context, not verified: $24,503,340 General Fund working budget divided by 2,087 students (NCES enrollment). Excludes grants, food service and building funds.
Major projects
Secure entry vestibules at Bowen and Clay City Elementary
Under constructionBlaze Enterprises was hired for $586,000 to build secure entrances, with substantial completion targeted for November 30, 2026.
- Board approves plans and bidding.
- Contract awarded to Blaze Enterprises.
- Target for substantial completion.
Funding
District facilities funds; state BG-1 project
Key-card access and door security (COPS grant)
Bidding and installationA $480,982 federal grant, with a $160,327 district match, pays for key-card access on exterior doors, new locks and keys, cameras and PA upgrades.
- Grant award announced.
- Door hardware and key card bids due.
Funding
U.S. DOJ COPS School Violence Prevention Program grant plus district match
New Stanton Elementary, central office move and Annex sale
New school open; property disposal underwayStudents moved into the new Stanton Elementary in January 2026. The old school now houses the central office, board room and Powell County Academy. The board declared the Annex surplus for sale and sought bids to demolish the old central office.
- New Stanton Elementary opens to families.
- Annex declared surplus; demolition bids authorized.
Funding
Facility funds; state GAP funding partly received
Powell County Middle School turnaround
Plan approvedThe middle school is a CSI school. After a Cognia diagnostic review, the board approved a Turnaround Team and Plan with state education recovery staff.
- Cognia diagnostic review visit.
- Turnaround Team and Plan approved.
Funding
State (KDE) support
Recent news
Reviewed the 13 board meeting agendas posted on the KSBA public portal from November 18, 2025 through September 15, 2026, the approved minutes for every meeting through September 8, 2026, the FY2027 draft, tentative and working budgets, the 2026 tax rate presentation, the draft FY2025 audit, the district and middle school improvement plans, and policy update packets. A few scanned attachments were read with OCR.
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